My Life In Nollywood: Chuks Joseph 

Every week, The Culture Custodian grants you an all-access backstage pass into the lives of Nollywood rock stars. You get to learn about their fascinating backgrounds, the behind-the-scenes stories, and more. This episode features actor Chuks Joseph.

For an actor with a fledgling oeuvre, Chuks Joseph’s progress is meteoric. Since marking his Nollywood debut in 2020, he has appeared on Netflix and Prime Video, two of the world’s biggest streaming platforms, through his performances as Tizzy in Linda Ikeji’s Dark October, Obum the loudmouth in Kayode Kasum’s Afamefuna, Lashe the mischievous schoolboy and rapist in Jay Franklin-Jitubor’s The Origin: Madam Koi-Koi, Obi the stiff-necked gang member in Anthill Studios’ Criminal, and Ebuka the cool but strong-hearted team captain and friend in Inkblot’s When Love Strikes.

The fifth season of The Men’s Club, which premiered on Prime Video on 4th December 2024, introduces Joseph, among other sterling acts, as Francis a.k.a. The Plug—who is part of  a younger group of men (the others being Kashope, Obinna, and Tokini) that are  gregarious and full of boyish insouciance. Joseph describes his character as “slightly a menace but a young guy trying to grind his way to the top”, and recalls that he enjoyed working on set with colleagues like Paul Nnadikwe, Saga, David Eyi, Sharon Benson, Tracy George, and Ka3na. Originally launched in 2018 as a web series on RED TV’s YouTube channel, The Men’s Club navigates the lives, personalities and experiences of four Lagos-based Nigerian men. 

Joseph has also acted in other Nollywood film and TV projects such as Leaked, After School Hours, Masquerades of Aniedo, The Thing About Pain, Definitely Not An Angel, and Teacher Dorcas.

This conversation with Chuks Joseph happened after the release of The Men’s Club Season 5, and has been tweaked for precision. 

Can you walk me through the beginning of your acting career?

Before acting, I had only gone for a Big Brother audition. I came to serve in Lagos in 2018 and completed my service in 2019. Acting started for me in 2020.  I was just chilling in my friend’s house when I heard some girls talking about going for Flatmates audition and I decided to join them. I didn’t even know how I performed. Sometime around May 2020, I got called to come and do a waka pas role on Flatmates. I arrived on set and it was like the most beautiful thing I had ever experienced. That was the same year I got into modeling and emerged as first runner-up for Mr Ideal Nigeria. The prize came with either going to fashion school or film school, and I opted for the latter. I got into the Royal Arts Academy around September or November 2020 where I learnt to do monologues among other things. I started going for more auditions in 2021 and just took off from there. 

You studied Microbiology at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. It seems as if you had or could have explored other career opportunities before acting. How true is this?

I worked with an NGO during my service year, and they retained me for about six months. After six months, I worked in research while actively looking for a stable job. I applied to some places and was posted to the North which had more relief programmes. I turned down those offers due to the trauma I had inherited from my early years in the North. It was around the time a relief worker over there was killed. I also tried writing some job entrance exams, such as KPMG’s, but they didn’t turn out well. Afterward, I decided to try modeling, and that was it. 

How about your experience at EbonyLife Creative Academy (ELCA) which you attended after Royal Arts?

I never knew about ELCA at first. Someone just sent me a link about ELCA around April 2021 when the first batch started. When I got into ELCA, I think I was the least experienced person. I had to apply, do an audition, and do an interview. We were about eighteen actors, and my audition wasn’t so great. My acting coach saw something in me and gave me the chance. At ELCA, my acting skills just blew up. I met a lot of people and networked. It was a turning point for me. While in ELCA, I attended the auditions of and got cast for Ndani TV’s web series Schooled and Linda Ikeji’s Dark October. 

I read that you grew up in Aba, Abia state. What was growing up like? Are there memories from your formative years that are reflective of your current career trajectory as an actor?

I spent my first five years in Kaduna before I moved with my family to my hometown in  Abia state. I grew up with my grandmother and extended family in Abia. In the North, it was just me, my parents, and my younger sister. On getting to the East, it was a full house with more siblings. That was a shift for me because I had to learn Igbo and get used to the fast-paced environment. Aba is just like a mini-Lagos, and I am glad I grew up there because it prepared me for life in Lagos. 

How did your experiences in secondary school shape you?

I attended Prize-Mates Model Academy in Aba, Abia state. The funny thing is, back in high school, I was a quiet, slightly timid, and observant person. I had moments when I would sometimes make noise while in the company of friends, but for most parts I sat at the back of the class and stayed silent. I think my curiosity as a kid in secondary school shaped me to be observant. I was quite smart though, and usually took second or third position, outclassed by a certain guy that maintained the top spot. Over time, everything I have observed from people impacted my acting skills today. That’s why, whatever role I have to play is already laid in my subconscious. 

