I’m one of the luckiest actors Ghana has produced – Fred Amugi
Legendary Ghanaian Fred Nii Amugi has said that he is one of the luckiest actors Ghana’s film industry has ever produced.
In an interview with Joy Prime’s Roselyn Felli on Prime Morning show, the actor stated that he learnt the skill on the field because he never attended the School of Performing Art.
But hard work and discipline have helped in the elevation and building of his career, as he has dedicated time to mastering the art, making him one of the most privileged actors.
“I was taught all the disciplines that go with acting, and many think I was at the School of Performing Art, which I never was. I’m one of the luckiest actors Ghana has produced. The lecturers at the School of Performing Arts in those days served as my mentors. So, I had my tuition outside the school.”
Mr Amugi’s statement comes as advice to upcoming and aspiring actors and actresses who may feel too lazy to work hard but expect to achieve their ambitions and breakthroughs.
According to him, it was a major requirement for him to imbibe the directors’ instructions and adhere to their calls.
However, he alleged that the current crop of industry players prefers a shorter way to earn money, thereby taking their colleagues who are progressing to ‘juju’, which he thinks is one factor that is dwindling the growth of the industry.
“We hear about people using ‘juju’ to get roles and other things. There is a speck of truth in every rumour that you hear. So, if you’ve heard people say it, it means something of that nature is happening, but when you have a good heart, God watches over you. I ask myself that it’s just like I get a promotion and you think I didn’t deserve the promotion, so you cut me off. I’m dead and gone.
You’re not going to take that seat anyway, so what’s your problem? God doesn’t like competition. He knows you cannot compete with Him, but when you bring these things, he would want to show you a few things that will tell you that what you’ve gotten to will not help, and this is the result now.”
The 74-year-old actor began his acting career in 1970 in dramas and documentaries until 1985, when he broke into the limelight after starring in his first movie, “Opinto.”
Mr Amugi subsequently appeared in numerous movie roles, including those in local Ghanaian movies such as Shoe Shine Boy, Nyame Bekyere, Menua Paa Nie, and Housekeepers, among others.
With no formal training from the School of Performing Arts, his first international role came in 2005, when he played the character Kwame Attakora in the BBC drama Holby City. He later starred in the Netflix 2015 movie Beasts of No Nation as “Pastor.”