“Keep Believing in Yourself”, says Actor and Model Boma Akpore

Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing actor/model Boma Akpore. Nigerian born, currently based in New York City, Boma has taken the entertainment industry by storm. From winning the Best Body Imperial Universe award in 2016, working for brands such as Dior and Gucci, walking the runway during New York Fashion Week, to SNL appearances and a feature in Janet Jackson’s “Made for Now” video, Boma Akpore has done it all. His latest role is a history-maker, as he has recently joined the cast of Hollywood’s first all-Black Egyptian film, “Protector of The Gods”.

Let’s jump into it so we can hear about his amazing journey.

So Boma, how did you get into acting? Has it always been a dream of yours?

I really just happened upon it. A Producer found me at an event, told me she liked my look, and would love to cast me in her upcoming television series. Shortly after, I enrolled in the New York Film Academy and hit the ground running with acting ever since.

Who are your role models?

Denzel Washington, Idris Elba, Djimond Hounsou, Omari Hardwick. I admire strong black leads who have broken barriers and made a name for themselves in this industry.

What inspires you?

The thought of not living up to my full potential. I know I can accomplish so much in this life.

We heard you just launched a company? Please tell us more about that.

We just launched Bonzy Blues Global Partners. Its focus is on TV production and media events. I’m presently working on three films I plan to submit to film festivals in December and next year. These are stories that are very near and dear to my heart. This is the next step for me, to start creating work and showing my fans and audience how creative I can be. I’m very excited for what the future brings.

What’s your most memorable experience?

My most memorable experience was working alongside James Spader on the primetime show The Blacklist. You can catch me in Season 6 Episode 16 if you’d like to check it out.

Which social media channels work best for promoting your work? How do you make social media work for you?

I use Instagram a lot, it’s @bomaakpore, I’m just going to plug that in there *laughs*. I post what I’m up to, what projects I’m working on, and people seem to enjoy seeing that. These days, casting directors and producers check our social media to have a feel about our personalities. You can tell a lot about people from what they post and what they say. I’ve even gotten auditions via Instagram DM. Social media is a necessity in this industry.

What’s your greatest fear?

My greatest fear is not achieving my goals and not living up to my potential. Like they say, you only live once, but if done right once is enough.

Looking back, what’s one thing you wish you understood better before you ever got started?

I wish I’d known that as an actor, you interpret the story how you want to, and not to stress yourself about what you think the casting director is looking for during an audition. No one knows what exactly casting is looking for, all you can do is go in the room and do your best. Never ever stress about the outcome of an audition. You can go in there and portray the complete opposite of what casting may have had in mind, and still book the job because of the risk you took with your interpretation of the role.

What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?

Hard work. You must constantly work on your craft, no matter what profession you are in. But as an actor, read and memorize scripts daily. You want to always be prepared for a role. There are 24 hours in a day, we have to make sure we use them wisely.

What keeps you going when things get tough?

My love for the craft keeps me going every time. To become a successful actor is not easy. The road is very bumpy. You must get comfortable with rejection because it will happen *laughs*. No one likes it, but it’s part of the game. You must also be confident in your abilities, and that confidence comes from consistent hard work. If you know that you put your best foot forward every time, you won’t be as disappointed when you don’t book a job because you’ll know that you’ve done the best you could do, you just weren’t what they were looking for.

Any message for our readers?

Keep believing in yourself, don’t let anyone tell you you can’t achieve your goals. Keep working hard and staying true to yourself. And lastly, be on the lookout, I have lots of exciting projects on the way.
Most importantly, always stay safe and healthy. We are living in totally different times.

How can people connect with you?

People can connect with me via Instagram, my website, or Facebook. Thank you for having me.

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