Chinaza Clara Ezeani, affectionately known as Miss Ezeani, dared to dream. Despite her parents’ discouragement, she longed to study Theatre Arts in school but settled for English language, still hoping that her desire to become an actor would one day come to pass. Drawn to the entertainment cause, the young actor and skit maker decided to start making skits, unknown to her that this humble beginning would pave the way for her one true love — acting. Step by step, Ezeani has made a name for herself in the Nigerian entertainment scene, her skits serving as a canvas upon which she breathes life into the diverse characters she portrays.
When the opportunity came to play Urenna in James Omokwe’s Showmax original series, Chetam, presented itself, Ezeani not only seized it but also immersed herself —mentally and physically— to embody the essence of a character she describes as formidable. For her, Chetam is a perfect debut, like no other. Sharing the screen with talented actors like Kingsley Nwachukwu and Ruby Okezie, Ezeani attests to her journey being daunting and exhilarating. With acting as her long-harbored passion, she already has her sights set on an array of aspirations for the road ahead.
In this interview with Culture Custodian, the skit maker talks about her love for entertainment, her transition into acting, and what to expect from Urenna, her debut character.
Can you talk about your background? Your family? Where did you grow up?
I am from a very small family, my mom, dad, and younger brother. My dad is late now. Growing up, my parents were protective of me. I’m from Anambra, and I grew up there. My parents didn’t like acting, I wanted to do Theatre Arts but they said no. I have always loved art. It’s just recently that my mom started to like the idea of acting. I was an only child for the longest time, so I would always be home alone since I didn’t have siblings or friends growing up. It’s not like now that kids have a lot to play with. Then, it was just me and my imagination. I had an entire imaginative family, and I was playing everything by myself. It was just recently I made the connection between my childhood and what I do now.
How did you first start making skits?
I started around 2015-2016. My skit-making spun from my love for acting. I loved to act. At the time, I was in school, and coupled with other things, I didn’t have access to act. So I channeled my whole creativity into skits. I was skeptical to start because I didn’t think I had people’s attention, I also didn’t know where to start. My friends kept pushing me and when I finally put out one video, people liked it. Since then it’s been one foot in front of the other.
Is “A one-woman production” the name of your company? What is the origin of the name?
It’s a slogan I gave my company, Miss Ezeani. You know how I do everything in my production. People keep calling me One Woman Army, so that’s why I decided on the name.
You sometimes portray yourself as a man in your skits, and even your acting samples, why? And who are the men you base your depiction on?
It depends on what I’m working on. If I’m doing a parody, then there’s someone I’m basing the depiction on. But generally, it’s just me being a male character, and not depicting anyone. I have a thing for disappearing into a character. I’ve always had a male character when I started making skits. So I refined him when I saw that people liked him. I decided to give him a face and an identity.
Between skit-making and acting, how are the two similar to each other, and how are they different from each other?
Personally, I think they’re similar. In my skits, I actually act, I don’t make caricatures. I try to be as natural as that character would be and it’s the same in acting. You just have to become your character and be as natural as that character would be.
But they’re also different in the sense that when I’m making skits, I have absolute control of everything, the camera, I know what I’m going for, I know what I look like and I know my angles. I remember my first day on set, I was overwhelmed. It was like I was suddenly removed from my comfort zone, I kept asking myself “Am I doing what the director wants?” “What do I look like on camera?” This propelled me to go to a film school, 2 months ago, at EbonyLife Academy. At that moment, I realized that talent was not enough. After I got out of Ebony life it was much better, I knew to trust that every other person was working in my favor, and I was more professional.
How would you describe Chetam in terms of highlighting your acting strengths? How did you prepare for that role?
I’m very grateful for the role in that project. It pushed me, and I like things that challenge me. With Urenna, it was different as it was something I had never done. The character pushed me physically and mentally because Urenna is a strong character. At one point, I was scared about not having it in me to carry the character. I remember Mr James, the executive producer, saying that if they didn’t think I could do it, they wouldn’t have given me the role. So I went home, turned Google upside down looking for new material on how to act better. I studied Urenna, and I had a picture of what I wanted her to be. I decided to change my look physically, to be bigger. Also, I played another character, Adaugo, briefly in the show. Between Adaugo and Urenna, I wanted to make as much difference physically as I could. So I was constantly working at the gym to achieve that. I watched a couple of feisty women from movies like Woman King and Legend of the Seeker, taking what I needed from them, and embodying their traits in my own way.
That’s wonderful. What should we expect from the character?
Urenna is coming with a fire. I gave Urenna that ‘let’s rage vibe’ because Urenna is fire! That character shook my whole being, before going on set and while we were on set. She’s coming with a fire and everyone is sure to see it.
We definitely can’t wait. Who are some of the people you look up to in acting, and why?
I look up to many people but recently, Viola Davis started topping the list. There’s something about her, she’s so seasoned. And many other amazing people in acting, directing, and producing that I can’t remember at the top of my head, but I look up to them too.
Is there anyone you look forward to working side-by-side with?
A lot of them. There’s Pete Edochie, Mercy Johnson, Funke Akindele, Eniola Ajao, Chimezie Imo, and a lot of others.
In your 7 years of being in the entertainment industry, what challenges have you faced so far?
I would say algorithm. Algorithms are not anybody’s friend, sometimes it’s favorable and sometimes it’s not. For acting, so far it’s been amazing. I’ve had the opportunity to work with amazing people, from the set of Chetam. Everybody was amazing, if I start mentioning names we wouldn’t leave here. I remember getting on set the first time, my first rodeo, and everybody was so nice. But I’m trying to hold my breath so I don’t get too comfortable.
What’s next for Miss Ezeani, any upcoming films or future plans?
I have a couple like Between Two Fires, and another one but I can’t talk about them since they’re still in production.