Stan Nze, popular Nollywood actor has said it would be foolish for him to risk his life just to interpret a movie role.
The award-winning actor made this statement while speaking about role interpretation in the Nigerian movie industry. He explained that there are trained stunt actors who are paid to handle dangerous scenes, and it makes no sense for him to put his life at risk when professionals are available for such tasks.
Speaking with The Nation, Nze said: “Why would I risk my life jumping from a dangerous height in a movie? Jumping characters are done by stunt guys. That’s their job. They are called stunt actors who are well paid for such roles. They have the experience of how to jump and do other things.”
He stressed that acting should not be confused with real-life danger, as the film industry already has experts who are trained to carry out risky stunts. According to him, his duty as an actor is to deliver his character convincingly, while the stunt performers step in to carry out risky actions on set.
Nze added: “I’m not going to be foolish and jump a dangerous height just because I want to be the best actor in Africa, and the people go do one minute of silence and then move on, it is stupidity.”
He further explained that every professional in the film industry has a defined responsibility, and he will only focus on his own. “I will only do the ones I’m meant to do, so that the stunt men can do their job too,” he said.
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The actor’s comments draw attention to the role of stunt performers in Nollywood. These professionals are usually engaged to carry out high-risk actions such as car crashes, falls, fire scenes, and fight sequences. They are trained to take safety precautions and use techniques that help reduce the chances of injury while making the scenes appear realistic on screen.
In recent years, Nollywood has expanded in both size and quality, with more filmmakers now adopting international production standards. This has led to increased recognition of stunt performers, whose work is crucial in keeping actors safe while still delivering action-packed scenes to audiences.
Stan Nze’s remarks highlight the importance of safety in filmmaking, as several movie industries around the world have witnessed tragic accidents when actors attempted dangerous stunts without proper training or safety measures.
The actor, who has featured in numerous Nollywood productions, emphasised that while passion for acting is important, no role is worth losing one’s life over.
