In this interview with Naomi Chima, Pope Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope, shares insights into his career, marriage, and journey into the Nollywood industry despite being born and raised in Cameroon.
Q: How did you end up choosing acting as a career?
A: Acting has always been a passion of mine since my secondary school days. It was a girlfriend from school who discovered my talent and encouraged me to venture into Nollywood. She even covered my registration fee of N7000 under the late Pete Ene. Additionally, I was actively involved in a theatre group called Joyful Family Theatre Group during my university years, further igniting my interest in acting. Before I knew it, 12 years had flown by, and Junior Pope had become a recognizable brand in the industry.
Q: You were born and raised in the out east hills of Bamenda, Cameroon. How was your upbringing, and how do you find raising kids in Nigeria compared to Cameroon?
A: Indeed, I hail from the picturesque hills of Bamenda, Cameroon. My upbringing there was wonderful. However, the Cameroon of today is sadly a war front. Raising my children here in Nigeria hasn’t been bad. Nigeria is endowed with abundant resources, but unfortunately, many people opt to travel abroad due to the failures within our system.
Q: You married a long-time girlfriend you met on Facebook. Celebrity marriages, especially of this nature, often face challenges. What’s the secret behind the success of your marriage?
A: Firstly, I attribute the success of my marriage to God. As my senior colleague and director, Emmanuel Lancelot, would say, “if your wife behaves well, it’s God’s doing, don’t boast or compare with others.” Transparency is key in our relationship—I share everything with my wife, and there are no secrets between us. We even have access to each other’s phones. Trust is vital in marriage; as Chinua Achebe aptly stated, “As long as the bed keeps shaking, the marriage will last forever.” I’ve made it clear to my wife that infidelity is the only deal-breaker for me. Otherwise, we believe that any other challenges we face are workable through communication and mutual understanding.
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