LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Nollywood actor Ray Emodi has opened up about the real reason he stepped away from acting, revealing that years of nonstop filming left him physically and mentally exhausted.
Earlier this year, the actor announced that he was leaving the film industry, citing traumatic experiences on movie sets and his desire to pursue music full-time.
In a YouTube video titled “Apology to Nollywood,” the actor addressed fans directly, admitting that announcing his departure from the movie industry was one of the hardest decisions he had ever made.
Emodi revealed that he had worked almost without a break since 2017, appearing in more than 300 productions, including feature films, television series and short films.
“I acted since 2017 till last year ending. That’s about 300 productions… Eight years, no vacations, no rest. I was tired. If you do something too much, you get tired. I needed a break to find the love for acting again,@ the actor said.
The actor stated that the demanding schedule eventually took a toll on both his physical and emotional well-being, leaving him with little choice but to step back and recharge.
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Although he briefly announced plans to focus entirely on music, Emodi admitted that the decision was made while he was emotionally overwhelmed.
He emphasized that acting remains his first love, noting that he studied the craft professionally and even earned a master’s degree in acting for film.
Expressing regret over the way he handled the announcement, the actor apologized to fans who were disappointed by his earlier decision to leave Nollywood.
“I have high respect for acting… Waking up one day to say I’m not acting again felt like I swindled you guys. I’m sorry for playing with your emotions,” Emodi appealed.
Emodi insisted that his biggest goal has never been limited to making money but to create work that inspires people.
With that in mind, he revealed that he plans to return to acting while maintaining a healthier work-life balance to avoid another period of burnout.
