I never planned to become an actor – Stella Damasus reveals

Nollywood icon, Stella Damasus has shared a deeply personal account of her career evolution, revealing that her rise to fame in acting was never part of her original ambition

During a revealing conversation on the Tea With Tay Podcast, the actress addressed long-standing perceptions about her craft, noting that many people have often placed her in a box, assuming she could only deliver a specific type of performance.

This misunderstanding, she hinted, once led her to offer subtle apologies, as she navigated expectations that limited how audiences viewed her abilities.

Now, she is intentionally rewriting that narrative. Her recent return to the screen is fueled by a determination to expand her image and prove her versatility, as she aims to showcase “different sides of her acting abilities.”

Before Nollywood, however, music was her primary focus.

Damasus recounted moving to Lagos at just 15 with a passion for singing. She performed regularly at Jazzville in Yaba and worked at Klinx Studios, where she committed herself to vocal training through backup singing and recording jingles. Surrounded by mentors in the music industry, she was convinced that “her future would be firmly rooted in singing.”

Fate, however, had a different script.

Her entry into acting happened unexpectedly after a friend persuaded her to attend an audition in Ikeja on a day she had no intention of stepping out. At the time, she lived with her sister in Surulere and had made no preparations for such an opportunity. That spontaneous decision became the turning point that launched her successful acting career.

Beyond her professional journey, Damasus noted the importance of family. She described her children as her “greatest support system,” emphasizing the “strength and unconditional love they provide.” She added that she believes “her children were given to her by God with the understanding that they would stand by her through life’s challenges.”

With a renewed presence and clear purpose, Stella Damasus is stepping back into the spotlight, determined not just to act but to redefine how her story is told.