{"id":273959,"date":"2011-01-14T13:51:42","date_gmt":"2011-01-14T13:51:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/?p=47345"},"modified":"2011-01-14T13:51:42","modified_gmt":"2011-01-14T13:51:42","slug":"king-joe-okechukwu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/","title":{"rendered":"King Joe Okechukwu"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>
King Joe Okechukwu<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\n\u201cCelebrity is about humility and responsibility to the \t\t\t\t\t community. An actor should be able to stay at the level of \t\t\t\t\tthe general public who created their image.\u201d
\nDark, tall and handsome actor King Joe Okechukwu comes one \t\t\t\t\tin a million. Far from the clich\u00e9s that come with beauty and \t\t\t\t\tfame, he has managed to remain humble, committed and true to \t\t\t\t\this art, his community and his fan base.
\nCan you introduce yourself in your own words?<\/strong>
\nMy name is Joseph Chidi Okechukwu, I was born in 1975 nearby \t\t\t\t\tEnugu in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. I followed my \t\t\t\t\tprimary and secondary education in Nigeria and studied \t\t\t\t\tInternational Leadership at a University in Ghana.
\nAre you married?<\/strong>
\nI got married in December 2003 and we are blessed with a son \t\t\t\t\tcalled Arnold.
\nYou hardly ever appear on the covers of the movies you \t\t\t\t\tfeature in. Why?<\/strong>
\nThis issue is getting me increasingly worried, I even \t\t\t\t\tquarreled with a producer about it. He later said that it \t\t\t\t\twas a mistake. Maybe it stemmed from a lack of knowledge \t\t\t\t\tfrom my part, but I have found out that you have to lobby to \t\t\t\t\tbe able to feature on the cover of a movie. You must be \t\t\t\t\tfound \u201ccommercial\u201d to be featured. I realized that I still \t\t\t\t\thave a lot to learn about being an actor.
\nYou played the lead role in Rings of Fire and still you \t\t\t\t \tdon\u2019t feature on the poster. How does this affect your \t\t\t\t\t visibility?<\/strong>
\nI was shocked to find out that I was left out. Like I just \t\t\t\t\tsaid, you have to do certain things sometimes to be \t\t\t\t\tfeatured. Call it ego or pride, I have absolutely no \t\t\t\t\tintention to go out there and run after people so that I can \t\t\t\t\tbe featured on the cover of my own movie. I have way more \t\t\t\t\timportant things to do with my time.
\nStill some producers will put your face on a poster without \t\t\t\t\tany problems and some won\u2019t. Without a doubt, this is \t\t\t\t\tgetting in the way of my visibility and exposure as an \t\t\t\t\tactor.
\nYou are cast a lot as a pastor while you look like a \t\t\t\t\tsupermodel.<\/strong>
\n(laughs) I started out in 1997 in the movie \u201cRituals\u201d in \t\t\t\t\twhich I played a cult leader. After that I played a pastor \t\t\t\t\tand my performance was found so convincing that for a while \t\t\t\t\tI kept playing that part. You know when I speak in tongues \t\t\t\t\tin the role of a pastor, I am really doing just that.
\nIt is also the problem in Nollywood, if an actor\u2019s talent is \t\t\t\t\t revealed playing a certain type of characters, it sticks \t\t\t\t\twith them. Look at Patience Ozokwor in the part of the \t\t\t\t\twicked mother-in-law!
\nIn 2003, I decided to break away from that clich\u00e9 and took \t\t\t\t\tother parts to show the other side of my talent.
\nn Beyond Belief you played a pastor who was also an armed \t\t \t\t\trobber and you danced your way through the movie. How did \t\t\t\t\tyou prepare for the dance part?<\/strong>
\nIt came naturally even though I must admit that I trained in \t\t\t\t\tthe mirror. I take my parts very seriously and I come well \t\t\t\t\tprepared. I rehearse properly before the camera starts \t\t\t\t\trolling.
\nIn Falling Apart there were some pretty steamy love \t\t\t\t\tscenes with \t\t\t\t\t Eucharia Anunobi-Ekwu<\/a>.<\/strong>
\n(laughs) When I read the script, those scenes were spelled \t\t\t\t\tout very simply. The director re-wrote those love scenes on \t\t\t\t\tthe set. As a professional I had to do what my character was \t\t\t\t\tsupposed to do, so I did it.
\nYou were already married at the time. What did your wife \t\t\t\t\tthink?<\/strong>
\nShe read the script and just advised me to be careful.
\nHow do you approach love scenes?<\/strong>
\nThe culture here in Nigeria is very different from the \t\t\t\t\tWestern World\u2019s. You have to be cautious when you get \t\t\t\t\tinvolved in these kinds of situations.
