“I Was Given a Script to Sleep With a Dog” — Nkechi Blessing Recounts Shocking Start to Nollywood Career
Popular Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday has opened up about one of the most disturbing challenges she faced at the beginning of her acting journey — and how a bold decision shaped the trajectory of her career.
Speaking on a recent episode of The Honest Bunch podcast, the actress revealed that early in her career, she was handed an outrageous script that required her to sleep with a dog on screen.
For a newcomer eager to break into the industry, this could have been a tough temptation. But for Nkechi, it was an immediate and firm “no.”
Nkechi Blessing: “I can’t start my career like that”
In her words:
“Despite being a newcomer, I was given a script to sleep with a dog. I rejected it because I can’t start off my career like that… Imagine my first ever movie, I am sleeping with a dog. It is going to be a tag because whatever you start with is what people would associate you with.”
She added that while she walked away from the role, several other young actresses quickly accepted it.
“I’m not sure any of them are in the limelight today,” she noted.
Her decision, she said, protected her image and opened the door to better opportunities.
How Emeka Duru Redirected Her Path
After rejecting the script, Nkechi Blessing crossed paths with veteran filmmaker Emeka Duru, who saw potential in her and offered her a chance to work with him.
That opportunity eventually led to her debut role in “Through The Fire,” a film by renowned producer Emem Isong — setting her on the path to the thriving career she enjoys today.
Opinion: Nollywood Must Do Better for Young Talents
Nkechi Blessing’s experience is not just a personal testimony — it exposes a deeper problem within Nollywood: the exploitation of newcomers through outrageous, degrading or sensational scripts.
While some filmmakers push boundaries for creativity, there is a thin line between bold storytelling and outright disrespect for human dignity. Scripts that demean actors — especially desperate young women trying to find their footing — reveal a troubling loophole in the industry’s moral compass.
Nkechi’s courage to walk away, especially as a struggling newcomer, is rare. Not everyone has the confidence, guidance, or financial stability to reject roles that compromise their values. This is why Nollywood must actively:
protect new actors from exploitation
create a safe, ethical environment for upcoming talent
establish proper guild guidelines for extreme or sensitive scripts
At its heart, Nkechi’s story is a reminder that integrity still pays. Her refusal did not shut her out — it positioned her for something better.
And today, she stands as a testimony that choosing dignity over desperation can still lead to success.
