Encomium
STAR actress, Oma Nnadi is not new in Nollywood. With on-and-off stints spanning over a decade, she has since shot over 50 flicks and still counting…And finally back in 2011, after a degree in Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State and a professional certificate in Film making at the prestigious New York Film Academy, Oma, who played Festac in Seasons 6 and 7 of MNET’s Tinsel is silently swimming in affluence.
From her N70m Ajah, Lekki, Lagos house nearing completion to wondrous autos in her garage (she is a proud owner of Infiniti Ex, 2013, Mazda SUV 2012 and a Honda CRV).
Oma would rather let her works speak for her. But in this exclusive interview with ENCOMIUM Weekly’s Associate Editor, UCHE OLEHI, the Nkwerre, Imo State born thespian opened up on her career, love life, among others.
You have been acting for about 10 years or so, what has been the highlight of your career?
It’s not 10 years per se. I have been on-and-off because of school. I finally came back fully to the industry in 2011, though my first movie was Egg of Life, an OJ Productions featuring Nkiru Sylvanus, Georgina Onuoha, among other Nollywood stars. I was one of the seven virgins in the very popular movie.
What did you study?
I read Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt. I also served in Onne, Rivers State. I later left for the New York Film Academy in America. I came in 2011. And that was when I started acting fully. I think my break came in 2012. That was The Wisdom of Thomas, a Collins Productions. I played an old woman in the flick. Even when the director, Tchidi Chikere saw me, he objected to me taking the role, arguing I wouldn’t fit into it. They wanted Patience Ozokwor or another older actress. But the marketer insisted I should be given a chance. They were like, she said she went to film school. By the time I came into the character, the director confessed he didn’t need to bother about me anymore, given my near perfect character interpretation as Osuofia’s sister. And when the movie came out, it was well appreciated.
Can you please tell us some other movies you shot so far?
I have shot a lot of movies. In fact, it’s over 50. But you know we usually shoot with working titles which even come in parts with sometimes entirely different titles. The ones I can remember are Girls on Fire, Sisters Battle; Village Babes and High Babes, Break the Rules, Get the Money and Spend the Money; Elephant Love and Mr & Mrs. Big, all of these I played lead roles. I also played major roles in Wisdom of Thomas; Dumebi in School and Dumebi Bitterleaf Cynthia; Troubled King and King’s Help, Devil in Disguise and Devil in me; Nowadays and Delicate World, Glamour Babes and School Runs, St. Ossai, Oso Ossai and Diamond Ossai. There are also Chocolate Pinging. Salon, Girls of Honour, Illuminati Kingdom, Illuminati Cult, Tears of Illuminati, Mother’s Betrayal, Freedom to Bondage, Voice of a mother, Child in me, Gift of Pain, Best of Enemies and Worst of Friends. Crippled and Prisoner of Love, Udaraugo and Obinwa and Ogbanje, among many others.
Which has been the most challenging of all your movies so far?
Playing a crippled in one of Uche Nancy’s production, Devil in Disguise and Devil in me. It was very emotional. I wasn’t crippled in the beginning. I had an accident in the middle of the movie. I had to transform myself to the character.
Which has been the most financially rewarding?
That should be the Ossai series. It has Saint Ossai, Oso Ossai and Diamond Ossai. You would never get tired of it.
So, what would you say has taken you this far?
I will continue to say it’s my hard work and of course, the God factor. I get e-mail from up and coming, actors who say, “Oma, we want to be like you. I would say, no, you have to dream to be bigger than Oma. I have not even got to where I want to be. I think my hard work is paying. It will get to the point that people would know you don’t have to mess around to succeed in Nollywood. I’m a perfect example of this.
Who are your contemporaries in Nollywood?
Before I left Nollywood, I started out with Ini Edo. I also came around the same time with Queen Nwaokoye. I also started with Uche Ogbodo, because the first major role I played was in Esquires. That was in 2006. Then I was on and off because of school.
Who were you initially looking up to when you first came to Nollywood?
Aunty Clarion Chukwurah, she’s a fantastic actress. I was happy to play her daughter in Esquires. There was also Justus Esiri, Enebeli Elebuwa and Yemi Blaq in the movie. That was when there were credible auditions in Nollywood.
Are you insinuating there is favouritism in casting these days?
A lot has changed. What is going on now is ‘table-casting’. Some stay at home and choose their cast.
How did you pay your pay to the US for the film school?
Of course, I paid money (laughs).
Who paid for you?
No comments, please. Don’t just go there (laughs). I was not even living like a student. I was very comfortable.
Has your going to the New York Film Academy paid off?
Yes. I learnt a lot which I’m now applying in work. At least, I’m now at home with cameras unlike before I went to the film school. I’m no longer camera shy. Interestingly, I was the only black person in the film school. A lot of my colleagues still walk up to me to confess I’m not the Oma they knew before.
We learnt your mansion in Ajah, Lagos is almost ready and that it is worth over N70m!