\nYou have to play it safe and not get involved too much \t\t\t\t\tbecause a love scene can very quickly look like pornography \t\t\t\t\tand nobody wants that. I now make sure that a love scene in \t\t\t\t\tthe script remains what it is on the set.
\nLove scenes have to be decent because criticism is very \t\t\t\t\tsharp around here and an artist can very quickly get a bad \t\t\t\t\tname.
\nYou lifted up Eucharia!<\/strong>
\n(laughs) The director gave that instruction so I did it!
\nThere was a phenomenal chemistry between Eucharia and \t\t\t\t\tyou. Would you have had the same with any other actress?<\/strong>
\nAbsolutely. It is the work you do as a professional and it \t\t\t\t\tis your responsibility to make it work with whoever you are \t\t\t\t\tplaying with.
\nIn Government House you were \t\t\t\t\t Onyeka Onwenu\u2019s<\/a> toyboy. She\u2019s a legend in Nigeria, were \t\t\t\t\tyou impressed with her?<\/strong>
\nAs a much younger person I was surely impressed. When I was \t\t\t\t\t growing up and she was so famous, I wished I were a man so \t\t\t\t\tthat I could marry her! Just to tell you the pressure that I \t\t\t\t\thad playing opposite her.
\nI cherished that opportunity and there was a natural flow \t\t\t\t\tbetween us. She was extremely gracious, we talked a lot and \t\t\t\t\tshe offered precious advice, I really loved it.
\nYou have the looks of a supermodel. You are tall, dark \t\t\t\t\tand handsome. How do you cope with the ladies attention?<\/strong>
\n(laughs) You know I hear that quite often, but sometimes I \t\t\t\t\tcheck my mirror and I don\u2019t really understand what the fuss \t\t\t\t\tis all about!
\nI am of course flattered with the attention from my fans, \t\t\t\t\tbut I am extremely careful. I am married and I have a \t\t\t\t\tfamily.
\nI always try to be nice and appreciative of the attention \t\t\t\t\tdirected to me, but I have to admit that the pressure is \t\t\t\t\tthere.
\nI get phone calls from people I don\u2019t even know, people I \t\t\t\t\tsurely didn\u2019t give my phone number to. But I guess it comes \t\t\t\t\twith the territory and I have to learn to cope with it.
\nTell us about Rings of Fire.<\/strong>
\nThat project was challenging and it really tried me out. I \t\t\t\t\tcried a lot in that movie and those tears were real, they \t\t\t\t\twere coming from my heart. One minute, I had to cry on cue \t\t\t\t\tand the next I had to do something totally different. That \t\t\t\t\ttakes a lot out of you. I had to rise to the occasion and \t\t\t\t\tprove my best, and I believe I did just that.
\nIn Indecent Desire \t\t\t\t\t Justus Esiri <\/a>bribes you to betray your best friend and \t\t\t\t\tframe up an innocent girl. How difficult is slipping under \t\t\t\t\tthe skin of a devious character?<\/strong>
\nIt is a bit complicated, that part was complex. It was \t\t\t\t\tstressful because you go out there and do things your own \t\t\t\t\tconscience objects to. It wasn\u2019t my best experience.
\nWho is your dream partner onscreen?<\/strong>
\n Emeka Ike<\/a> is my dream partner on screen, I\u2019m very \t\t\t\t\tcomfortable with him. I haven\u2019t played that much opposite \t\t\t\t\thim, but even when the camera is rolling, it doesn\u2019t quite \t\t\t\t\tfeel like that. There\u2019s this natural feeling between us that \t\t\t\t\tdoesn\u2019t make it feel like work.
\nWhat part would you never take?<\/strong>
\nA stripper.
\nWhy?<\/strong>
\nThis is the one thing I\u2019m totally unable to do. I just can\u2019t \t\t\t\t\tsee myself strip in front of the camera.
\nWhich movie do you consider your best work?<\/strong>
\nRings of Fire. Absolutely. The part took a lot of emotions \t\t\t\t\tout of me and I really bonded with \t\t\t\t\t Ebere Okaro<\/a> who was playing my mother. I really felt \t\t\t\t\tthat she was my mother because I had to stand up for her \t\t\t\t\tmost of the time and I cried a lot for her as well. I love \t\t\t\t\tthat movie passionately.
\nAnd which one is your worst movie?<\/strong>
\n(laughs) Please allow me not to answer that question. I \t\t\t\t\tdon\u2019t want to vex anybody, I can\u2019t answer that.
\nHow do you cope with celebrity?<\/strong>
\nCelebrity can be synonymous to cocaine addiction if you \t\t\t\t\tdon\u2019t watch out. It takes a lot of mental discipline to deal \t\t\t\t\twith it and remain composed.
