Emeka Okoye, the Nollywood actor has opened up about the setbacks he faced over his body size.
The actor, who began his career in 1999, said that he had lost several acting opportunities in the movie industry because of his chubby appearance.
Okoye while speaking with Saturday Sun noted asides his chubby appearance, some filmmakers then considered him too small for their preferred characters.
He, however, noted that despite these challenges, he remains grateful for the roles he has been given and content with how far he has come in his career.
Okoye mentioned that his acting choices are influenced by his covenant with God, which is why he steers clear of deep kissing scenes and any roles that may conflict with his beliefs.
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After overcoming a health scare earlier this year, the Papa Pepe actor expressed his gratitude for life and described 2025 as one of the most fulfilling years he has experienced so far.
He said: “Yes I have lost movie roles several times because of my looks. Ironically, when I was slimmer, I also lost roles because I was considered too small. But I’m content and grateful for every opportunity. It has always been God’s guidance.
“Since I started acting in 1999, I’ve turned down roles that go against my covenant with God. I do ‘safe kissing’ scenes like in Ms. Counselor but not deep or tongue-to-tongue kissing.
“During my early days, I experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly, but I never allowed the challenges to deter me. I stayed true to my calling. Weeks later, I got a call that Madam Kemi had picked me for the role in a Netflix Original. I screamed, knelt down, and burst into praise.”
