Nollywood actress, Nkechi Blessing, has revealed that one of the earliest movie roles she was offered in the industry required her to “sleep with a dog,” a proposal she immediately rejected.
Speaking about her early days in Nollywood in a recent episode of The Honest Bunch podcast, the actress said the script was handed to her when she was still a newcomer trying to find her footing in the industry.
According to her, accepting such a role would have created a damaging impression that could follow her throughout her career.
“Despite being a newcomer, I was given a script to sleep with a dog. I rejected it because I can’t start off my career like that,” she said.
Nkechi Blessing explained that she was concerned about the long-term consequences of taking on such a controversial role as her first appearance in a movie.
“Imagine my first ever movie, I am sleeping with a dog. It doesn’t make sense. It is going to be a tag because whatever you start with is what people would associate you with,” she said.
The actress said she decided to protect her image and future in Nollywood, noting that she did not want to be remembered or stereotyped for such an extreme act.
She added, “I didn’t want to be renowned as someone who sleeps with dogs in movies.
“So I rejected that script. But immediately I threw it down, so many girls grabbed it. I’m not sure any of them are in the spotlight today.”
Blessing said that after leaving the production set, she met veteran Nollywood filmmaker Emeka Duru, who offered to work with her.
She added that Duru eventually gave her the opportunity to make her acting debut in a film directed by Imem Isong.
