The actor, who hails from Umuahia in Ukwuano Local Government area of Abia State, said Nollywood which is now a fast growing phenomenon will attain higher heights in a few years to come.
Motivation
I have always dreamt of becoming an actor right from my childhood days. Whenever I watched American movies, I would say to myself that when I grow up, I will like to be an actor. I met a friend Emeka Kurimo, who told me that an audition was going on somewhere. I attended and luckily, I was chosen. That enabled me to feature in my first movie entitled: Dirty Deal.
Success
It is all about determination, knowing fully well what I wanted. Despite the obstacles, I just have to continue, at least, compared to when I started.
Roles
I have played several roles in movies which I can’t even remember any longer. But I can still remember a few like The Senator, Occultic Battle, First Love, One Love, Stand by Me, among many others.
Embarrassing moment
I don’t have any, because I detest living a fake life. I like to be what I am .
Most challenging role
It is the movie entitled: First Love. I played the role of a good and a bad guy. Switching from one character to another was actually challenging. At the same time, I was also on location for another movie entitled: One Love.
Kissing in Nollywood
It is not true. We call it make-believe, because there is a camera before you and there are members of crew all around you. So, there is no way you would go contrary to what the director is saying. We are only trying to be natural in order to convey a message. It may look real, but it is all fake.
Nollywood
The Nigeria movie industry is like a woman who gives birth to a child. You do not expect the child to attain maturity at once, it has to be gradual. The industry is actually growing considering Nigeria’s poor economy. People are making their living out of it.
Mentor
Jesus Christ is my mentor. I respect people, the only person I recognize is Jesus. I read the Bible and follow Christ’s footsteps.
Advice
It is wonderful to be an actor, but before anything, one needs to be well prepared. Moreover, a potential actor should undergo a training programme and build his or her talent. First, if you have a talent, develop it, don’t wait until the opportunity slips. I will also advise people who want to make ends meet at once. It is not a good way of life, one needs to exercise some patience.
Marriage
I’m yet to get married.
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GIVEN his looks and the fact that he is a household name in Nollywood, Emeka Okoro would hardly appear to anyone as a serious Christian, not to talk of being conscious of rapture i.e the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only does he fear missing heaven, he is watching over his shoulders to ensure that when the bell sounds, he would reign with the Lord as according to him, he is working very hard to overcome his weakness, which is falling for the temptation from the flesh.
He has vowed not to be derailed with overtures of the daughters of Eve, even as he once again confirmed the prescence of homosexuality in Nollywood. “Yes, weakness in the sense that now, any woman may just want to tempt me. I wouldn’t want anything that would probably put me on the lane of women, cult, homosexual etc because a lot of people are into it in the industry. So, I try to avoid anything that would make me inadequate in the sight of God. If it means not working so as not to miss heaven or if you don’t want to give me a role, I don’t care as long as I protect my integrity. It is God that makes a man. God gives you what He wants to give you.”
Okoro looks tough and because of his looks he has been cast in many movies as a bad boy. But on a close encounter with him, one would be amazed that behind this tough looks is a soft mien. He tells you he doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke and he is happily married to beautiful Jane Okoro, an amiable lady from Akwa Ibom State. Emeka is from Oboro in Ukwuano Local Government Area in Umuahia, Abia State. He tells http://nigeriafilms.com what fascinated him when he first saw Jane.
This guy is not acting just because he has flair for it. He studied arts in the University. “I read Theatre Arts at Lagos State University. Today, I’m an actor and I also have a media outfit. I’m a dual person, although I’m not actively into my media business,” he says.
He had a wonderful childhood. And some of the experiences he had then are still etched in his memory. “My childhood wasn’t at a particular place or state because I followed my father around. I lived with my dad and he was not always at home. He had hospitals and he was always on the move. Anytime he went to another location, I was always following him. So, I was not the home type. I never really grew up at home. He was a medical doctor but he is late now. I was so close to my father and growing up was interesting. I lived in the boarding house while in the secondary school. I attended Government Technical School, Ohiafia, Abia State. I was indeed close to my dad.”
How about your mummy?
My mum was always visiting my dad. We were not really together. I was more with my father.
They were not living together, were they divorced?
No, they were never divorced.
Can you relive life on campus?
My campus life was interesting as well. Of course, you know how Lagos is. It was fun. I was opportuned to be part of the integral university life. I went through school and the school went through me.
Is that where you met your wife?
(Laughs). No, I didn’t meet my wife there. I didn’t meet her on campus. We met on set as matter of fact. One day, someone invited me for a TV soap, when I got there, I saw her and admired her face, you know.
Was she an actress?
That was just the first and the last she did.
You stopped her from acting?
No, I did not, it’s not as if I stopped her but naturally, she just fizzled out. We just saw that day, then we got acquainted. We started talking and became friends. We never knew it was going to lead us to the second stage but along the line, it started graduating. We became more intimate and one thing led to another, we became close friends and then the affair began to sizzle. We started talking marriage, so we started staying together for a while. We stayed together for about two years.
You mean both of you were living together?
That’s right, we lived together for a while and planned our marriage. Then went to our parents, informed them about our intension and they were all in support. So, when it was time, we regularized the deal.