\nHumility is a huge issue because that\u2019s what celebrity is \t\t\t\t\tall about to me. An actor should be able to stay at the \t\t\t\t\tlevel of the general public who created their image.
\nI strive to maintain a humble profile, otherwise you wind up \t\t\t\t\t living in a fantasy world, you are living a lie, an \t\t\t\t\tillusion.
\nMost celebrities really mess things up for themselves and \t\t\t\t\twhen you see that people are trying to emulate them, it \t\t\t\t\treally makes you stop and think.
\nThere is a girl who joined Nollywood just three years ago \t\t\t\t\tand today her life has completely spiraled out of control.
\nDoes celebrity bring about responsibility?<\/strong>
\nOf course. You have to be serious and put your fame at the \t\t\t\t\tservice of society. Use your celebrity to bring change and \t\t\t\t\tlet things happen, don\u2019t waste it.
\nA word of advice for upcoming artists?<\/strong>
\nYou have to be yourself. Focus on the skills you need to do \t\t\t\t\tyour job to the best of your abilities. Don\u2019t get carried \t\t\t\t\taway by life in the fast lane, learn to be composed.
\nAs the president of Nigeria, what would you do to curb \t\t\t\t\ttribalism and the war of the religions?<\/strong>
\nThese are serious issues. The point of the matter is we have \t\t\t\t\tto try to find a common ground. A president is the president \t\t\t\t\tof everybody regardless of who they are or what they are. I \t\t\t\t\tthink that mostly the things that are held dear to different \t\t\t\t\tgroups have to be preserved, that\u2019s the only way to keep the \t\t\t\t\tpeace.
\nA closing word to your ladies fans?<\/strong>
\nI love them all and I am very appreciative of their love. I \t\t\t\t\tam a married man so we have to keep the relationship \t\t\t\t\trespectful and professional to the best of everybody\u2019s \t\t\t\t\tinterests.
\nThank you very much. I am honoured you took time to talk \t\t\t\t\tto us.<\/strong>
\nThe pleasure is all mine. Thank you.
\nFilmography: Rings Of Fire, Mr Ibu, Alice, Indecent Desire, Rituals, Beyond Belief, Falling Apart, Government House, Preacher\u2019s Wife<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cCelebrity is about humility and responsibility to the community. An actor should be able to stay at the level of the general public who created their image.\u201d Dark, tall and handsome actor King Joe Okechukwu comes one in a million. Far from the clich\u00e9s that come with beauty and fame, he has managed to remain […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-273959","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\nKing Joe Okechukwu - Ghanamma.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"King Joe Okechukwu - Ghanamma.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"\u201cCelebrity is about humility and responsibility to the community. An actor should be able to stay at the level of the general public who created their image.\u201d Dark, tall and handsome actor King Joe Okechukwu comes one in a million. Far from the clich\u00e9s that come with beauty and fame, he has managed to remain […]\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/King-Joe-Okechukwu.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ghanamma\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ghanamma\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\",\"@id\":\"\"},\"headline\":\"King Joe Okechukwu\",\"datePublished\":\"2011-01-14T13:51:42+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/\"},\"wordCount\":1705,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/King-Joe-Okechukwu.jpg\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/\",\"name\":\"King Joe Okechukwu - Ghanamma.com\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/King-Joe-Okechukwu.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2011-01-14T13:51:42+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/King-Joe-Okechukwu.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/King-Joe-Okechukwu.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/\",\"name\":\"Ghanamma.com\",\"description\":\"News In Ghana - Latest Ghana News Headlines\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"King Joe Okechukwu - Ghanamma.com","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"King Joe Okechukwu - Ghanamma.com","twitter_description":"\u201cCelebrity is about humility and responsibility to the community. An actor should be able to stay at the level of the general public who created their image.\u201d Dark, tall and handsome actor King Joe Okechukwu comes one in a million. Far from the clich\u00e9s that come with beauty and fame, he has managed to remain […]","twitter_image":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/King-Joe-Okechukwu.jpg","twitter_creator":"@ghanamma","twitter_site":"@ghanamma","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/"},"author":{"name":"","@id":""},"headline":"King Joe Okechukwu","datePublished":"2011-01-14T13:51:42+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/"},"wordCount":1705,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/King-Joe-Okechukwu.jpg","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/","url":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/","name":"King Joe Okechukwu - Ghanamma.com","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/King-Joe-Okechukwu.jpg","datePublished":"2011-01-14T13:51:42+00:00","author":{"@id":""},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/14\/king-joe-okechukwu\/#primaryimage","url":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/King-Joe-Okechukwu.jpg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/King-Joe-Okechukwu.jpg"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/","name":"Ghanamma.com","description":"News In Ghana - Latest Ghana News Headlines","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273959","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=273959"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273959\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=273959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=273959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=273959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}