Thelma Chukwunwem: “31 Years in Nollywood Without Sleeping With Any Producer”
Veteran Nollywood actress, voice-over artist, and preacher Thelma Chukwunwem has boldly stated that no producer or director can claim to have ever slept with her, despite spending over three decades in the Nigerian film industry.
In a recent interview with Vanguard, Thelma opened up about the intense pressure and sexual advances she encountered at the start of her career, revealing that she was often told she needed to compromise to get ahead.
“There were temptations,” she admitted, “but I stood my ground. If you thought I had to sleep with you for a role, you could keep your script.”
She recounted an encounter with a director who once warned her that she wouldn’t succeed in the industry unless she agreed to his terms.
Her reply at the time was clear and confident: “I’ll go far by God’s grace.”
Years later, she ran into the same director at a movie premiere.
“He looked at me and called me a ‘stubborn girl,’” she recalled. “I told him, ‘Years have passed. God has helped me.’”
Thelma attributes her ability to withstand industry pressure to her disciplined upbringing, firm values, and strong faith.
She says these principles have carried her through 31 years in Nollywood without compromising her integrity.
Thelma Chukwunwem: “31 Years in Nollywood Without Sleeping With Any Producer”