I want to win an Oscar –Enyinna Nwigwe

  Weekend Magazine: You’ve been quite busy lately. Could you share with us what you have been doing? Enyinna Nwigwe:  Yes, I have been really busy; the past couple of months have had me literally on my feet.  I had quite a run at the cinemas from the last quarter of 2016 with back-to-back film […]

 

Weekend Magazine: You’ve been quite busy lately. Could you share with us what you have been doing?

Enyinna Nwigwe:  Yes, I have been really busy; the past couple of months have had me literally on my feet.  I had quite a run at the cinemas from the last quarter of 2016 with back-to-back film releases from September till date. We started with ‘When Love Happens Again’ (Sequel to ‘When Love Happens’) then ‘Dinner,’ after that came ‘Wedding Party’ and then ‘All About Love.’  So, it’s been one cinema tour or the other and between this, I have been shuttling between Los Angeles and Kenya. Kenya for a TV show recording I’m super excited about and can’t wait to share with you and Hollywood for a film project, ‘American King’ in which  I am featured with Akon and some other great talents.   This one will jolt the black race; it is comedy with a very strong message.

 

WM: Please tell us about acting with Rahama and Akon.

Nwigwe: It was great working with both of them. Rahama’s passion for the art is one I admire. She put her heart to her role and that was everything. Akon is one of the warmest hearts I have ever encountered; great energy on set always, team player to the core, this will be my second time working with him after ‘Black November.’

 

WM: What is the experience like starring in feature films and series?

Nwigwe: They’re quite different experiences. Film allows more time on set to get it right. I believe the process is usually more thorough. Perhaps because we have a shorter time to tell a story, I do enjoy both experiences as they afford an actor a chance at a wider audience.

 

WM: You starred in ‘Wheel of Change,’ ‘Games Men Play,’ ‘Black November,’ and ‘Reloaded’ among some others. The roles were quite varied. Please share with us your experience interpreting these roles.

Nwigwe: ‘Wheel of Change’ was my very first feature. It opened the door to my passion for the craft. I was yet to fully grasp the rudiments of acting but I am  grateful for the opportunity and experience it afforded me. The others offered varied roles but then it had become a case of another day at the office.  At this point, I had come to enjoy every role like I would any of life’s adventures. ‘Black November’ exposed me to a bigger stage with world recognized talents like Mickey Rourke, Vivica A. Fox, Kim Basinger, Akon, Wyclef, Anne Heche and others.

 

WM: Were there times a previous role conflicted with a current one?

Nwigwe: I have always taken my time with my projects, so I haven’t been in that position yet. I finish one and prep for the next.

 

WM: Which has been the most difficult character you have had to play?

Nwigwe: I’ll say my character in the movie ‘Love Struck’ by Obi Emelonye. And that was due to the physicality demanded in one of the scenes that required me convincingly running the run of my life, with the camera set up on a moving vehicle and me having to run after it, over and over, till the director got what he was looking for. At the time, I was nursing a knee injury from tennis.

 

WM: Is there a character you have played that has brought out a part of you, which you didn’t know existed?

Nwigwe: Yes, Tamuno in ‘Black November’. The intensity I had to channel in the hostage- taking scene. I had been to the Niger Delta for research and a documentary around the time, but I didn’t know how bad the oil spills, gas flaring, corruption between the oil companies, government and local community chiefs, etc was until I signed up for this project. I had to remember all I encountered in these communities – the sick people, malnourished children and all, to channel that back in anger.

 

WM: What is the most fun role you’ve ever played, and why?

Nwigwe: Still same ‘Black November.’ There was a lot of travelling and learning. I love to travel and experience cultures and people. It afforded me that and more.

 

WM: What is the one award that you are looking forward to clinching?

Nwigwe: The highest award in this craft would be the Oscars and I believe in possibilities, so I’d say the Oscars. However, as much as awards are great, I work more based on the belief in whatever the project represents – me finding a truthful/believable way of communicating with the audience and generally having a great time whilst at it. Awards validate our effort, which is great. But there’s a whole lot more to enjoy without them. We can’t control it all.

 

WM: Who are your favourite actors and what do you like about their work and style?

Nwigwe: At the moment that would be Dwayne Johnson (The Rock). He represents everything I hope to achieve as a brand, his tenacity is second to none. He stays hungry, never backs down, disciplined with his body and craft and also very hands on with the business of the show. And in all of this, he is such a great sport, an all-round great guy.

 

WM: What is your dream role and what would you bring to it?

Nwigwe: Too many dream roles. Two in the pipeline for recording this 2017, sadly I can’t discuss, one is a biopic. All I owe to them is thorough preparation and my heart.