I wanted to be a rapper – Yvonne Nelson

Actress and film producer Yvonne Nelson has revealed that growing up, her dream was to become a rapper.

During an appearance on The Career Trail programme, which aired on JoyNews and Joy Learning TV, she reminisced about her high school days when she was part of a rap group.

“I wanted to be a rapper. Back in school, I used to rap a lot. We had a group like the Fugees, and I was the Lauryn Hill of the group. I loved Lauryn Hill,” she shared.

She mentioned that she could not contain her excitement whenever an entertainment event was approaching, as it provided her with the opportunity to showcase her rap talent.

However, her dream of becoming a rapper took a turn when she met Ghanaian filmmaker Abdul Salam, who introduced her to the movie industry, changing her life forever.

“Life happens. Destiny happens. I found myself in the entertainment industry because it was meant to be. I didn’t even audition for a role. Abdul Salam saw me at Afrikiko, spoke to me, took my number, and invited me to the set. That’s how everything started for me,” she explained.

This encounter, she said, led to her first major role in the movie Princess Tyra, which propelled her into the spotlight, making her a household name.

Despite her rise to fame, the actress disclosed that she faced challenges along the way, particularly juggling acting with her academic commitments as a Level 200 student at Central University.

She also reflected on one of her most difficult moments on set when working with seasoned Ghanaian actor Kofi Adjorlolo.

“There was one time I was filming with Kofi Adjorlolo, and he got angry that I was forgetting my lines; I wasn’t acting well. He stepped out. He was so furious and went like, change her, she can’t act. She is wasting our time,” she recalled.

Rather than letting the criticism discourage her, she said she chose to learn from the experience. “I had to learn on the job. I had to believe in myself. I realised that acting is something that I should take seriously,” she said.

Although she didn’t become a rapper, the actress expressed that she is happy her journey still led her to a career in the entertainment industry.