Actress Blessing Obasi has opened up on the challenges she faced while trying to break into Nollywood, revealing that a director once told her she was too ugly to act.
In an interview with Saturday Beats, the 43-year-old recalled how she felt when she started gaining recognition in the industry.
“It was a moment of deep gratitude, like everything was finally starting to make sense. I remember a time when I felt like giving up. We had a programme, the Accelerate Conference at Elevation Church and Pastor Sam Adeyemi preached.
“He said, ‘You’re here today, and you’ve told God that entertainment isn’t for you, that you don’t think you’ll make it. But I’m here to tell you it will make sense. Stay put.’ I held on to those words and kept going,” she said.
Blessing added, “It has truly been a journey of grace. God has made me who I am. My best friend and those around me have been incredibly supportive. Even when others advised me to quit acting and get a ‘real’ job, she stood by me. She would always say, ‘My akwam (egg), when you go blow, you go blow.’”
Recalling how a respected director tried to discourage her, she said, “I even remember when a popular director I deeply respected once told me I was too ugly to be in front of the camera. But look at me now.”
Speaking further, the actress said her love for acting began at an early age.
“I have loved acting for a long time. I used to act in the drama group as early as secondary school. I recall one time, I took a break from acting and I met a charming lady named Dorothy who stated that she felt like I would make a good actor. Her dad was a professor in UNILAG and they lived there at the time, so she had taken me for an audition.
“Subsequently, I went for an audition and some friends advised me to blow out my hair. When my mum saw it, she was angry and she took me to cut it all off. So, she said I should stop acting and focus on school. Then, when I was in the university, I told my mum I wanted to try acting again and she allowed me. So, I started acting in small roles. During my first year, I acted a lot and it affected my studies so I made up my mind to focus on my studies. After school, I worked in a top oil company, then picked up acting again,” she said.
On roles she has turned down, the actress said, “Yes, I have done that a couple of times. I am not going to star in a film that does not honour God. I also don’t subscribe to nudity in films. If I am given a role like that, I will not be upset. I will just find a way to turn it down and let them know it does not align with my value system.”
Speaking on her relationship with God, she added: “We are rooted in Christ and we partner with the Holy Spirit in our relationship. We are also friends. Our friendship is one of the most beautiful things we share. Since my mum passed, he is the only one I can tell the truth without judgment.”
Blessing Obasi, who is married to fellow actor Stan Nze, starred in the 2024 Amazon Prime film Momiwa directed by Biodun Stephen. The couple welcomed their first child in 2023.
She recently made her debut as a film producer in Radio Voice, which premiered in cinemas on April 11, 2025. The faith-based drama also features Richard Mofe-Damijo and is centred on themes of redemption and second chances.
In an earlier interview, Blessing said getting married later in life was a journey of self-discovery and breaking societal expectations.
“Getting married at an older age wasn’t just a choice; it was a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and breaking free from societal norms that tried to dictate my happiness,” she said.
