Veteran Nollywood actor Zack Orji has opened up about the negative impact his role in the 1994 movie “Glamour Girls” had on his marriage. The film, which was directed by Chika Onukwufor, featured a controversial naked scene between Orji and fellow actor Eucharia Anunobi that sparked a lot of gossip and controversy.
Speaking on the podcast “Nollywood Hardcore: The Legend’s Untold Story,” Orji revealed that his wife was subjected to unfavorable rumors about his performance in the movie, which caused tension in their union.
Orji’s pastor at the time also took issue with the scene, suspending him from church functions as a result of the rumors. “My pastor invited me… Then I was a member of the Board of Trustees of the church. He said that he had been receiving too many calls from members… ‘How can Zach go and do this kind of thing? It’s scandalous,'” Orji recalled.
The pastor informed Orji that he intended to suspend him but wanted to inform him first. Orji was subsequently suspended for a month, which led him to leave the church and request that his name be deleted from all documents and the Board of Trustees.
Although the pastor later reached out to retract the suspension and asked Orji not to leave, Orji stated that his decision was final, and he had made up his mind to move on.
When asked if he had any regrets about playing the role, Orji said, “No.” He explained that as an actor, his primary job is to create the illusion of being someone else and to create believability in the minds of the audience.
The two-part film “Glamour Girls” portrayed the lives of independent single women in Nigeria’s patriarchal society who turned to escorting. The movie highlighted their struggles to balance personal ambitions with societal expectations.
One of the film’s most talked-about scenes involved Orji and Eucharia Anunobi in an erotic bathtub scene. Reflecting on the film’s impact, Orji said that despite his wife’s understanding of the acting profession, she objected to such a role. However, they learned to move past the setback.
Orji’s experience serves as a reminder of the challenges actors face in their personal lives due to their professional choices. Despite the controversy, “Glamour Girls” remains a significant film in Nollywood’s history, and Orji’s performance continues to be talked about to this day.
