Life & Work with Imani Okwuosa of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Imani Okwuosa.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Yes, I would love to share my story. I grew up in Nigeria for sixteen years of my life before moving to the United States in 2019. I like to say that was where I found my love for acting. We did not always have power back home due to regular outages, which was common in Nigeria. so whenever there was no electricity and we couldn’t watch our favorite shows, my cousins and I created our own stories. I would boldly direct the others, “You play the mother, and we’re your children. We just returned from school, and it’s time to prepare something to eat.” In the balcony, an old mattress with holes in it became a boat we used to sail across the sea, and our wooden dresser was a stove we used to make pretend meals. When the lights came back on, the feeling of escape and transformation stuck with me, and that’s when I fell in love with acting. I knew that whatever magic I saw on the screen, I had it in me as well.

Fast forward to 2019, I moved to the united states, and during my junior year of Highschool, I took a theatre fundamentals class as an elective, and realized not only did I love acting but was good at it. I found my purpose upon graduating High School, and chose to study Acting at Georgia State University, which I graduated from last year.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
This is a great question!

I will say that during my undergraduate years, I was constantly surrounded by other actors, acting in plays, or in short films. However, life after graduation has been a bit of a shock. I believe no one really prepares you for the life change from a student actor to a professional one. And I am currently in this process of learning what it takes to be a professional actor.

I recently auditioned for graduate school to get my MFA, and while it was an amazing process where I got to meet new people, travel for callbacks, and learn about myself as an actor, I got waitlisted for the school of my choice, and eventually did not end up getting in, which I found out this May.

This was a challenge I had to overcome but I strongly believe that is a redirection to focus on where I am currently and build from here. I am only very grateful for the experiences and what I learn from them everyday.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an Actor based here in Atlanta, GA. I have worked on professional film sets, and theatre productions. Some of my film credits include Trinity, the lead role in the feature film rejuvenation, which is currently streaming on Tubi. I also played the lead character Deborah, in Sister Salad Days, a short film written by Adesola Thomas, which won best Georgia Short Film in the 2025 Atlanta Film Festival and has screened in film festivals across the country. Some of my theatrical credits include playing Fra in the devised production, Circadian; When Will We Wake, where I assisted in choreographing and writing, and playing the lead Bunmi in GSU’s theatre production of Bunmi and Babajide Much Ado. I have also starred in short films and student films and worked as a teaching assistant at the Alliance Theatre Company where I I assisted with teaching kids stage management, directing, and choreography. Currently, I am producing a theatrical project called Stage Africa Series, an initiative committed to producing stage readings that reflect African communities while showcasing new work by emerging playwrights through our Short Play Series.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up was magical. I remember always being interested in play. I was making stories with my cousins, playing games with my siblings, and letting my imagination carry me away. I am thankful to have grown up without too much technology in our faces. It made me curious and allowed me to connect with my environment and with people. I was always a talkative child. People always said I had a big mouth but I think what they meant is that I was never afraid to speak my mind. I loved playing in my Grandparents garden too. It was a childhood filled with fun, adventure, and community.

Contact Info:

• Website: Actor reel- https://vimeo.com/1090958318?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
• Instagram: Imani.Okwuosa