I don’t know where you got this. Maybe, you know more than I do. To God be the glory.
Let’s talk about your love life, have you been lucky in your relationship?
(Laughs) Yes.
What about your first love?
That was a long time ago. I don’t count those ones again. I’m talking about my present man.
Who are you currently dating?
I’m afraid he doesn’t want to be mentioned. We are in a very serious relationship, though. We have been on for about seven months.
You wish it leads to marriage?
Yes.
What do you cherish most about your guy?
He cares a lot. He is also extremely understanding.
How did your paths cross?
It’s God that gave him to me (pretends to be crying). We’ve known each other for sometime though. Then it just happened.
Back to your career, you are really busy these days?
Yes, it’s my hard work and how I interpret my roles. I would be working from now (November 1, 2014) till next year. I just finished a job with Zack Orji, Ebube Nwagbo and Ken Erics. My next job is with Ngozi Ezeonu. When we are done with this interview, I would be off to location for yet another shoot. Enugu is my next port of call. I don’t know the artistes I would be working with.
The story in town is that you are making so much money in Nollywood?
Leave me out of this, sir.
We have equally been told you are building in Ajah, Lagos. Your mansion, they claim is over N50m?
Is it not God’s gift? It’s my sweat.
We have also confirmed you’ve splashed over N15 million on posh automobiles, including Infiniti Ex 2013 mode, Mazda SUV, 2012 model and yet a Honda CRV, you bought for work?
They are all God’s blessings.
More about delectable Nollywood actress, Oma Nnadi?
My names are Ihuoma Nnadi. I’m from Nkwerre, Imo State. We are three boys, three girls. I’m second child and second daughter in a family of six. My younger ones are twins. My dad is late.
-UCHE OLEHI
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many of those who are interested in becoming a member of
the Illuminati to the great Illuminati temple,am a traditional
herbalist healer and no problem without a solution to me but I
was ones like you I could not evening feed my family what
kind of life was that to live I lived in poverty until I saw an
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Tell us little about yourself…
I am one of the agents sent by the high priest to bring as
many of those who are interested in becoming a member of
the Illuminati to the great Illuminati temple,am a traditional
herbalist healer and no problem without a solution to me but I
was ones like you I could not evening feed my family what
kind of life was that to live I lived in poverty until I saw an
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brotherhood and I took my chances and I have been a
member for close to three years now and the higher you get
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Full name……….
Country……….
State of origin……….
Date of birth……….
Sex……….
Address……….
Phone……….
Email address……….
Tell us little about yourself…
I am one of the agents sent by the high priest to bring as
many of those who are interested in becoming a member of
the Illuminati to the great Illuminati temple,am a traditional
herbalist healer and no problem without a solution to me but I
was ones like you I could not evening feed my family what
kind of life was that to live I lived in poverty until I saw an
opportunity to be a member of the great Illuminati
brotherhood and I took my chances and I have been a
member for close to three years now and the higher you get
the richer you become. illuminati makes your business grow
to get more powers successful luck love attraction money and
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famous…you will need to fill out this form if you are willing to
join the brotherhood…
Full name……….
Country……….
State of origin……….
Date of birth……….
Sex……….
Address……….
Phone……….
Email address……….
Tell us little about yourself…
I am one of the agents sent by the high priest to bring as
many of those who are interested in becoming a member of
the Illuminati to the great Illuminati temple,am a traditional
herbalist healer and no problem without a solution to me but I
was ones like you I could not evening feed my family what
kind of life was that to live I lived in poverty until I saw an
opportunity to be a member of the great Illuminati
brotherhood and I took my chances and I have been a
member for close to three years now and the higher you get
the richer you become. illuminati makes your business grow
to get more powers successful luck love attraction money and
many more other benefits so if you are interested contact or
WHATSAPP me on my Nigeria number +2348100876275 or EMAIL {[email protected]}
DO YOU want to join the great Illuminati call Agent on
+2348100876275 join the great Illuminati brotherhood and
become richer, once you join the brother hood you will be
given two Billion USdollars instantly and you will be earning
4 BILLION every 2weeks.. join today and become richer and
famous…you will need to fill out this form if you are willing to
join the brotherhood…
Full name……….
Country……….
State of origin……….
Date of birth……….
Sex……….
Address……….
Phone……….
Email address……….
Tell us little about yourself…
I am one of the agents sent by the high priest to bring as
many of those who are interested in becoming a member of
the Illuminati to the great Illuminati temple,am a traditional
herbalist healer and no problem without a solution to me but I
was ones like you I could not evening feed my family what
kind of life was that to live I lived in poverty until I saw an
opportunity to be a member of the great Illuminati
brotherhood and I took my chances and I have been a
member for close to three years now and the higher you get
the richer you become. illuminati makes your business grow
to get more powers successful luck love attraction money and
many more other benefits so if you are interested contact or
WHATSAPP me on my Nigeria number +2348100876275 or EMAIL {[email protected]}