Linda Osifo The Early Stages of My Career

Were Very Tough, Challenging

Having experienced a world apart from what she’s used to, Nigerian actress and Canadian trained Psychologist, Linda Osifo was torn between practicing in Toronto, and pursuing her passion of becoming a screen performer back home. She settled for the latter, after weighing the options, and got her first break into the spotlight in Nigeria from Desperate Housewives Africa. The beautiful, and brilliant Linda tells Ferdinand Ekechukwu that the early stages of her career were tough and thought-provoking, dealing with cultural, environmental and social changes, as she reminisces on her journey so far

Why did you relocate to Nigeria from Canada when it would have been the other way round for most?

Whenever I’m asked that question I tend to get emotional and smile because its true most would have it the other way around. Firstly, being a Canadian citizen had given me the level of comfort and exposure I needed in life. I was at a very delicate stage in my life where I had to make a career choice. I had just turned 22, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and had to choose between practicing Psychology in Toronto, Canada, or pursuing a passion of becoming a screen performer. Nigeria wasn’t my first choice, because it was a total world apart from what I was used to for almost 15 years of my life. I had my options opened to New York City and Los Angeles, but I felt a stronger connection to Nigeria because my belief always was that the western world is already developed and there are so much more developments that Africa still needs as a whole and why not begin with my own home, which is Nigeria.

How was the feeling when you came back to Nigeria?

You’re taking me into memory lane because it will be 8 years this year since I came back. The feeling was indescribable!!! You can’t describe Nigeria, especially Lagos by words, if you know what I mean. You just have to be here to experience all of its wonders.

What has the experience been like since venturing into acting?

Since I ventured into acting professionally it’s been another experience that words truly can’t explain. It’s a life journey. I say that because each stage comes with different life experiences. The early stages of my acting career were very tough and challenging because I was an unknown face. I was dealing with cultural, environmental, and social changes all together within that time. I did not know anyone in the industry or understood exactly what I was doing. I was simply looking for job opportunities everywhere and every day, I would go out for auditions that I felt could be a breakthrough. The experience started changing when I got my first break into the spotlight from Desperate Housewives Africa in 2015. I started to understand what I wanted and what I am doing. I was able to take more control of my choices. Overall it’s been a great and beautiful experience that I couldn’t be grateful for.

You also model alongside acting, tell us about it. Which did you start with first?

Both modeling and acting had been playing alongside me since I started. I started as a beauty queen in 2012, which had created an avenue for me in modeling.

Have you always wanted to be an actor?

Yes, I have. I auditioned and performed for my first ever acting role at the age of 14 in a Christmas school play in St. Marcellus Catholic School in Canada. I grew up in a small community church where I had managed the youth group and coordinated its entertainment departments such as dancing, drama, children and youth day, and many more. Also, I specialized in courses that had to do with drama both in high school and university and was always hands-on with anything that involved fine arts at every stage of my life. All I needed to do was choose the one that I loved the most and that was acting.

What movie launched you into the limelight?

The African adaptation of the ABC Studio series, Desperate Housewives Africa, by Ebony Life in 2015.

What were you doing before acting?

I was still in school studying psychology at York University Canada and a part-time health worker before professionally acting.

Tell us a bit of your journey into acting; what attracted you… What was the first movie you featured in?

My journey into acting started after I contested in a beauty pageant when I was 21. A producer saw my pageant performance and immediately offered me a position as a TV Host for a Talk show. I got to interview local guests and celebrities. I saw how effortless I flowed with the camera and how much I loved seeing myself on the screen. From that platform, I was offered my first acting role in 2012 for an international job in New Jersey which was “Family Secrets” by Onyeka.

Are there any roles you can’t play in movies?

Definitely. I choose my roles now, more cautiously. Specifically, I wouldn’t take a role that involves nudity or that line.

What do you keep up with when you are not on set?

When I’m not on set I keep up with my friends and family and some one on one time with myself.

What are the things you treasure most in life?

My family and my career.

How was growing up like, family background, and how has it contributed to what you are today?

My life while growing up would have to be broken down into 2 phases. The first phase is growing up in Benin City, Edo, where I was born. I spent most of it around my grandmother. I believed that may have contributed to my level of maturity at a young age. Growing up in Benin was the average typical day-to-day struggle with insecurity and instability. I mainly remembered most of my childhood experiences to be traumatic due to the major insecurity my family experienced at that time. The second phase of growing up for me was in Canada, where life was very different and structured. That phase took place at age 8 till 22. I spent those years closely growing up with my parents & my siblings. My parents are faith-based and very supportive of me. This created a strong bond between my parents and myself. Both experiences have tremendously contributed to the way I view life and to what I am today.

You once said you are not in a relationship. Has your relationship status changed?

(Laughs-out-loud), I’m not yet married so I guess my relationship status hasn’t changed majorly.

Who is Linda Osifo? Tell us your likes and dislikes; your hobbies; turn on, turn off departments; phobia, your favorite food, favorite color, and things like that…

Linda Osifo is a girl who is just simple, very funny, and very down-to-earth. She loves taking adventures. She’s a character on her own. She’s super athletic and loves sports. She loves everything about art. She loves to work a lot. She has a soft heart. She’s a humanitarian, she dislikes taking advantage of others. She loves fashion and uses fashion to express herself. Her favorite animal is a lion; she hates any animal that slides on the ground.

Her favorite shade of color is black and royal blue is her color. My horoscope sign is Leo. She goes crazy over Banga soup and starch, especially with snails and dried fish! She loves listening to music and dancing but not a great dancer at all. The rest of me, I’m still discovering one day at a time.