Nigerian screen icon, Rita Dominic, disclosed her surprising absence from acting in the early 2000s, opting to serve as a caregiver amidst personal struggles.
Speaking at the 2024 Women of Valour Conference in Accra, Dominic revealed her decision to relocate to London and embrace a role in caregiving, finding solace and purpose in aiding others.
“In a pivotal period of my life, I stepped away from the limelight,” says Dominic, recounting her departure from the movie industry due to personal challenges and loss. “London became my refuge, and caregiving became my calling.”
While her transition may have seemed unconventional, Dominic emphasized the profound fulfilment derived from her caretaking role, dismissing any notion of it being a downgrade from her glamorous acting career.
“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. 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.
“And then I moved to London and gave up stardom. You won’t believe this, this is something I’ve never told people before. While in London, I was trying to make ends meet so I started working in a care home as a caregiver for adults with special needs. While some might view it as a step-down, I don’t. Taking care of others brought me joy and purpose at a time I needed it most,” Rita Dominic stated.
Decades onward, Rita Dominic stands as a celebrated figure in Nollywood, with a repertoire of acclaimed performances and successful ventures in production, solidifying her legacy as one of the industry’s luminaries.
In 1998, she starred in her first movie, A Time to Kill and went on to star in many others in subsequent years, including Blood Sisters, Light in the Dark, True Lies, The Meeting and Desecration.
Rita Dominic has also ventured into production after earning acclaim as one of Nollywood’s finest actresses for decades. She has helmed various projects, including “The Therapist,” “Light in the Dark,” “Bound,” “The Blindspot,” and “Desecration.”