Veteran Nollywood actress, Ini Edo, has expressed gratitude for her enduring relevance in the film industry, more than two decades after she first graced the screen.
In a candid interview with Saturday Beats, the screen diva admitted that it feels both humbling and surprising that fans still cling tightly to her early works, despite her impressive filmography.
“It is very humbling and equally very troubling that many people are still referencing old Nollywood movies that I acted in,” she said. “I have done over 300 films, yet everybody seems to just be stuck on a movie from like 20 years ago. Those stories are still very much embedded in people’s minds way beyond what we’re doing today.”
While acknowledging the progress of modern Nollywood, Ini Edo emphasized the emotional power of nostalgia. “That’s not to say that what we are doing today isn’t good enough. It’s just to say that for some reason, real movie lovers are unable to let go of the memories of those days. My challenge now is how to create things that can last for another 20 years in the minds of people.”
The actress also shed light on her relationship with fans and how she handles public attention.
“I think that in everything we do, we have to apply some level of discipline. When one chooses this life, one should know that one can’t eat one’s cake and have it. You can’t be successful in the public eye and still control how people react when they see you.”
According to her, fan encounters can be unpredictable. “Some fans never imagined they would meet one in real life. So, when they do, sometimes the reactions are sweet, other times, not so pleasant. There are places you go and people act like they don’t even see you. So, when you come across people bold enough to appreciate you, I believe one should be receptive to that appreciation.”