A pattern of typecasting is noticeable in some of your film roles, such as in Dark October, Afamefuna, Criminal, and When Love Strikes where you seem to play the bad or tough guy. How does it feel for you to be typecast? Do you have any sentiments about that?

I think it’s just energy. The producers see what they see in me before casting me. I am just starting out in the industry and can’t exactly choose roles. I have also been observing from afar that I have been doing these types of roles for a while. I wouldn’t exactly say I am being typecast because I have just done, maybe, a few similar roles. In Dark October, for instance, I am a quiet, timid guy. In Madam Koi-Koi, I am a bully. In Afamefuna, I am the loud type; and in Criminal, I am a crazy guy. Then, in When Love Strikes, I’m just the friendly guy who is full of energy. When the time is right, with more opportunities, there’s much more to be given.

Regarding any of your films, how do you approach your roles?

While reading my script, I get a notebook and jot down things about my character. What I write helps me to be mentally prepared. I am currently on my second notebook and hope to show people these notes sometime in the future. I approach my roles from a scientific perspective because I like to go deep into the character. I’m talking about knowing the nuances and my relationships with other characters. For Dark October, I had to research the guys and watch some of their videos.

As a young and fast-rising actor in the industry, how do you approach auditions and rejections?

When I started, I used to get pained about being rejected after an audition. Sometimes, I do an audition and they promise to get back to me without actually doing so. But one thing I have realized over time is that these producers and casting directors know what they are looking for. This could just be physical qualities, which have nothing to do with your abilities as an actor. 

Have you been in a situation where you had differences with the creative director or any other member of the cast and crew regarding the interpretation of your character? How did you manage it? 

I think I’m blessed because I’ve been working with directors who listen and accept what I bring to the table. My directors have always given me that space. I still have a good relationship with Jay Franklin-Jitubor, the director of Madam Koi-Koi, and I remember him telling me to just “kill it”. On the set of Afamefuna, Kayode Kasum told me “Guy just chop am!”. One of the iconic scenes in Afamefuna was the football argument scene because most of the things we said there were not in the script. 

When Love Strikes, which recently premiered on Prime Video, is one of your latest films in which you starred as Ebuka, a captain of the fictional Remo Stars football team and friend to the lead character. Tell me about how you got that role.

I auditioned for it. I was on the set of Masquerades of Aniedo at the time when the associate producer reached out to me. He told me about the role and sent me a script, and  I sent him a tape. They liked the tape and called me back for further conversations.  It was a beautiful experience filming When Love Strikes because I love football just as much as acting. 

Another latest work of yours is in the current season of The Men’s Club (TMC) in which you played the character of Francis the Plug. Could you briefly describe this character and tell us what particular scene of his in the show stands out for you?

Francis is the real definition of a hustler. His name “The Plug” is literally because he can get you anything he wants at a fair price. He has access. His relationship choices might not be the best but he’s the resident Gen Z among the new cast of TMC, which makes him the youngest among the four of them. He’s smart, intuitive, a hustler, and generally a fun-loving guy who is always on the move. My favorite scene as Francis is where my two girlfriends were arguing and I came and we just shared love amongst ourselves. This showed the dynamics in Francis’ relationship.

Considering your filmography, what has been your most challenging role so far?

I am caught up between Madam Koi-Koi and Dark October. Dark October was emotionally challenging for me because it was my first major feature and there was a semi-nude part where I had to bare my butt on the streets of where we filmed. We filmed in a school environment with many people around, and we had to cry to show those emotions. For Madam Koi-Koi, the character I played is the opposite of who I am in real life. The rape scene was hard and uncomfortable for me. 

Do you have any long-term career goals?

I hope to take on multiple roles, produce my films, and hopefully do Hollywood films. 

Who are your role models as an actor?

One of my role models is Timini Egbuson because he’s evolved over some time. He’s been consistently at the top of the food chain and keeps reinventing himself. I’ve also been inspired by Chimezie Imo, Mike Afolarin, Genoveva Umeh, Onyinye Odokoro, Emeka Nwagbaraocha and Paul Nnadikwe. Outside Nollywood, I’ve been inspired by Wizkid and Burna Boy.

Apart from modeling, acting, and hosting duties, do you have other creative or work engagements? 

I started with hosting back in school,  I was a hype man, but I’m yet to host lately. I hosted for one TV show where we shot many episodes but it was never released. Sometimes, I do creative directions with friends and I try to write. 

Tell me about the activities you engage in during your leisure time.

I play FIFA, play football and listen to a lot of music. I go to concerts. My first time in Lagos was actually to attend a J Cole concert at Eko Hotel in 2018. I like reading, traveling and watching movies. I used to work out a lot but I have not done so recently.

Are you currently on any project you would like to talk about?

There’s a tech film we did between 2023 and 2024. It’s titled Makemation, a film about Artificial Intelligence, and will be available in the cinemas from 18th April this year. Aside from that, other projects have been short films.