Director I respected told me I was too ugly to act – Blessing Obasi

Nollywood actress and producer Blessing Obasi-Nze has opened up about her deeply personal and painful journey into the Nigerian film industry. She shared how it was one marked by rejection, faith, and an unshakable belief in purpose.

In an emotional interview with Punch, the 43-year-old actress revealed that at one point in her early career, a respected director she admired once told her she was “too ugly” to be in front of the camera. She shared:

“I even remember when a popular director I deeply respected once told me I was too ugly to be in front of the camera. But look at me now.”

The comment, she said, cut deep at the time. But it wasn’t the only battle she faced. Like many actors trying to find their feet in Nollywood, Blessing’s early years were filled with frustration, uncertainty, and near-abandonment of her passion.

“It was a moment of deep gratitude, like everything was finally starting to make sense,” she said, recalling the turning point in her career.

She shared how a sermon by Pastor Sam Adeyemi at the Accelerate Conference gave her the courage to push forward when she was on the verge of giving up. According to her, the words “Stay put… it will make sense” became a prophetic anchor in her darkest moments.

Blessing didn’t rise overnight. Long before she was known for her role in “Momiwa” or celebrated as the wife of actor Stan Nze, she was the young girl whose mum once dragged to a barbershop to cut her hair after an audition prep gone wrong. She recalled:

“Some friends told me to blow out my hair for an audition. When my mum saw it, she was angry and made me cut it off completely. She told me to stop acting and focus on school.”

Still, her passion never died. In university, she tried again. But the balance between acting and academics was tough, so she temporarily paused her acting dream. After school, she even worked in a top oil company, but her heart remained tied to the craft. Eventually, she returned to acting for good.

Along the way, she recalled how she faced another kind of pressure, with people advising her to give up and get a “real job.” But through it all, she had people who believed in her.

“My best friend used to call me ‘my akwam (my egg)’ and would always say, ‘When you go blow, you go blow,’” she said with heartfelt gratitude.

Now, with her acting career blooming, a beautiful marriage, and motherhood, Blessing Obasi-Nze says it’s all been a journey of grace.