Ep. 3 Going Off-Script: Mary Chukwuma on Fighting Back, On-Screen and Off

What happens when an actress defies the script? In a powerful story, Nollywood star Mary Chukwuma went off-script while playing a victim of domestic violence and chose to fight back—a moment of improvisation the director kept. This conversation is about rewriting the scripts we’re handed. Mary discusses how this mindset applies to her career as an actor and costume designer, where developing a complementary skill is key for thriving long-term in the industry. We also explore the pressure to conform to damaging beauty standards, including a candid conversation about skin bleaching and what it says about the definitions of beauty and success promoted to women. This episode is for every woman who is ready to write her own ending.