Poverty didn’t shame me – Iheme Nancy

Nollywood actress Iheme Nancy is open about her life. She shared her struggles on the way to fame and the support she received.

"My mom is late. My father is alive and striving. It’s not easy, but we’re all pushing," she said.

Iheme Nancy graduated from a state university with a degree in business education. Her academic journey was tough, but her personal story is even deeper.

“My father was a civil servant, not wealthy. Growing up was hard. But there’s a saying: don’t let your background hold you back. Poverty didn’t shame me—I didn’t grow.”

She remembered her late mother owning a small restaurant that helped feed the family. Even with food, life was challenging.

“I didn’t really grow up with my parents,” she explained. “I spent part of my childhood in Aba and attended primary school there."

“At one point, I lived with my aunt who treated me poorly. I slept in a kitchen store and ran endless errands. She thought she was punishing me, but she prepared me for life.”

Her passion for acting began young while watching Nollywood movies through a neighbor's window. She told her friend Promise that she would be on TV one day.

“A friend connected me to Mr. China—Mollins Ch—who guided me into the industry around 2016,” she recalled.

Though she entered Nollywood with big dreams, Nancy insists her rise lacked scandal or compromise.

“I did not suffer like others. I never had to sleep with anyone for roles. God placed the right people in my life as destiny helpers.”

Some in the industry call her stingy, but she stands by her choices.

“Yes, I’m stingy,” she admitted. “I don’t give in to what people want, but I have dignity. I love this job; now people can create YouTube content without relying on marketers.”