By Rita Okoye
Nollywood actress, Jane Obi, has continued to earn recognitions for her versatility on screen and elegance off it. A native of Enugu State with roots in Anambra, Obi has featured in a number of Nollywood productions including Loving in Pain, Heart Ripper, Enemies Must Bow, and Egg of Freedom. In this interview with Saturday Sun, the versatile actress shares her relationship goals, marriage pressure, ambition and lots more.
Can you tell us about your journey into Nollywood, what inspired you to pursue a career in acting?
I think I’ll start from the beginning. When I was in primary school, I always loved drama. I was usually the leader of stage plays, so I knew I loved acting back then. But honestly, I never thought of going into Nollywood at the time.
It was during my JAMB/WAEC lessons that someone invited me for an audition. I didn’t even know what it was about—I just thought it was something to while away time. When I got there, people were acting, and I decided to try my luck. It wasn’t bad, and I enjoyed myself.
From then on, I kept going back. I joined different theatre groups, until someone advised me to join the Actors Guild of Nigeria, get registered, and take it seriously. That’s how I started—registered with the Guild in Enugu, went for real auditions, and got my first gig. That was how the whole journey began.
What do you consider your most challenging role?
I’ve had several difficult roles, but the most challenging was in a film sponsored by Christ Embassy, written by Edward Uka, and produced by Blossom Chukwujekwu.
In that movie, I was buried in the ground, and the ground was wet, filled with water. They covered me completely, leaving only my head outside. It was scary. Blossom even asked if I was sure I could handle it, because if I refused, they would have scrapped the scene. But since it was the highlight of my character, I decided to go for it despite my fear.
That remains the craziest and most challenging role I’ve ever played. Sadly, the film was not released for public viewing—only Christ Embassy members got to see it. They told me I received a standing ovation, but I would have loved for the world to see that side of me.
The Nigerian film industry is very competitive. What sets you apart as an actress?
The industry is really competitive, but what sets me apart is that I don’t try to be like anyone else. I don’t want to act like Mercy Johnson or Genevieve—I just want to be me. Also, my strength lies in my ability to blend into any character. If you give me the role of a schoolgirl, I’ll play it so well you’ll think I’m still a teenager. If you cast me as a husband snatcher, people even send me threats, thinking it’s real. If I play an innocent girl, mischievous character, princess, or village tout, I embody it fully.
Sometimes people even accuse me in my DMs of being wicked because of a role I played. I just laugh, because I know I must have done a good job to provoke such emotions. That’s my uniqueness—I can fit into any role.
Are there roles you still aspire to play in the future?
I look forward to doing things I’ve not done before. There’s no particular role I have in mind, but I just know I want to do a lot of things. I’ve done a lot of things in movies and I want to do more. The world has not seen me yet. I want to unleash more on the world.
How do you prepare for your roles; are there specific methods or routines you follow?
It depends on the script. Sometimes I watch movies related to the role. For example, if I’m doing a royal film, I’ll watch other royal movies. If I’m playing a typical Igbo girl, I’ll listen to Phyno or Flavour to get into character.
At other times, I simply read the script thoroughly and research the role. There’s no fixed routine, but I use movies, music, and research as my preparation tools.
Do you have limitations when it comes to accepting scripts?
Of course I do. There are scripts I read and immediately turn them down. As an actor, I’m willing to push myself, but I won’t do anything life-threatening. In Nollywood, we don’t have emergency kits, ambulances, or doctors on set, so safety is a big concern. I’m open-minded, but I prioritise my health and safety above everything.
How do you handle the societal pressure to get married?
I’m single but not searching. And yes, there are pressures from family and society to get married. Once you’re mature, everyone is looking at you to get married, and once you get married, everybody is looking at you to give birth. It’s crazy out there, but I try not to let the pressure get to me. I’m in a relationship and it is serious, so I don’t have the pressure to get married. At the end of the day, it is not about getting married, it is about marrying the right person. And there is no time frame or guideline. You just have to pray hard to get the right partner. In my profession, the right partner is paramount. If you marry wrong it could have a negative effect on your career. I am in a relationship and I am happy.
Do you think marriage should be a priority for women in the entertainment industry or should career come first?
