Grace-Charis Bassey, formerly known as Belinda Effah, who was once a popular Nollywood actress, recently revealed her reasons for leaving the entertainment industry to become a sailor in the United States Navy.
In a candid interview with Saturday Beats, she shared that she felt lost and unfulfilled in her acting career, leading to an identity crisis that ultimately prompted her to make a major life change.
“Before joining the Navy, I had become passive in acting. I felt stuck and wasn’t adding much value to the movie industry anymore. It all started feeling too routine; just another job for the pay,” she said. “I wasn’t feeling the impact my movies were supposed to make, and I am driven by the impact I make. I didn’t want to be just another actress putting out films no one watched.”
Grace Bassey explained that while she joined Nollywood out of passion, the shift toward money and fame left her feeling empty.
“I started losing myself in the characters I was playing. I didn’t know who I was anymore,” she said. “Without acting, I had no identity. I had to go back to the basics and rediscover who I really am.”
She revealed that she had quietly stepped away from the spotlight for over a year to reconnect with herself.
Grace Bassey added that joining the Navy was not a random decision.
“I come from a Navy family. I went to Nigerian Navy School in Port Harcourt, and my dad retired as a Navy commander. So, this life resonated with me. Joining the Navy felt like a way to honour my father,” she said.
Despite the challenges of switching careers at 40, Grace Bassey said she is proud of her new path.
“It was a bit of a challenge because I had just turned 40. But here I am, living the dream of being a sailor,” she said. “Life over here is a different ball game entirely, and the opportunity really challenged me.”