Popular for the role which he played in the movie, “Games Men Play Reloaded”, and the yet to be released controversial “Black November” movie which he co-produced with Jeta Amata, Enyinna Nwigwe originally did not set out to become an actor.
He delved into acting by accident, and today, he’s one of the hottest rising actors in Nollywood. Often described as the “ladies man’ , Enyinna who hails from Imo State takes Showtime Celebrity through his journey as a runaway model, instructor, actor and producer par excellence.
How did you begin this journey of acting?
I started in 2004. Then I was studying at the University of Calabar. At a time, I was introduced to modelling, I started training models which I was doing as a part time back then as an undergraduate. That was what actually sustained my interest in entertainment. In 2003, I met Jeta Amata, who was working in Calabar then, and we became friends.
When he was filming his movie, “The Wheel of Change”, he invited me to the location and I honoured the invitation. Somehow, he was shooting a particular scene where he needed somebody to compliment the role. That was how he casually asked me to play the role. I would say that my delving into acting was accidental. In fact, it was this singular action that triggered off my interest in acting.
Modelling was your first love. Have you dumped it?
I wouldn’t say I have dumped modelling even though it wasn’t a career path for me. It was something I was doing by the side. At a time, modelling was good. It was something that kept me busy as an undergraduate. Then I was doing runaway modelling within the South South region before I later stormed Lagos. I did a couple of jobs for leading telecommunications companies and airlines. Also, there was a job I did for a bank that lasted for about two years. But since I started acting, I haven’t been doing modelling.
Are you based here in Nigeria?
I’m partly based here and in Los Angeles. I have always based here until a film project called “Black November” which I played the lead actor and co-produced with Jeta Amata took me to Los Angeles.
It was alleged that “Black November” was banned in Nigeria. What’s the true story?
It was a rumour. Although, there were some controversies and threats here and there because of the sensitivity of the subject matter, the film was not banned. But it was a story that had to be told. While we had to delay releasing the film is because, it went through a lot of re-shoot and reconsideration along the line. So, it wasn’t banned.
In fact, we had screenings of the film in the United States for the Library of Congress of which resolution was introduced to the congress by Bobby Rush, a congress man to clean up the oil spill in the Niger Delta based on the effect the film had on them when we screened it there. We also screened the film at the United Nations convention in New York in 2012, of which I got five conventional certificates of recognition from the US government. “Black November” is one film that has helped to put Nollywood on the world map of film nations. The industry is known today in Hollywood because of “Black November.” They were shocked that there were producers and directors from Nigeria who could do a great job like ‘Black November” at that level of production. I would give credit to the investor, Captain Hussein Kumbo who did a good job. He stayed throughout the entire project and really supported it financially.
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