“I Feel Blessed & Grateful”- Actress Sandra Okunzuwa Writes As She Celebrates 27th Birthday (PHOTOS)

Nollywood actress & film producer, Sandra Okunzuwa is celebrating her 27th birthday today.

Sharing lovely photos, the actress wrote:

“I feel blessed & grateful. Happy birthday to me”

Sandra Ese Osayamon Okunzuwa (born 25 February 1996 is a Nigerian lawyer, actress and movie producer. She won one of the 2021 Eko Star Film & TV Awards by Nigerian International Film and TV Summit.

In 2021, She was announced alongside Ike Onyema to host Africa Choice Awards.

Okunzuwa started her career as an actress in Nollywood in 2018. She made her first debut, Blind Spot where she played the role of the Ekemini. She is also a lawyer in Nigeria.

Sandra Okunzunwa reveals that she will never sell her dignity for fame in an exclusive interview with GISTMANIA BLOG:

Background

My childhood was pretty interesting. As a kid, I participated in different extra curricula activities such as cultural dances, drama and debates. I think that was what stirred my interest in entertainment. The not-so-good times (of my childhood) were being bullied by my peers while in secondary school. This made me struggle with my academics. But, I still tried to make myself happy with those extracurricular activities.

Education

For my elementary education, I attended Tender Kiddies Foundation, in Sapele, Delta State. I went to Federal Government Girls College, Benin, Edo State, for my secondary education. I then went on to study Law at the University of Benin. After attending the Nigerian Law School, I was called to the Bar as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Law

I am a lawyer and nothing would ever change that. As a child, I had a lot of dreams, goals and aspirations I wanted to achieve in order to live a fulfilled life without regrets. Being in the movie industry was one of them and I feel it’s about time I fulfilled that aspect. I haven’t left law for acting. I have just placed practising as a lawyer on hold temporarily since I can’t do both at the same time.

Parents’ reaction

My parents didn’t disapprove of my acting career because right from the onset, they had known about the entertainment side of me. Their duty is to guide me, so I don’t make mistakes. They are fully in support of my decision.

Acting

Acting may not be as rewarding as I want it to be but I still get to inspire and encourage a lot of people through my craft. That alone is a reward for me.

Fears

One of my fears is not getting that breakthrough and my craft not being recognised internationally. I believe that I will excel but sometimes, the fear still creeps in.

Another fear I have is failing to achieve all my dreams, goals and aspirations.

Sacrifice

My biggest sacrifice was leaving my comfort zone to get what I wanted. I left my family in Benin, paused my career in law and moved to Lagos to squat with a friend because I wanted to pursue a career in the movie industry.

Challenges

One of the biggest challenges I have faced in Nollywood is going for auditions and not getting picked. Also, being misjudged just because some people are intimidated by my craft, disappointments and low pay are also problematic issues.

Qualities

The personal qualities that have helped me are consistency, constant learning and self-improvement. I believe that anything one is not consistent with won’t succeed. God’s grace is also very important. I take my relationship with God seriously.

segxwal harassment

As regards segxwal harassment, I haven’t experienced it and I thank God for that. Also, I believe the industry has changed over the years from when it was in the hands of some marketers. Now, there are a lot of independent producers who are more particular about producing good films as against what they would benefit segxwally from actors.

Nollywood

It wasn’t easy to get movie roles; I had to start from scratch. I attended Royal Arts Academy and I also went for several auditions. Sometimes, I was picked and sometimes, I wasn’t selected. But still, I didn’t give up. I kept on pushing and giving my best. One of the unforgettable experiences was going for an audition and after giving it my all, they said they would get back to me. I felt really bad because at the end of the day, someone else was used. It led me to ask if I was doing the right thing. However, I still didn’t give up and kept pushing.

Moments

My memorable moments include the day I got my first car and the day I got a lead role.

Don’ts

I would never kill someone or sell my dignity to become popular. I would also never accept a role that requires nudity.

Dreams

My dreams are so big that they scare me sometimes. To mention some of them, I would love to win an Academy Award (Oscars) as an actor and filmmaker. I would also like to work with reputable international film production companies