Veteran Nigerian actor and voice-over artist Segun Arinze has opened up about his career, Nollywood, family, music and the public perception of his personality.
Arinze, who became widely known for playing Black Arrow in Silent Night, said the role significantly changed his career but also created the challenge of being typecast.
He explained that he deliberately took on different roles to show that Black Arrow was only a character he portrayed and not a reflection of his real personality. He has since worked as an actor, producer, director, presenter and voice-over artist.
According to him, being typecast taught him the importance of constantly reinventing himself and refusing to remain within one creative identity.
Speaking about his work as a voice-over artist, Arinze said he treats his voice as an instrument and maintains it through hydration, breathing exercises, vocal warm-ups, articulation drills and exercises focused on resonance and pitch.
He also noted that resting the voice is important, saying he deliberately practises silence and spends time studying how people speak, pause, breathe and communicate emotions.
Arinze said his experience as a director has also improved his acting because he better understands what directors seek to achieve with a scene. He said he now considers not only his character but also the camera, rhythm and overall story.
The actor advised directors working with veteran performers to avoid assuming that experience makes actors difficult to work with. He said veterans should be respected and given clear creative reasons for instructions, while also remaining open to learning.
For young actors seeking to succeed in Nollywood auditions, Arinze advised them to understand their characters, prepare thoroughly, learn their lines and listen to the director.
He said mistakes during auditions should not discourage aspiring actors, describing auditions as opportunities to demonstrate what they can contribute to a role.
Arinze also expressed interest in portraying a complex historical African figure whose life contains different dimensions, including achievement, failure, sacrifice and redemption.
Reflecting on Nollywood’s development from the VHS era to streaming platforms, he said the industry has gained global reach, improved technology and better production opportunities.
However, he believes some of the rawness and innocence of earlier storytelling has been lost, with commercial and streaming considerations sometimes taking priority over the quality of the story.
The veteran actor also observed that modern film sets are more technologically advanced but said the industry has become more focused on social media, personal branding and speed.
He said he misses the old sense of collective ownership among filmmakers who felt they were building the industry together.
On younger actors, Arinze said he would not dismiss the new generation because of differences in style. He acknowledged the presence of talented young performers but stressed the importance of training and discipline.
He said actors should develop skills in areas such as voice, diction, movement, characterisation and improvisation while taking advantage of the learning opportunities provided by modern technology.
Arinze also called for better preservation of Nollywood’s history, warning that important photographs, scripts, recordings, films and memories could be lost without proper documentation.
He advocated the creation of a well-funded Nollywood archive that would preserve the contributions of pioneers and the history of the Nigerian film industry.
Reflecting on his time as President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Arinze said leadership sometimes required making difficult decisions that prioritised the interests of members over personal relationships.
He said the guild must continue to become more professional, transparent and responsive to the changing realities of actors.
On the influence of social media, Arinze cautioned that followers and likes should not be mistaken for acting ability. He said social media should support an actor’s career rather than become the career itself.
Addressing the public perception that he is an angry person, Arinze said people often mistake his intensity and directness for anger.
He explained that his public personality is different from his private life, where he values family, quiet moments and reflection.
“My family has been my anchor,” he said, noting that marriage and fatherhood have reminded him that his identity extends beyond professional achievements, awards and public attention.
Arinze said he does not want to impose his career on his children and would support them if they choose creative professions, while encouraging them to understand that acting, directing and voice-over are professions requiring talent, discipline and hard work.
The actor said he relaxes by spending time with his family, listening to music, reflecting and staying away from cameras and microphones.
Looking ahead, Arinze said he hopes to create projects combining acting, storytelling, voice, television and mentorship. He also wants to create opportunities for young creatives and hopes his legacy will include helping others build their careers.
On his music career, Arinze said he does not consider his album, Dreams, a missed opportunity. He described music as an important part of his artistic journey and said his experiences in music, acting, television, production and voice-over have all contributed to the artist he is today.
He also hinted that he may not have completely closed the door on music, suggesting that more songs could still emerge from his creative journey.
