Popular Nollywood actor, Ramsey Nouah, was at the March edition of monthly Film Forum of the Nollywood Studies Centre at the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, he was there as a celebrity guest speaker.
Born Ramsey Tokunbo Nouah Jr. (19 December 1970) in Edo State to an Israeli father and a Yoruba mother who hails from Owo, Ondo State, South-West Nigeria. He grew up in Surulere, central Lagos, where he obtained a diploma at the University of Lagos, after which he pursued a career in acting. Ramsey won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2010
While speaking on the title, A Journey of Two Decades: Promoting the Actor’s Trade in Nollywood, Noah made effort to correct the impression that he has been in the industry for two decades. He maintained that having started in 1990, this is his 25th year in Nollywood.
Noah got his big break in 1991, when he was cast in the soap opera, Fortunes, whose second premier on TV screens was re-labelled Mega Fortunes. According to him, it was not until 1993 that the series got sponsorship and then went to air. Mega Fortunes was terminated in 1994 because of the availability and influx of cheap Mexican soaps which producers preferred to the detriment of local contents. He corroborated the long held belief that Mexican soaps killed local drama productions on NTA because producers find it much cheaper.
For all the popularity in gained in Fortunes, he informed his audience that he was only paid eighty naira (N80.00) per month for featuring in the series and that the NTA could only paid him for three out of twelve months , withholding the rest of his money and those of his co-artistes up until this day.
The award-winning actor; who has featured in more than 100 movies, including Fugitive, Danger, Last Weekend (Who Killed Pa Reuben?), Emotional Crack and Dangerous Twins; discussedabout the high and low points in his career so far to include: starring in Silent Night, his very first Nollywood film; which he admits set him on the path of distinction. He said the ban on 10 prominent Nollywood actors, including him, helped redefined his art as he stopped participating in substandard films after the ban.
Ramsey explained to the forum that The Figurine was really an inconclusive film because Kunle Afolayan ran out of funds to conclude the shoot. So, viewers now know why the end of the movie is muddled. He also stated that he received a written invitation for the audition of Glamour Girls, a Nollywood hit, but failed to reach an agreement with the producers; making him not to play a role in the film.
Nouah said he is proud of the Nollywood industry’s direction and noted that he participated in several films in his early days that did not see the light of day because the producers did not have enough funds to conclude the projects. He is looking forward to projects that will be able to surpass the success of 30 Days in Atlanta in the cinemas.
Ramsey Nouah is married to Emelia Philips-Noah. The couple have two sons and a daughter: Quincy, Camil and Desiree.
