Ruvbi Odigie is a Nigerian Irish actress and model. She was born in Lagos, Nigeria and raised in Dublin, Ireland. She is the third child from a family of four daughters. She developed a love for acting and performance from a young age and expressed this passion by participating in school plays and performing for her family in their living room. She has a background in theatre with her training being in Liberties college in Dublin where she performed in several shows such as Greek theatre classic, “Antigone”, Chinese play “The Good Person of Szechwan” and a musical theatre version of The Addams Family. She also has a passion for fashion and has participated in teen pageants and print ads.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BE AN ACTOR AND MODEL?I have always wanted to be an actress before I knew what the word ‘acting’ meant. I have nurtured a love for storytelling since I was a child and enjoyed reading and watching movies. I realized how happy I was whenever I engaged with storytelling in any form and I liked who I was. I also saw how happy I made others feel whenever I acted out a scene or did a monologue, there was a way their eyes sparkled, being able to make people feel things through acting or storytelling is a chosen blessing. When I realized I could do this as a career, I had my mind set on it.
WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER ACTORS / MODELS?
I like to think of myself as a chameleon, I am able to relate to and interact with any groups I find myself in. I am a well cultured individual who is shaped by the many experiences I’ve had and the people around me. This allows me to bring this element into my performances and portrayals. I don’t approach things from an A or B perspective, not even a C but rather an E. I also feel like I relate to the audience as a cinephile myself, I know what they want to see as I am an audience member too.
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING HAVE YOU RECEIVED?
I have a background in theatre from Greek theatre to Chinese Theatre to musicals. I have ongoing acting classes with Coach Josh Griego from AMTA as well several bootcamps. I have also had runway training with beauty pageant trainers.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ROLES YOU’VE BEEN INVOLVED IN?
I really enjoyed playing Mrs. Mi Tzu from the Good Person of Szechwan. She was an interesting character as she represented strong themes in the play while having a character development at the end. I enjoyed exploring a dark and unforgiving character.
WHAT ACCENTS AND DIALECTS CAN YOU DO?
I do a perfect valley girl dialect, think Karen from Mean girls. I can do a Nigerian accent especially a native Edo pidgin accent. I can do a latin English accent like Sofia Vergara and can do a generic British accent.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE PROJECTS THAT YOU TYPICALLY PREFER?
I prefer screen, I love the magic that can be made in films. I am a big fan of the genres of horror, fantasy and comic books. I would love to work in projects of those genres.
WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS WHEN PREPARING FOR AN AUDITION?
I like to film myself and try different emotions and different voice pitch, I try the most absurd ones first and then reel it in. I watch these like as if it wasn’t me, I watch it in third person and see which ones I react to the most, which ones bring out stronger emotions in me. I also like to listen to songs that I feel represent the character I am auditioning for and get my mind in that space.
WHAT’S BEEN THE PROS AND CONS OF PURSUING YOUR CHOSEN CAREER?
The cons are the uncertainty, not knowing when your next job is and having your fate be decided by factors outside your control and abilities. The pros are that I feel more alive in this path I have chosen, I have worked in jobs outside this industry, and no money can buy the happiness I feel as an actress. The feeling of belonging, of warmth and of being at home.
WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES GROWING UP THAT HELPED TO MOLD YOU INTO WHO YOU ARE TODAY?
I loved Angela Bassett growing up, she was phenomenal in every movie I saw her in. I also admired actors like Lupita Nyongo, Angelina Jolie, Vera Farmiga, Keanu Reeves and Rachel Mcadams. I was also influenced by international film industries such as Nollywood (Nigerian) figures like Genevieve Nnaji as well as Bollywood.
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO COLLABORATE WITH IN FUTURE?
I would love to work with Sam Raimi and maybe star in a horror film of his. I would also like to work with James Wan, Aaron Ehasz, Jordan Peele, Robert Eggers, and Marsai Martin.
IF YOU HAD ONE MESSAGE TO GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Have all the audacity in the world.
IF YOU WEREN’T AN ACTOR WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU BE DOING?
I would be a film critic or have a career in academia like a lawyer or a research professor.
ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT ANY CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS?
As a cat-lover, I am passionate about the saving cat’s movement which fights against the abuse of cats in certain countries. I am also passionate about women’s rights, especially in intersectional issues.
AS AN INTERNATIONAL NAVIGATING HOLLYWOOD, HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR ROOTS AND HERITAGE WILL INFLUENCE YOUR WORK AND THE ROLES YOU CHOOSE?
Hollywood is welcoming to internationals, and I think I can benefit from this with my dual cultural background. I do believe being a Nigerian who was raised in Ireland allows me to be part of two worlds and I can bring this to my performances. I am open for any role that allow me to explore the depths of human and inhuman emotions, but I could see myself getting roles for African characters and on the other end of the spectrum, getting roles for American characters and have people wonder about my actual roots.
IN TODAY’S HOLLYWOOD, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PUSH FOR GREATER INCLUSIVITY AND REPRESENTATION. HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR WORK CONTRIBUTING TO THIS MOVEMENT, AND WHAT CHANGES DO YOU STILL HOPE TO SEE IN THE INDUSTRY?
I believe there is a huge audience out there who will enjoy Nigerian culture on the big screen and I hope to contribute to that by portraying Nigerian character in a way that is authentic to the country. Also, I believe Ireland hasn’t been explored enough in Hollywood, I would love to a see a horror movie that is based on Irish mythology. As a black woman, I have observed certain tropes that have categorized how black women are portrayed in movies, I would like to see more positive representation as well as a diversity in the tropes and characters we portray.
WHAT WOULD YOUR DREAM JOB BE? TV SHOW / MOVIE ROLE.
I would love to play the character of Storm from X-men, I always loved her comics as a child, and I believe she needs her own story. I would also love to portray a final girl in a horror movie or even better, a horror villain.
FOR FUN! IF YOU WENT BACK TO THE GOLDEN ERA OF HOLLYWOOD, WHICH ACTOR DO YOU RESONATE WITH MOST AND WHY?
Sophia Loren because of her grace and authenticity. I aspire to be as daring as she is.
WHAT DID YOU MOST ENJOY ABOUT ATTENDING IPOP!?
The amazing people I met there, who I now call friends as well as the many industry professionals who gave us the best tips and advice.
HOW CAN PEOPLE FOLLOW YOUR JOURNEY AS AN ACTOR AND MODEL?
People can connect to me on my Instagram @ruvbi_odigie, YouTube @Ruvbi and TikTok.
