Veteran actress and producer Ego Boyo has finally addressed why she left acting at the height of her career.
In a teaser for her upcoming interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Boyo revealed that her decision was personal and professional, not driven by external pressure.
“I stopped acting because I wanted to produce,” she said. “I found that I enjoyed producing more than I enjoyed acting.”
The former Checkmate star also debunked long-standing rumours that her husband barred her from continuing in Nollywood. “The blogs then wanted it to be something like my husband banned me from acting… they wanted it to be sensational and it was not. So it was boring,” she added.
Ego Boyo became a household name in the 90s after starring as Anne Haastrup in the iconic NTA series Checkmate and in Amaka Igwe’s romantic drama Violated.
After stepping away from acting, she founded Temple Productions and transitioned into filmmaking, producing titles like Keeping Faith, A Hotel Called Memory, and The Ghost and the House of Truth.
Outside of film, Boyo is also known for her advocacy work, especially in women’s rights. She served as president of the International Women’s Society (IWS) and founded the Tempio Media Advocacy & Information Foundation. In 2024, she was named one of Vogue UK’s “Forces for Change” by author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
A Theatre Arts graduate from the University of Benin, Ego Boyo remains an influential figure in Nigeria’s film and media landscape.
