Fast-rising actress, Joan Johnson has seen it all. From being a house help after the death of her parents, to being a bar attendant and sexually harassed by her masters.
She was also duped of N4.7m by one of her friends who offered to help her process travel documents even as the supposed friend attempted to push her into becoming a stripper in Kenya.
Joan, who was also sexually harassed by her uncle, struggled to rise above her challenges and today, she’s living her dream as a movie star. She shares her touching story with Saturday Vanguard.
How it all started
I lost my parents at the age of 7. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I attended the best of schools and my dad was a pastor before his death. After his death, I lived in different homes as a house help and the husbands in those homes attempted to sleep with me as small as I was then. Even my father’s elder brother sexually harassed me. I never told anyone about it because I want to use my life story as a movie in future. I started out as child-actor at 13.
Then I used to act alongside Regina Daniels. I have always wanted to become a superstar. I stayed at Okpanam near Asaba. Then, I used to visit one of the popular hotels in Asaba where actors gathered for auditions. A friend of mine took me to the place for an audition, while I was still in secondary school. I auditioned for a minor role in a movie. That was my first ever role in a movie. Unfortunately, my grandfather didn’t want me to end up as an actress.
So, it was difficult for me to shuttle between Okpanam and Asaba. Later, I got another opportunity from a director-friend who casted me for a role in the movie, ‘Emergency’ which focused on the plight of the Chibok Girls. Then, I was still living with my grandfather. After my SSS examinations, I started working at a beer parlour, where I was paid N8000 per month.
Not minding my meagre salary, I always stormed the Zenith hotel looking for a movie job. One day, luck smiled on me, when I met a guy who introduced me to Chinyere Wilfred, who employed me as her Personal Assistant and paid me N10,000 per month. That was how I started travelling with her to different states and getting roles in movies. But I was not fulfilled as I wanted to become a superstar. So, one Christmas period, I left for Port Harcourt to see my family, and ended up working as a Sales Representative for Techno. That was how I abandoned acting to chase money. But I returned to acting in 2022.
Travelling abroad and my stripper story
Four years ago, I planned to travel out of the country, but a friend aborted my dream by duping me the sum of N4.7million. She claimed that she was processing my visa after I sold my property and closed my shop in readiness to travel. I didn’t process my visa by myself.
She handled everything for me. When I got to the airport, I was told that my visa was fake, and was advised to contact my agent which I did. She then said it was the fault of the agent and asked me to join her in Cotonou. While in Cotonou, she told me that as a beautiful lady and a good dancer, I should consider travelling to Kenya to become a stripper. I told her that I wanted to become a star and not a stripper.
She told me I can never make it as an actress; rather, my destiny was in the fashion business, that I was just wasting my time. At that point, I asked her concerning the travelling expenses to Kenya and she said N200,000. I transferred the money I made from the pedicure business to her. But later, it dawned on me that she was the person that duped me of N4.7 million as she blocked me from reaching her till date. I still haven’t recovered from the shock.
After that horrible experience, I was bankrupt and homeless. I started squatting with friends, instead of returning to Port-Harcourt. I moved into an apartment in Lagos, where I was paying weekly rents. But being a professional pedicurist, I went back to my pedicure business and started making money again. Later, I travelled to Kenya, and through the help of a friend over there, I was able to stabilize, made some money and returned to Nigeria. I then enrolled in a film academy in Lagos, rented an apartment and since then, life has been good to me. My experience has taught me never to trust anybody or open up to anyone no matter who the person is in my life. It has also taught me never to believe that anyone can help me.
Off screen, I am a crazy kind of girl and at the same time a responsible person. I am not a saint, I have seen life. But I noticed that a lot of producers prefer giving me the role of a bad girl in movies such as drug lord, seduction and carrying guns in movies because of my physical appearance. I have a very sexy body and eyes. Sometimes, I’d play the role of a good girl but the bad girl role has overshadowed all of that.
Sexual harassment in movie industry
I didn’t experience sexual harassment because of the way I joined the movie industry. As a personal assistant to Chinyere Wilfred, I was getting movie roles at random. My craft speaks volumes for me, and when they approach me, they do it politely. And it is my duty to say yes or no.
My life experiences affecting my love life
Relationships do not favour me. I have ended up being hurt badly in love. I am a lover girl. I love genuinely, your pain is my pain. But right now, my career comes first before any other thing. I just want to make money and take care of my family and myself. I don’t even know if I am going to get married.
For love or for money
I’d go for love, but men don’t appreciate me. I wash, cook and clean my man’s apartment just to make him feel like a king. But what I get in return is scorn. No man has ever appreciated me apart from my father and my ex-boyfriend, who was worshiping the ground I walked on. I parted ways with him because of the fact that he was not interested in my career.
More so, he was low-minded in nature as he believes that if he spoils you with gifts, he has done everything for you. But that was not what I wanted. I want to be a global star and one of the biggest actresses to come out of Africa. I don’t need a man with a low mentality. That was how I broke up with him. In all, what I lost in love, I have not only gained in my career, but also, in making money.
Returning to acting
Since I relocated to Lagos two years ago, my career has grown in leaps and bounds. I have worked for different productions. Many directors have told me that I am a promising star. So, I know I am on the right path. I produced my own short movies, acted alongside top Nollywood actors and played lead characters along the line.
(Vanguard)