Why Rita Dominic, a Nollywood actress, gave up acting

Renowned Nollywood actress Rita Dominic has opened up about her decision to step away from the movie industry, shedding light on the personal struggles and professional challenges that prompted her hiatus.

In a recent address, the talented Nigerian actress revealed that she took a break from acting in 2001-2002 following a tumultuous period in her life.

Rita explained that she withdrew from the industry after experiencing discord with some close friends she regarded as family within the industry, leading her to seek solace abroad.

“Many of you don’t know that in 2001-2002 I stopped acting and left the Industry. I moved to London because it was a very dark period in my life,” Rita shared.

“I fell out with some people I considered family, and so I needed to get out of that space for a minute. Then I moved to London and gave up stardom. You never leave it.”

During her time in London, Rita found employment as a caregiver in an adult home, a role she embraced wholeheartedly despite perceptions of it being a step down from her previous stardom.

“And this is something I have never told people – that while in London, I was trying to make ends meet, and I started working in a care home as a caregiver for adults with special needs,” Rita revealed.

“While some saw it as a step down, I don’t. If taking care of others brought me joy that I needed at that moment, then it was worth it. I also took care of my parents when they were sick.”

Reflecting on her return to Nigeria, Rita Dominic encountered obstacles when attempting to reintegrate into the movie industry.

She disclosed that she faced a silent ban from Nollywood by marketers for attempting to introduce new developments in the industry.

“Before I decided to become a producer and form our company, I was silently banned. I was banned from Nollywood by marketers because they were the mini-gods of the industry at the time,” Rita explained. “They banned me because I was trying to do things differently; I just felt like it got to a point where if you want to acquire the services of an actor, it is best to talk to their management about it.”

Rita Dominic has garnered widespread acclaim for her exceptional performances in acclaimed films such as “76,” “The Meeting,” and “Shattered,” earning numerous prestigious awards for her outstanding work.

She also holds the distinction of being the only actress to have clinched the Best Actress award in both the Drama and Comedy categories at the AMVCAs.