Maureen Solomon Reveals Why She Left Nollywood at Career Peak

(Maureen Solomon-Okereke. Photo by Pulse Nigeria)

Veteran Nollywood actress Maureen Solomon-Okereke has opened up about why she stepped away from acting at the height of her career, revealing that she chose to prioritise raising her children.

Speaking during an appearance online, the actress explained that juggling motherhood with the demands of film production became increasingly difficult following the birth of her second child.

She recalled that while she was able to bring her first child along to work and film locations without much hassle, things changed considerably once her second child arrived.

Reflecting on her decision, she said she harbours no regrets about pausing her acting career, noting that the years spent raising her children, now aged 20 and 19, were worth every sacrifice.

She explained that things had reached a point where her daughter, then around 5 years old, needed more attention, prompting her to step back and dedicate that time to her family.

Now back in the industry, the actress said her return to Nollywood has been relatively smooth, as she remained aware of the industry’s evolution even during her time away from the screen.

She also shared how her acting career began quite unexpectedly, after she accompanied her elder sister to an audition.

She explained that the opportunity came to her unplanned, recalling that people were being handed scripts to read, and when her turn came, she simply read hers, an act that ultimately led to her breakthrough.

She noted that her sister, upon checking the results for her own name, was surprised to find Maureen’s name instead.

Speaking further, Solomon-Okereke argued that an actor’s talent shouldn’t be measured by their social media following, insisting that online popularity should not be used to determine an entertainer’s true worth.