This question is very tricky. Of course marriage is important, but it should and shouldn’t be a priority. The industry seems like a warzone where after the war, you need a home to go to. You need that peace to lay your head. And then after everything you go to the warzone again.
I think marriage is good. It is a priority and at the same time, it is also not a priority. If it comes fine, handle it well. If it doesn’t, focus on your career.
I don’t know which could come first. Because there are people who got married early, and had children before coming into the industry, and then there are people who chose career first and they are also doing very well. I don’t know which should come first. I just know that both are very important. Don’t give up marriage because of your career and don’t give up your career because of marriage. You just have to find a way to balance it.
Have you ever been pressured by your family to settle down?
The pressure will always be there. Once you are mature as a woman, your mother is already counting days for you, wondering when you’re going to get married and give birth. It is crazy and it is real. But I do not have that pressure right now, because my family knows I am in a relationship, so nobody is pushing. They just want me to take my time and get it right. I don’t think I’m in a hurry to get married.
There is no manual to getting it right. I’m not saying that because I’ve been in a relationship for long, or if I had married early, I would have gotten it right or not. But I just think I need to take my time, and allow God to do it at His own time in His infinite mercy.
Does your career affect your dating life?
Of course it does. Most times, when I am working back to back, I hardly have time for myself, not to talk of having time for my partner. So yes, if you don’t have an understanding partner, you will have problems.
My partner is good and understanding. I give him kudos for trying to understand the type of work I do – the stress, the pressure, going out in the morning and coming back at night and sometimes not attending to your calls and messages.
I try to understand him and assure him every time. If you are in my field and you have a career in acting, you just know that you need to assure your partner every now and then that everything is fine. It takes an understanding partner to have that.
Apart from that, being an actor and actress, some people like to cook up an opinion about people in this field. But like I said, you need an understanding partner for your dating life to be cool. If you want to enjoy your dating life, you need an understanding partner that understands your career. I think that’s the way it works.
On Social Media, people often speculate about celebrities’ personal life. How do you handle this?
Well, I try to separate my personal life from my public status. You might guess, but you won’t know, if I don’t post about it. Maybe when I am engaged I might post or when I am getting married I might post. It is like telling the world I am off the market.
I am not crazy about social media, so I monitor what I put online. I don’t put my life out there. You don’t know who my ex is; you don’t know who my present is. You don’t know who my husband is going to be, and that’s how I want it. I do not put my dating life on Social Media. Anything you see on Social Media about who I am dating, if it is not from my account, it is just speculation and I don’t care about them. I don’t give them attention. I don’t put my personal life out there, so all the speculations are fallacies. For now, my personal life is not out there.
What qualities do you look out for in a potential partner?
Like I said, I just need an understanding partner – rich and understanding. You have to understand that this is what I do, and it comes with challenges. I need a very understanding and rich partner.
I am not married yet, but I cannot give you a clear perspective. It always boils down to an understanding partner. If you have one, you should be able to balance it. People shouldn’t give up their career because of marriage and vice versa. It needs to be balanced and for it to be balanced, you need a person who understands and appreciates what you do.
In whatever you are doing make sure you marry someone who loves you and loves what you do. When you find that they won’t stop you or put restrictions on it. They will push you and support you. That is the way to balance marriage and acting. Marriage is jealous and it doesn’t want any other thing that takes your attention, same thing with your career. You need a high level of understanding to be able to balance it.
Do you see yourself getting married anytime soon or are you focused on your career for now?
Both! I am getting married very soon. But at the same time, I am very focused on my career. I am not giving up one for the other. I am hoping and praying to God for my partner to also have that understanding, so we can be able to balance it. There is no need to give up one for the other.
My career is something that can sustain you for the rest of your life. Marriage is also something you have to be in for the rest of your life. Why give up one for the other? I believe and pray that I balance it properly.
What should fans expect from you in the coming months?
They can expect a lot. I have a lot of stories written down, and a lot of productions. I have a lot of plans. I have so many stories in my head that are not yet tapped. I am going to wow the world with my stories.
I am just building my grassroots, and establishing myself for the world to see. A lot of captivating, interesting stories are coming from me, so watch out for my channel.
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