Ghanaian actress, Victoria Lebene, now a minister of the gospel and entrepreneur, once struggled with self-doubt and rejection, which nearly derailed her dreams of becoming a star.
The mother of two revealed that her passion for storytelling and performing drove her to pursue a career in acting.
However, she was initially intimidated by the industry’s fierce competition, her own self-doubt, repeated rejections and negative thoughts, which almost convinced her to give up on her aspirations.
In all of these, she did not heed those negative thoughts.
Fortunately, encouragement from her loved ones and her unyielding zeal for success helped her overcome these obstacles. With persistence and hard work, Victoria broke through the barriers and became a recognisable face on the silver screen.
“I’ve always had a deep love for storytelling and performing. Acting allows me to bring characters to life and connect with audiences on an emotional level. It’s a way for me to express myself and share my passion with the world. Like any career, acting has its challenges. I’ve faced rejections, self-doubt and the pressure to constantly prove myself.
“However, I’ve learned to embrace these challenges as opportunities for growth and today I am here still giving it my best shot. While I have had some challenging times, I have equally had some highlighting moments from my journey in the entertainment industry.”
Victoria Lebene
She further revealed that she had the chance to work with talented and inspiring individuals, being a part of impactful projects and receiving recognition for her performances, adding that each experience has contributed to her growth and passion for the craft.
From the actress’ perspective, maintaining a successful career while nurturing a family can be very challenging, particularly for women in the spotlight.
She said there was always an overwhelming pressure to sustain a flawless public image, as well as constant scrutiny and expectations placed on females, which often intrude on personal and family time, adding that celebrities created a demanding environment that could be difficult to navigate.
But in all of these, the actress has managed to find her balance. She focuses on effective time management for each of her endeavours.
New calling
The actress has a knack for nurturing young talents and she has embarked on a new journey as a reverend minister, hoping to leverage her platform to empower and inspire individuals in their personal and professional endeavours.
She says unlike others who start these empowerment programmes for clout chasing, her ministry is built on the foundation of compassion, empathy and understanding geared towards helping others discover and pursue their dreams.
“My calling is real and not for social media engagement or clout. Yes, it has been there, but you know, I’ve been involved in a lot of things and so I needed to give myself the pace and time to really execute that role so that I will not end up putting too much pressure on myself.
“The call comes very strong and you really need to heed it, or else you don’t know the next thing that may happen to you. Life is too short. A moment, you’re here and the next, you’re gone. And I guess you would be disappointed if you do not fulfil your purpose on earth.”
Victoria Lebene
The “Broken Mirror” actress lightened fears of a diversion from her acting career, assuring fans that her newfound passion for skincare and interior design will not diminish her dedication to the craft that has endeared her to many.
“Even though the movie industry is demanding, I will remain committed to my acting career. I have been doing this alongside my acting career for a few years and I must say it has been demanding. But that would not mean I will forgo my passion for acting.”
Victoria Lebene
She explained that she’s exploring other businesses to provide a stable financial future for her family, without giving up on her love for acting.
“The transition from acting to entrepreneurship was a natural progression for me. I’ve always been interested in exploring different creative avenues. The popular ‘Adurowura’ people have been hearing is just a name I have acquired through my skincare sales. It hasn’t come to take me off the screens.
“I would say that it’s always good to find other means to support our family. I am not stopping acting because of my new ventures. This transition will just ensure that I have other potential stable income lines in addition to what my acting career brings in.”
Victoria Lebene
She reassured her fans that her acting career is still very much alive, adding: “Even now, ‘Adurowura’ is a full series on YouTube and I am still making a good number of appearances in other movies and series.”
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