EELive and burgeoning Nigerian movie actor King Tijesunimi sat down to discuss observations of life, personal development, and life as a movie actor.
In a nation of almost 200 million people, becoming a movie actor could be quite tedious and a burdensome dream to achieve. Several burgeoning actors have stepped aside for various reasons- the alleged toxic environment of the entertainment industry could be a major factor, bullying from senior colleagues, incessant demand for pleasure, etc. The list goes on, however, this man right here is looking to become a mainstay in the Nigerian movie industry.
Speaking with EELive, King Tijesunimi recounts how family, faith in God, and self-belief play pivotal roles in his pursuit to etch his name in history through acting.
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“When I was a kid, one of my aunts, Damilola, asked my younger sister, Jestuboliba, and me what we wanted to become,” Davies said in the opening part of the interview.
He went further to reveal how his love for drama as a child influenced his decision to choose acting as a career path. He had this to say, “my sister said she wanted to become a princess, and I said I wanted to become a superhero, though I knew it wasn’t possible. But she, perhaps trying to please a young kid’s innocence, said, “Anything is possible.” I’ve held onto those words my whole life. I have never let difficulties or discomfort hinder my dreams.”
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Seeking Purpose… “For me, acting is freedom”
In the other part of the interview, King Davies disclosed that he has always wanted to become a superstar.
“Over the years, the things I’ve wanted to become have changed several times—singer, hero, army officer, rockstar, you name it,” he had this to say.
He went further to state, “I dreamed of it until I acted in a school drama and played a Fulani herdsman. It was so much fun. Later, at another school (because we moved around a lot when I was younger), I was selected to play a rich man in an end-of-the-year school drama.”
“Soon enough, I realized that acting was the one profession that allowed me to wear the suit of all my dreams. I could become anybody—if the casting director allowed it, of course. For me, acting is freedom,” he added.
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How King Davies Broke Into The Movie Industry
In the latter part of the interview session, the foremost Nigerian thespian disclosed how he broke into the Nigerian movie industry.
“I told a friend of mine back in the day, who also had a passion for acting, and she invited me to my first-ever audition for a series sponsored by a very popular drink company,” Davies said.
Despite experiencing rejection at first, Davies stated that he appreciated the opportunity to go out for an interview.
He went forward to say, “I didn’t get selected, but I was happy that I went. So I started going for more auditions, believing all I needed was one “yes.””
“I Am Not Doing It For Money”
Davies added that he wasn’t doing anything for money, instead, he is here to achieve his objective of becoming a Nollywood thespian.
He went forward to say, “I wasn’t making any money at the time—I had left banking to pursue acting full-time. I burned through my savings going from one audition to another. I even travelled to Abuja and Abeokuta once, where I was selected, only to be told I had to pay a ridiculous fee to register for the role.”
He added, “It was a difficult time, and I almost wanted to give up several times. But I kept reminding myself of actors I admired, like how people told Sylvester Stallone he couldn’t act.
One day, I prayed and told God that if I didn’t get a role in six months, I’d know this wasn’t for me. Then the call came. I got a role in the Netflix movie Prophetess. It wasn’t a serious role, but I was excited. I eventually got to do two speaking scenes and two stunt scenes playing soccer. There’s a lot more to say, but that was the beginning for me.”
Check out his following social media accounts: King_tijesunimi (Instagram), @groundzero.production (Tiktok), groundzeroproduction.ent (YouTube)
