Actor Chido Nwokocha has rapidly become one of Black Hollywood’s rising heartthrobs. The former Arena League football star has made quite an impression on big and small screens as he proves that he’s more than America’s newest sex symbol.
Share with us the moment that you discovered your love for acting.
I have always wanted to act my entire life but I played football, coming out of Sacramento… While playing the Arena League, I tore my knee up. I had to make a decision on what I wanted to do after that. I chose acting. I started taking classes and fell in love with it.
What are some of the things that you consider when deciding on whether to take on a role?
First and foremost, I look at the authenticity of the character and whether I can bring it to life. Whether I can bring out a truth in it is the biggest question I ask myself.
Your performances are highly believable. It’s almost as if you’re not acting. Is there something you draw from to connect with the characters so well?
Thank you for the compliment. As I said, I try to find that truth in whatever role I’m playing. I also stay very grounded in my role. If there is anything I can do to make the character read well on screen, I do it. Whether it’s studying and doing my own personal homework or focusing on understanding the motivation behind what the character is trying to do, it really helps me stay grounded in truth and put on a great performance.
You are in great physical condition. How important is it that you maintain a consistent workout regiment to stay in shape?
I have a sports background so I really try to bring a lot of that into acting. My preparation for my roles is just like practice. You may not get it right the first time so you’re going to have to spend time and work at it. As far as maintaining my appearance, there is a lot of dedication and discipline that goes into that. As I work on my health and fitness, it keeps me in a great frame of mind and I just apply that to my preparation for my roles and my acting because you do have to put in the hard work. You do have to be consistent to put on a great performance that will ring true with your audience.
You have played several characters, have you ever been offered a role and decided that it wasn’t a good fit for you?
I wouldn’t say that a role was a bad fit. It’s just that everything that has been coming in right now has been more on par for what I want to do. I haven’t really come across anything that has pushed me in the wrong direction or was something I wouldn’t want to do. As far as my career, I’ve been really fortunate that the roles that I have been offered are roles that I have wanted to do and I have been able to excel.
Having played so many different characters, has any of them ever left an imprint on you that affected you in your everyday life?
Nothing in a bad way, it’s been very positive. I had a recurring role as a lawyer in the show Murder in the First. It was actually one of my favorite characters to play because he was a strong black man. He was a very intelligent young lawyer. It was very cool to play and cool preparing for that role. You don’t see a lot of characters like that on television all the time. It was an honor and I really wanted to show a character like that in a good light. Just carrying that on, sat very well with me after the role. I felt really good about it.
When taking on a role, do you consider how it may impact the perception of Black men on screen?
When I choose a role, I definitely look into it because it’s important that Black men are seen in a good light on screen. I am very conscious of that. Some roles may require you to dive into deeper and darker places, but that’s just part of the business. I am aware of it, but I do enjoy bringing different characters to life. There are so many different sides of people in general. Some are darker, but others have a light that shines through whatever no matter what. You need both to tell an honest story because both exist in real life. Having the versatility to portray both is something I enjoy.
Tell us about the character Gary Marshall Borders you play on BET’s Sistas?
This guy I play on Sistas is a very successful businessman. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot. He’s very charming and persuasive. He brings a lot of the drama to the show. The character struggles with what he has versus what he wants. It makes for very interesting television and he’s an interesting character to follow.
It appears that someone didn’t send him the memo that Black men don’t cheat.
He’s messing it up for all of us (laughing). It’s like what are you doing? We have a song out and everything.
When you’re not on set or rehearsing, what do you do when you’re away from the set.
I’m a very simple man. Especially now that we’re done filming, I’m maintaining my shape. I enjoy working out and being outdoors. I really enjoy spending quality time with my friends and family. My friends have kids right now. Not me (laughing). But, I enjoy watching them be great fathers, spending time with the little ones. I enjoy seeing my family and helping them out in any way I can.
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