Chioma Akpota: An Actor’s Strength Lies in Ability to Be Versatile

Tosin Clegg

Nigerian Actress, Chioma Akpota stunned fans and critics when she featured in Femi Adebayo’s love drama series, Seven Doors.

Her exceptional acting was matchless and proved how good of an actress she is. Seven Doors was primarily in Nigerian Yoruba language and circled around major actors of it’s same industry but she defied odds, explored her artistry and gave her role in the movie a perfection that shows her years as an actor has evolved her to be a force to be reckoned with. 

Chioma at a recent media parley expressed how she got into act while shooting Seven Doors stating that, “First of all for me as an actor there has to be a connection, and for this movie I had to put myself in a situation that it had to be real. I imagined if it was me and that’s the first step in giving a character life before you start addressing other elements that give the character the most desired boost it needs.

“Normally I’m that kind of person that if we’re in a relationship it should be me because why do you look elsewhere? So I would support you and for me I don’t see any other person when I sold out to you. And I give you my all hundred percent and don’t look back because love in itself is a decision you make not the feeling. So that’s where I had to bring myself into this movie.”

Her exceptional acting career began in 2000 with her debut in the movie, The Apple and also featured in The Handkerchief. Fast froward into 2007, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for “Best Actress in a Lead Role” for her performance in Sins of the Flesh. With over two decades of experience, Chioma has appeared in scores of Nollywood films and earned numerous awards. As a filmmaker, she has produced or co-produced over eight movies, including the critically acclaimed and award-nominated blockbuster On Bended Knees. Beyond her work in film, Chioma Chukwuka is a respected public speaker and mentor, inspiring many with her achievements and dedication to her craft.

For Chioma she believes the strength of an actor lies in their ability to be versatile and expressed further stating, “One of the issues most times is that if fans see you in a particular way they just want to see you like that. They don’t want you any other way and at the early years of my career a lot wanted to see me in particular way but it took a lot to break out of it as I believed there is a lot more I could do. But if many can calm down and get along they would see the versatility of the actor.”

Chioma has continued to show that her talent can surely shine in a wide range of genres which could roll out from romantic dramas to intense thrillers. And with her applauding role in Seven Doors she reawakens her effortless artistry which continues to capture the emotions and nuances of her characters.