From the Counter to the Big Screen
There is nothing as strong as passion. Once it engulfs you, it sucks you in completely. That’s the case of the new face in Nollywood, Ini Dima-Okojie. Ini hails from Edo state but was born and brought up in Lagos. As a child, she wanted to be an actress. During her secondary school days, Ini was very active in acting and other social activities.
Despite her unbridled passion for acting, Ini didn’t study theatre arts. Like any other story about upcoming artistes, Ini is no less different. Her parents did not see acting as a professional job, let alone worthy enough to put food on the table.
Moreover, everybody in the house was in the finance or science sector, how could she deviate from the ordered steps of her parents. Why would she be the black sheep in the lot? These questions informed her decision to study another course different from theatre arts.
But like a bolt of lightning, acting beckoned to her again. There was no room for second thoughts. Ini did what she should have done before. She left her well-paid job as an investment banker to pursue a career in acting. Of course, she faced opposition from her father. Her mother, on the other hand, was supportive and with her help, she was able to convince her father that acting indeed could foot the bill.
The first thing Ini did was to enroll into the New York Film Academy where she majored in Acting for Film. She also attended ‘Become a Host Academy’ in LA. Ini made her debut role in a short silent film titled ‘Bad Hair Day’ while still in NYFA. She made her first appearance on Nigeria TV in the TV series Taste of Love. Other films she has featured in include the MNet Vanity’s Last Game and Desperate Housewives Africa among others.
Coming back home has not been easy for Ini. She understood that the Nollywood industry is quite competitive, but she is determined to give in her all to stay on top of her game. Why one may wonder would she leave the greener pastures of America to come back home.
She offered this explanation: “I had a plan and that was to start from my home; from Nigeria where I can display my talent. Although, I was persuaded to stay back in America but I felt coming home was the best for me. It’s not easy in Nollywood. It’s not easy anywhere in the world but with determination and passion, you can make it.”
As a fresh face, Ini has placed some boundaries on her career. At least, she has no intention of stripping it all in the front of the career and will only accept good scripts. She is determined to make her passion her business and is already hinting on having her own talk show.