Veteran Nollywood actor and voice-over artiste, Segun Arinze, says his intense public personality is often mistaken for anger.
Arinze made the clarification while speaking on his career, family, music and the Nigerian film industry.
He said although he could be passionate, direct and vocal when addressing issues, he was not constantly angry as many people perceived.
The veteran actor explained that there was a difference between his public personality and his private life, which he said revolved around family, quiet moments and personal reflection.
Arinze, who became widely known for his portrayal of Black Arrow in the movie Silent Night, said the role changed the trajectory of his career but also created the challenge of being typecast as a villain.
He said he deliberately took on different roles and ventured into directing, producing, television presentation and voice-over to demonstrate his versatility.
On the growth of Nollywood, Arinze said the industry had gained global access through streaming platforms and improved technology.
He, however, observed that the industry had lost some of the rawness and innocence associated with the early VHS era.
According to him, the emphasis on making films commercially attractive and suitable for streaming should not overshadow the importance of good storytelling.
Arinze also urged young actors to embrace professional training, saying talent without discipline could only take them so far.
He advised aspiring actors to understand their characters, prepare adequately for auditions and remain open to direction.
The actor also cautioned against equating social media popularity with acting ability.
He said followers, likes and viral content should support an artiste’s career rather than become the career itself.
On the preservation of Nollywood’s history, Arinze called for the establishment of a properly funded archive to document the industry’s pioneers, films, scripts, photographs, recordings and oral histories.
He described the pioneers as the living library of Nollywood and warned that important aspects of the industry’s history could be lost without proper documentation.
Reflecting on his tenure as President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Arinze said leadership required making difficult decisions in the interest of members rather than seeking to please everyone.
He called for continued professionalism, transparency and responsiveness within the guild.
The actor also described his family as his anchor, saying marriage and fatherhood had taught him responsibility and reminded him that his life was about more than professional achievements.
On his future plans, Arinze said he hoped to create projects combining acting, storytelling, voice, television and mentorship.
He said his greatest ambition was to create opportunities for young creative talents and leave a legacy of opening doors for others.
Arinze also revealed that he had not completely ruled out a return to music, recalling his early album, Dreams, as an important part of his artistic journey.
Oluwatosin I
