Pete Edochie Has Failed To Be A Better Actor—Odukwe

Source: Nathan Nathaniel Ekpo/Nigeriafilms.com

Nollywood actor, Deinso Ifeanyi Odukwe, has earned himself much credits in the Nigerian movie industry since venturing into acting at age six, but the actor is still not satisfied with the stage at which the industry is.

According to the actor, most Nollywood practitioners do not understand or do not want to change their style of acting as they believe that they cannot key into another character.

The actor in an interview with Tribune, was thankful to movie producer, Lancelot Imesheun, whom he says taught him a lot about movie and explained to him that that a large percentage of every character one plays, lives in the character.

In his words, “Even if you are asked to play the role of an armed robber, when you search deeply, you will realise that you had at some point in your life tinkered with the idea of stealing, or of even becoming that character. It is this image or the subconscious image of an armed robber that would carry you through that role till the end.”

Ifeanyi applauded the few actors who have decided to understand the principle of characterization but fault those whom he says he would not like to see on screen because of their stereotype way of acting pointing iconic actor, Pete Edochie as an example.

“There is only one name in my head. Pete Edochie. In the last sixteen years, Pete has been acting as the same person. The same Pete on stage is still same Pete off stage no matter the role. He does not transform. His beard never goes down. His mien is the name. This is not the stuff of acting. An actor should easily become whoever he wishes to become. If I get a script to become you tomorrow, I should do a better job of becoming you, or even a better you. That is the point,” he said.

He added that, “He is admired because of his role in 'Things Fall Apart' and because he became popular in Nollywood when the industry was growing, when he played the king roles and sometimes the villain roles. I am not saying he is not a good actor. I am saying he has refused to become a better actor over the years. He has refused to change.”