Veteran Nollywood actress Eucharia Anunobi has opened up about the intense backlash she faced following her role in the classic Nigerian film Glamour Girls 2, revealing how audiences struggled to separate her on-screen character from her real-life personality.
Speaking during a recent episode of The Honest Bunch Podcast, the respected actress reflected on the challenges she encountered after portraying Anita, a bold and controversial character in the movie released about three decades ago.
According to Anunobi, the role attracted widespread attention and criticism at the time, largely because some viewers misunderstood the nature of acting and began to associate her real-life personality with the character she portrayed on screen.
The actress explained that Anita, the role she played in the film, was written as a wild and seductive escort who becomes involved with a wealthy married man. The character’s actions created dramatic tension in the storyline but also led to significant public reactions toward the actress herself.
Anunobi recalled that many people branded her with various labels after watching the film, believing that her performance reflected her personal behaviour.
“I faced a lot of backlash for my role in Glamour Girls 2,” she said during the interview.
“You know, at that time the Nigerian populace pretended that they don’t watch such movies. So, a lot of people were labelling me. They called me Sharon Stone, Mammy Water, Husband Snatcher.”
The actress explained that the criticism came from people who could not separate fiction from reality, assuming that the traits of the character Anita represented who she was as a person.
In the film, Anita was depicted as a university student who becomes romantically involved with a wealthy married man, eventually taking him away from his wife. The storyline, which explored themes of temptation, power and wealth, was controversial at the time but also helped make the movie one of the most talked-about productions in Nollywood during that period.
Because of the role’s seductive and provocative nature, many viewers began to perceive Anunobi as a real-life seductress.
She revealed that the public perception became so intense that it even affected how some women behaved around her in social settings.
“The character I played was a student who snatched a wealthy man from his wife. So a lot of people were seeing me as a seductress,” she explained.
“Well, I am very alluring. I can’t deny that because if I deny myself that means I am denying God.”
Despite acknowledging that she possessed confidence and charisma, Anunobi emphasised that the reactions she received were exaggerated and often unfair.
According to her, some women became extremely cautious whenever they saw her around their partners.
“A lot of people were like that, leave your man with Eucharia, she’s going to take him away,” she said.
“It was crazy to the point that if women see me when they are with their men, they hold them tightly.”
The veteran actress said the experience demonstrated how powerful film narratives can be in shaping public perception, particularly during the early years of Nollywood when audiences sometimes struggled to separate actors from their characters.
She stressed that her role in Glamour Girls 2 was simply part of her professional responsibility as an actress performing a script.
According to Anunobi, acting requires individuals to step into different personalities and portray a wide range of emotions and behaviours that may not necessarily reflect who they are in real life.
She also disclosed an interesting behind-the-scenes detail from the film, revealing that she was paid additional money for performing a memorable bathtub scene with fellow Nollywood actor Zack Orji.
The scene, which was considered daring at the time, contributed to the film’s popularity and further intensified the reactions from audiences.
At the height of the movie’s popularity, Glamour Girls became one of the most influential productions in Nigerian cinema, highlighting the social realities and complexities surrounding wealth, relationships and ambition.
The film’s bold storytelling and controversial themes made it a major talking point across the country, while also helping to shape the early identity of Nollywood as an industry willing to explore provocative subjects.
For Anunobi, the experience became both a challenge and a defining moment in her acting career.
Despite the criticism she faced, the role ultimately cemented her reputation as a fearless performer capable of delivering complex and emotionally charged characters.
Over the years, she has continued to build a successful career in Nollywood, appearing in numerous films and television productions while also becoming known for her work as a motivational speaker and evangelist.
Her journey reflects the evolution of Nollywood itself, which has grown from a small but ambitious industry into one of the largest film industries in the world.
Today, actors in the industry are widely recognised for their ability to portray diverse characters, and audiences have become more aware of the distinction between an actor’s personal identity and the roles they play on screen.
Reflecting on the past, Anunobi’s story highlights the challenges faced by actors who take on controversial roles, particularly during a time when the Nigerian film industry was still developing its identity and audience understanding.
While the backlash she experienced was intense, it also demonstrated the powerful impact of storytelling and the emotional connection viewers can develop with fictional characters.
More than three decades after the release of Glamour Girls 2, the film remains a memorable part of Nollywood history, and Anunobi’s performance continues to be discussed by film enthusiasts and critics.
Her reflections serve as a reminder of the sacrifices and resilience often required in the entertainment industry, where actors sometimes face public scrutiny for the very roles that showcase their talent.
Today, Eucharia Anunobi remains a respected figure in Nollywood, admired for both her acting ability and her willingness to speak openly about her experiences in the industry.
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