Veteran Nollywood actress Rita Dominic has shared the reason behind her decision to take a break from the screen and work as a caregiver in the United Kingdom (UK).
Speaking at the 2024 Women of Valour Conference in Accra, Ghana, Dominic revealed that she stepped away from stardom in 2002 due to personal challenges and moved to the UK to address them.
During her time in the UK, Dominic found employment as a caregiver for adults with special needs, a role she embraced wholeheartedly despite some perceiving it as a “step-down” from her acting career.
She emphasized that caring for others brought her immense joy and purpose during a difficult period in her life.
“In 2001/2002, I stopped acting. I left the [movie] industry and moved to London because it was a very dark period in my life,” Dominic shared. “I fell out with some friends I considered family, and I just gave up acting for a while. I needed to get out of that space for a minute.”
She continued, “And then I moved to London and gave up stardom. You won’t believe this, this is something I’ve never told people before. While in London, I was trying to make ends meet, so I started working in a care home as a caregiver for adults with special needs. While some might view it as a step-down, I don’t. Taking care of others brought me joy and purpose at a time I needed it most.”