Veteran Ghanaian comedian and filmmaker, Kwaku Sintim-Misa (KSM), has described his appearance on the hit U.S. television series Law & Order as a pivotal moment in his acting career. However, he emphasized that this milestone was part of a journey that began in his childhood.
Speaking on Career Trail on Joy Learning TV and Joy News, KSM revealed that his passion for acting developed early in life.
“For as long as I can remember, I wanted to act,” he said. “Even as a child, I was already drawn to storytelling. My older brother studied in the UK, and I remember writing to him, asking him to help me find a drama school there.”
KSM recalled that his vivid imagination and natural flair for storytelling often led his family to label him a “liar” — though, in hindsight, he believes that marked the early signs of a gifted writer.
Driven by this passion, he pursued Theatre Arts and became one of the pioneer students at Ghana’s National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI). “After high school, I joined NAFTI for a year before leaving for the U.S.,” he said.
While studying and working in the United States, KSM refined his acting skills and gained professional exposure. He fondly remembered getting his first film role during a summer visit to Ghana when a friend cast him in a local production.
But it was his role on Law & Order — one of America’s highest-rated primetime shows — that he considers his breakthrough. “To feature in Law & Order was huge. It was my biggest deal because the show was so well-respected and widely viewed,” he noted.
Another major milestone was becoming the first African to stage an original one-man show in the U.S., Thoughts of a Confused Black Man, performed on Broadway. He also earned acclaim back home for productions like Saga of the Returnee and Afia Siriboe, cementing his reputation as a trailblazer in both Ghana and abroad.
Offering advice to the youth, KSM urged them to pay attention to the things they do effortlessly — as these are likely to be their natural gifts.
“Anything you do easily and excel at without much effort — that’s probably your talent,” he said. “It’s not always about the arts. Talent can show up in science, math, architecture — whatever comes naturally to you.”
He concluded by encouraging young people to broaden their understanding of talent and not limit it to only creative pursuits.
