What is your educational background like?
I obtained my senior school certificate from Lagos Progressive Senior Secondary School, Surulere. I also obtained a bachelor of science degree in Mass Communication from Delta State University, Abraka.
How did you become an actor?
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My acting prowess has been there from inception; it is inborn, I think. I started as a stage actor at the age of nine from a drama group back then at Holy Ghost Intercessory Prayer Ministry. It continued to the university where I had a larger stage and crowd.
It would not be a perfect Sunday service if I did not perform before the large crowd of people at Living Faith Church in Abraka. This gave me a mini-celeb status right from my university days and I soon became so popular that people attended that church just to watch me act. I needed no magician to tell me this (acting) was my calling.
What drew Nollywood producers to you?
Thank God for Simi’s groundbreaking song, Joromi, which gave me little prominence in the industry. From there, other producers and directors started noticing the young fine man who was the video fox in the musical video. God and hard work did the rest.
What were the challenges you encountered in the industry when you came in?
There was no help or opportunities. I did not know anyone, I just attended auditions and hoped to be called upon, which hardly happened. Most of the time, auditions were for publicity because the main casting had been done way before the auditions. And when you were fortunate to get the callback and the roles, the fees were disheartening, but the love and passion for the job kept me going.
What other personal principles kept you going?
If it (a job) is for you, nothing can stop you from getting it. Persistence is also needed because many people also want the same thing as you. Be the last person to talk because others just want to hear you talk and there are hardly genuine friends in the same line of business, so expect the unexpected.
Aside from being an actor, what else do you do?
Acting is a full-time job unless you are not a busy actor, but I have an international brand, JS Couture, in Los Angeles, United States.
Which movie characters made you more popular?
Playing the Mr Nigeria character in Agbokolori, the young Paul Edima in The Black Book, and Philip in Mad Love made me more popular.
How has fame changed you?
It has helped me to always watch what I do, especially when I am in a public space. Fame helps me to live my life as a role model which I would not say is easy or interesting at all times but then, it is the line of business one has chosen for oneself, so I have got to live with what comes with it.
How do you handle your female fans?
First of all, I came to understand that once you are a good-looking man, they will always want you. So what I do is, I keep the compliments as compliments. I don’t give the space for you to convert it to something else. I am friendly with them because you need your fans or fan base to keep growing but I don’t flirt with them or encourage it.
Are you currently working on any project?
I am working on two projects for the big screen. One is in the post-production phase while the second will commence this month. Their working titles are Phoenix Fury and Covenant.