By Rita Okeye
Linda John, a native of Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State and a proud Idoma daughter is carving a unique path as an actress, producer, model, entrepreneur, and political enthusiast.
From an early age, Linda’s life was shaped by a close-knit family environment and strong Christian values which she claimed saved her from diabolical people in the movie industry.
“I grew up in a Christian home, with both parents and siblings, mostly my brothers, which made me acquire male-related skills like football, table tennis etc. It helped shape me, especially in my field of endeavour where some of those skills are required. Also, coming from a very religious background helped me a lot, especially in my career because of some diabolic people in the Nollywood industry. I would love to say that prayers saved my life from them,” she told Saturday Sun in a recent encounter.
Linda’s devotion to quality storytelling is equally unwavering. For her, a compelling script is the cornerstone of any role she accepts.
“It has to be a good story that is well scripted. Good stories produce good movies. Secondly, the production crew; this aspect is very important because working with a bunch of professional production teams gives you a good movie, and I am only about good movies. A solid team is non-negotiable,” she noted.
She, however, draws the line when it comes to certain roles.
“Taking up roles as a marine agent or any spiritual-related role is a big no! for me. They all have after-effects, and as I said earlier, prayers have saved me more times than I can count.”
If given the chance, The Royal Quest star actress would champion reforms aimed at curbing the influx of untrained individuals into Nollywood.
“I would like to set up a task force to monitor the activities of the various guilds—directors, producers, artists, and so on. The industry needs more professionalism,” she said.