By Ayo Onikoyi

Rising actor Bobby Ekpe, known for his commanding presence on screen, has given fans a rare glimpse into the man behind the tough characters.

In a recent interview with Potpourri, Ekpe reflected on how his on-screen persona contrasts with his true self, the sacrifices his craft demands, and common misconceptions about actors.

“The toughness you see is really the character’s armour. As an actor, my job is to step into their world and make their truth believable. But personally, I’m quite introspective. I enjoy quiet spaces, meaningful conversations, and understanding people on a deeper level. So the intensity belongs to the roles, the real me is much softer around the edges,” Ekpe revealed.

He also spoke about the emotional demands of his craft: “One of the biggest sacrifices for me is always emotional honesty. Some characters require you to sit in very uncomfortable emotional spaces for long periods of time. There have been roles where I had to constantly access pain, anger, or deep vulnerability just to stay truthful to the story. Coming out of it is a process—I usually give myself time to breathe, return to my normal rhythm, spend time with loved ones, listen to music, read; just simple things that remind me who I am outside the character. But I am of the school of thought that believes every role leaves a small imprint on you.”

On misconceptions about actors, Ekpe said, “I think people sometimes assume actors are always dramatic or larger than life. But many of us are actually very quiet observers. We spend a lot of time watching people, understanding emotions, and studying human behavior. If anything, I’d love for people to see actors as students of humanity.”