For beloved Nollywood diva, Ngozi Nwosu it’s 60 hearty cheers — Saturday Magazine — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

It was ‘world Ngozi Nwosu’s day’ on Tuesday, August 1. On that day, the beloved stage and screen actress clocked 60 and to mark the day, her publicist, Precious Eze released pictures of the actress on social media, including one with the actress in a headgear that rivaled what the veteran actress, Abiola Atanda, aka Madam Kofo, would normally wear.

The picture created a buzz and in minutes, fans, colleagues, and well-wishers took to various social media platforms to felicitate the ‘Fuji House of Commotion’ star who has continued to display a high wire act that has earned her an overwhelming acceptance and an irreplaceable place in the artistic scheme of things.

An actress and entertainer who has continued to reign uproariously, several acting personalities in Nollywood are categorized as ‘timeless’ and or ‘evergreen’ and are also reputed to be crucial elements in the making of Nollywood, acting-wise. The stage and screen actress of Igbo extraction, Nwosu is in that class. If the role is for an actress that will deliver with unerring skill, then the role is for the amiable, simple-minded, and warm-hearted daughter of small-scale entrepreneurs who have all passed on.

Interestingly, acting was not Ngozi’s first love. The actress who has somewhat become a subject of affection for millions and a mentor to many young people and women had all along nursed the ambition of becoming a broadcaster, something of a newscaster. But she couldn’t put her conviction on the line because her parents couldn’t afford the cost of her post-secondary school education. So, much later in life, the actress of vast credit opted under the compulsion of destiny, for a career in modeling and acting.

As an actress, Ngozi started very early. In her formative years, quite several people considered her as a good actress and so they talked her into taking to acting. It was on the strength of that and perhaps the conviction that she possessed an innate ability to give life to screen or stage roles that Ngozi plunged headlong into acting and she has remained in it ever since and has exhibited a total commitment.

A native of Arochukwu in Abia state who cut her acting teeth as a member of the Royal Theatre Club, the acting diva’s career got a boost when she got a referral while in Lagos to join the Yoruba acting circles. She did this through Chief Bayo Salami who is popular in Yoruba circles as Oga Bello and Sunday Omobolanle who is popular as Papi Luwe and grabbed several movie roles there because she could speak the Yoruba language fluently.

She proved in no time that she’s got an ace and could be relied upon by the folks who call the shots in the Yoruba movie circle. A recipient of several industry awards including the City People Award for Best Actress in Igbo and the THEMA Best Supporting Actress award for her arresting outing in the Yoruba movie ‘Ayo Mi,’ Ngozi hit the right nerves when she debuted on the phenomenal home movie productions ‘Living In Bondage’ and was later to hit national limelight first as Madam V-boot, a character in the long rested soap on television, Ripples, and as Peaceful Peace, a character in the situation comedy ‘Fuji House of commotion.’ The ability to transition from a comic actor to a role that requires some degree of seriousness is what has kept the amiable actress in the good books of most movie producers.

Acting has made Ngozi popular. She admits it has and adds that it has done so tremendously. ‘I can’t measure it now.’ She admits too that it has equally provided the vista for so many life opportunities and has also made her ‘very comfortable.’ She said: “Acting has opened doors for me that I would ordinarily not have been able to easily open. It has also made me very comfortable. I mean, gone are the early days when all we got was thank you after sweating our lives out. Life is a whole lot better now and it will continue to get better.”

Ngozi’s performance in ‘Living in Bondage’ ranks as her most memorable experience on the turf. Her other memorable moment is being a part of Tunde Kelani’s ‘Thunderbolt.’ In her movie pouch are some notable flicks like the two-part movie ‘Circle of Doom,’ ‘Frame Up,’ ‘Ikuku,’ ‘Evil Passion,’ ‘Ayo Mio,’ ‘Ida Oluwa,’ ‘Igbe Yawo Alaririn,’ ‘Crazzy Grannies’ and ‘Jokotade.’

On stage and television, Ngozi’s credit has remained innumerable. She played lead roles in ‘Jaguar Nana’s Daughter’ (soap), ‘Mind Bending’ (soap), ‘Ripples’ (soap), ‘Trials of Brother Jero’ (stage), ‘Mekunu Melody’ (stage), and ‘Gods Are Not To Blame,’ among many others.

For Ngozi, there will be no retirement. She said she would be around as long as life would permit. And for young ones who want a shot at acting, Ngozi counseled: “First of all, education is key. Don’t be carried away with the acting world, and decline to go to school. It is good to go to school because education is key. Just be sure what you want out of life.

Don’t think you will just get huge money immediately after you enter the industry because you saw someone in the industry drive a Rolls-Royce. What works for the piper, might not work for those who dictate the tune. The way someone gets their money might not be the one you know about. Be yourself. Always be prayerful. Do your job diligently, and most importantly, be humble. Pride goes before a fall; many have fizzled out in the industry because of their manners and attitudes. When you come into the industry, and you are focused and humble, the sky will be your starting point.”