Nigerian actress Rita Dominic has opened up about her hiatus from acting during the early 2000s, revealing that she temporarily left the industry to work as a caregiver.
Speaking at the 2024 Women of Valour Conference in Accra, Dominic shared her personal journey, stating that she faced dark times and needed a break.
"In 2001/2002, I stopped acting. I left the [movie] industry and moved to London because it was a very dark period in my life," Dominic said.
The actress mentioned that conflicts with close friends and the loss of her mother were some of the significant factors that led to her decision.
"I fell out with some friends I considered family. And I just gave up acting for a while. I needed to get out of that space for a minute," she added.
Finding herself alone in Nigeria after her siblings relocated to London, Dominic said she struggled to find acting opportunities and began losing faith in the slow growth of Nollywood.
Eventually, she made the decision to move to London herself, where she found work as a caregiver for adults with special needs.
"While in London, I was trying to make ends meet, so I started working in a care home as a caregiver," Dominic said.
Despite perceptions that it was a step down from her acting career, Dominic said "taking care of others brought me joy and purpose at a time I needed it most."
Dominic, known as one of the top actresses in Nollywood, made her acting debut in 1998 with "A Time to Kill" and has since starred in numerous successful films like "Blood Sisters," "Light in the Dark," and "Desecration."
Beyond acting, she has also delved into production, earning acclaim for projects such as "The Therapist" and "Light in the Dark."
