Nollywood actress cum producer, Sandra Okunzuwa whose film Enitan is part of the movies slated to be screened at African Film Festival (Afriff) has recalled how she was sexually abused as a young child.
Sandra Okunzuwa, an Edo State indigene in a recent interview said, “I was sexually abused as a kid and suffered mental health issues too.”
“In the society we live in, people don’t talk about mental health issues a lot, they expect you to visit your pastor and you will be alright. Moreso, as an actor it’s not easy.”
“First you will have to embody the lives of diffrent characters and personalities good bad and the terrible.”
“Despite what you are going through personally, you have to wear a smile and keep entertaining people because that’s what people expect from you.”
” I personally think that there should be a special therapist for Entertainers because it’s not easy. “
“Back to me being sexually abused as a kid, even as a grown woman, fully aware of my rights, I couldn’t confront my abuser because it would be generalized and I’ll be stigmatized.”
Sandra Okunzuwa’s challenges playing Enitan
Shedding more light on Enitan which is centered on sexual abuse too, Sandra Okunzuwa who played the lead role bomoaned her major challenges while making the movie.
“Enitan is a story about a young married woman who doesn’t get sexual satisfaction from her loving husband alone.”
“She goes out every night to look for area boys to gang rape her for her to feel satisfied sexually.”
“This continuous until her husband caught her and the story began to unveil.”
“As the lead character, I went through a lot physically, mentally and sexually.”
“It was a challenging role for me. In the process of filming the character, I had to work with real area boys and it wasn’t easy.”
“I had to put myself completely in enitan’s shoes. I had to visit different spiritualist for cleansing.”
“The bathing at the beach while filming was one of the most challenging part because I kept on praying.”