Nkechi Emmanuel, popularly known as Nurse Titi, has come a long way in her acting profession. Her career got a major boost after she starred in popular TV soap opera, ‘Clinic Matters’, which earned her the nickname, Nurse Titi. Since then, she has gone ahead to act in major blockbuster movies like ‘Black Bird’, ‘When You Are Mine’, ‘Most Wanted Nurses’, ‘Adaora’, among others. In a chat, the Anambra Stateborn thespian opens up on her career and dreams of being in Hollywood
When did you start acting?
I have been acting since 2008 and it was my flair and passion for acting that actually led me into Nollywood. I watched people acting and got interested so I told my parents about it. My mum was in full support but my dad was not. Sometimes, my mum will sneak me out and dress me up for auditions with her big jewellery and I will be looking very small inside and even give me transport fare.
One day, she gave me money and I registered as an actress with the Actors Guild of Nigeria and from there, I started attending several auditions which I can’t count now. I finally got my first role with the movie titled ‘When you are mine’ where I played a nurse in the movie. It was after the movies that the producer of ‘Clinic Matters’ saw me and invited me for auditioning. It was a big audition, over 300 hundred people were present and he needed just three people. I gave my best and I was picked. That is where I played the role of ‘Nurse Titi’.
Since your dad was a little bit skeptical at the beginning, how does he feel now?
He is my number one fan right now. He loves to watch my act now; anytime I come home with my new work, he just loves to watch me. I have learnt a lot from acting; even things relating to health which I didn’t know before, I know better now. My dad sometimes even gives me money to buy fuel when I am going for acting.
How many movies have you done so far? By God’s grace, I have done over 30 films and about eight TV soap operas.
So far, which will you describe as the most challenging?
I would say each comes with various challenges. ‘Clinic Matters’ has its own challenges because I didn’t have any knowledge of hospitals before now. Sometimes, when I saw the big grammar in the script or medical terms which I can’t even pronounce, I had to go back to my director and ask help to pronounce them and try to find out what it means because I need to understand what I am saying myself, that is one big challenge with ‘Clinic Matters’. The recent movie where I had to act with a live snake in the forest, is titled ‘Horror in the grace’ was shot in Owerri.
They brought a live snake and I was lying close to the snake, the Hausa man who brought the snake had to tell me to relax, that when I relax the snake will also relax and this was like 2am in the forest. It wasn’t funny, at a point I told the director I don’t want to act anymore and the director told me since I’ve started, I have to end and there was no going back. At a point I had to just zero my mind like whatever happens, should just happen. God had to see me through, at the end it was a successful shot. The movie came out well, I had no regrets.
Do you have any regret going into Nollywood?
No. Rather it’s been a plus to my life.
If you have the opportunity to change something in Nollywood, what would that be?
I would like to change the wrong perceptions p e o p l e have about actors and actresses. T h e way people see the female actresses, most people even see us as prostitutes. And most times, it’s just because you played one role or the other; they perceive you to be like that. I have witnessed one where somebody challenged me at the supermarket and was saying, ‘why did you snatch your colleague’s boyfriend?’ It was embarrassing. I had to start explaining to the person that it was just the role I played in the movie; it wasn’t easy that day.
Where do you draw your inspiration from, most especially when you had to act with a live snake?
First and foremost I would say is God and secondly, my mom. She is a very strong woman; she’s been supporting my career and when I think about her, I wouldn’t want to let her down. When I remember all she has gone through for me, I know I have to make her proud. I want to be successful more than she is; I want to be stronger than her. And when I see my other colleagues who have been successful, like Omotola Jalade-Ekinde, she’s a family woman and she’s still able to combine that with her work, she inspires me a lot. Also, the fact that I want to someday act in a Hollywood movie, I want to shoot with Angelina Jolie because I love her so much. All of this gives me inspiration not to give up.
Will it be right to say Omotola is your role model?
Yes, she’s one of my role models. There are a whole lot of them; I also like Genevieve Nanji and Joke Silva.
Can you act Nood role in a movie?
No, I can’t. I have even gotten an offer for that kind of movie but I turned it down. I can’t be totally naked in a film even though I am acting a make-believe movie. I am a proud African woman, and I have my culture to respect, I have my family, I am from a Christian home. No matter the amount, I can’t act Nood in any movie.
Are you in a relationship?
I am in a relationship of course, but I wouldn’t want to reveal his identity on the pages of newspapers.
How would you describe your sex life?
I have a lot on my mind that I don’t even think of that at the moment.
Where do we see ‘Nurse Titi’ five years from now?
I see myself in Hollywood.
What advice do you have for aspiring actresses?
It was an advice Aunty Omotola gave me when I was starting. She sat me down in her office and told me, ‘go to school, after school, Nollywood will still be here; you can always come back and act’. I would also pass it to the younger ones, you have to face your education first and after that, you can always act.
Then, you should be able to tell yourself what you really want.
Do you want to be an actress because of the money or because of the fame or because you want to leave a legacy behind for up-coming generations? If it’s for fame and money; I am sorry, you could be in Nollywood for a very long time without getting any of these. But, if you are going into acting because you want to leave a legacy, then you have to be focused, prayerful, and determined to get the best out.
You were recently voted as Most Promising Actress by Classic Africa Merit Award (CAMA), how do you feel about this award?
Honestly, when I received the letter from the organiser about my nomination, I wasn’t really moved; I just read the letter and dropped it on the table. The following morning, my dad saw it and read through and he said congratulations that God will let you have it. It was then it dawned on me that I was in for a big honour.
So, on the day of the event, I just went there and when the category was read and they said the winner was me, I broke down in tears. It’s really an honour to be recognised. I am grateful to God for how He has seen me through, to my fans for finding me worthy of such award and to the organisers.
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