Ghanaian actress Ama K. Abebrese recently opened up about the hurdles actors face in both the local and global film industries during an interview on Joy Prime’s “Changes” with Roselyn Felli.
Abebrese highlighted the demanding nature of acting, explaining that the path to securing a role is fraught with challenges.
“I hear ‘I want to act’ all the time. Being an actor is one of the most disappointing things you can be. It doesn’t matter what part of the world you’re in. Let’s say that you’ve auditioned for something you think you’ve done so great, and sometimes you can go to your first, second, or third; they can call you back like four times, and by the fourth time you think you’ve started cashing the check, knowing you’ve got the role, and then you don’t get it. So, it builds you up and pushes you down. So, you need to have a level of tough skin because it gets to a point where you start taking it personal,” she said.
She described the audition process as often disheartening, with numerous callbacks sometimes leading to a role that never materializes.
This cycle of hope and disappointment, she explained, can be emotionally taxing, requiring a tough exterior to navigate.
Abebrese shared that despite her extensive experience, she has faced numerous rejections, having auditioned for many roles she ultimately did not get.
Despite these setbacks, she remains committed to her craft, seeing each audition as an opportunity to hone her skills and come back stronger.
“If I didn’t get it, it just meant sometimes it’s not for me and you; there are times when you find out who got the role, and then you now understand why you were not given the role,” she further noted.
She believes that some roles are simply not meant for her, and seeing others cast can offer clarity on why things didn’t work out.
Over the years, Abebrese has appeared in around twenty films, a number she finds satisfactory given the impact and success of those projects.
She emphasized that her focus is on the quality of the films she participates in rather than the quantity.
Among her notable roles are those in “Beast of No Nation,” “Sinking Sands,” “Double-Cross,” and “Azali,” all of which she auditioned for and which have garnered acclaim.
