S3X-FOR-ROLE: Nollywood actress shares her ordeal with prominent filmmaker

The growing increase of sexual assault rocking the movie industry has once again been brought to the fore by Nollywood actress Blessing Egbe- the creator of the series Lekki Wives.

According to the dark skinned thespian in an interview, a prominent writer, producer and director (whom she didn’t name) wanted to try his luck on her by offering her a role in his movie only if she slept with him but she pulled a fast one on him.

Revealing her ordeal in the hands of the filmmaker, Blessing Egbe said; “The harassment came from a prominent writer, producer, director who also wanted to try his luck. I had called to speak to him about the possibility of us working together. He gave me an appointment which I kept.

“The meeting was at a hotel, not his office. I had asked him why we were meeting at the hotel and he said, it was a makeshift office… A routine he does when he needs time to write. I believed him and followed him to the makeshift office.

“When inside, he gave me a script to read and went on to spew some lyrics which was intended to hit the right spot. Only that my spot isn’t easily receptive to such targets. His lyrics were: “you know, writing is like a drug when I start, I get really into it, and that’s why I like to retreat” I go: “wow, I can imagine me too I’d like to write some screenplays some day.

“I think I have a flair for it. “I must have taken him off his route because his next statement made sure to take us there. “Don’t you want to act again?” He asked. “of course, I do, shebi that’s why I called you. You shoot a lot of films and I will like to feature in one” I replied. Then he said something like: “Great then but all the scripts I have now had complete cast attached. What I can do for you is simple, I’ll write like 3 of 4 scripts with you as lead. But to do that you will have to spend some time with me, we will travel to the east together and as I see you, the inspiration will come for the stories.

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“I paused for a while, then came up with an answer: “wow you will do that for me? Thank you so much. This calls for a celebration. I’m coming, let me discharge my cabman. He was smiling when I left the room, but the smile didn’t last as I called him soon after I entered the cab and abused the hell out of him,” she added.

Blessing Egbe is the second high profile actress to voice out her frustration over sexual harassment in the industry weeks after actress cum producer Uche Jombo shared her experience.

Reacting to the incidence of widespread allegations of sexual assault on upcoming actresses in an interview with HipTV, the actress said she was once a victim.

She said; “I’ve been in that kind of situation twice during my starting days. I rehearsed for almost two weeks only to come next and find that someone else was reading my role because I declined the request to ‘see me’ (for sex).That experience made me weep seriously, I was hurt but four to five years later, I made it big.”

The 38-year-old thespian also explained how she survived and maintained her stance at the detriment of her career at the time.

“It is personal integrity. In my days, we move on when we’re denied opportunities for refusing to give in to sexual demands.

“Sometimes, it’s your individual strength, drive and process that matters. What takes some six months to accomplish might take others six years. Are you ready to wait for your time or you just want a shortcut that leads to no long-lasting opportunity? If you want the shortcut, chances are that there are many people willing to give it,” she added.

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