I didn’t brush, bath for days over ‘Shanty Town’ role — Chidi Mokeme. Chidi Mokeme, a Nigerian actor, described how he was able to convey his character’s feelings in the six-part television series “Shanty Town.”
The show follows a group of prostitutes who attempt to break away from the control of a notorious kingpin but discover very early that doing so will be extremely difficult owing to political corruption and familial ties.
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With his depiction of the crime lord Scar, Mokeme went on to win the hearts of many fans and a plethora of accolades.
In a BBC Pidgin interview on Thursday, the actor stated that in order to portray his character, he had to endure significant physical modifications.
He claimed, “Some of the physical changes I made to take on the persona of Scar included shaving off my hair and going bald. Prior to the shoot, I also skipped my bath for a few days so that I could act freely when instructed to do anything nasty because I knew I wasn’t clean.
“Occasionally, when I don’t wash my teeth, people worry what type of person I am when I open my lips to speak to them.
Although I don’t smoke, it took me roughly three packets a day to get the voice I had in the series.
Also disclosed by Mokeme was his struggle to distance himself from the persona of Scar.
It will take some time before the character and I can part ways because we’ve grown close.
“Scar and I are at odds over who is the owner of my body. I informed Scar that I was done and that he may leave, but if it were possible, I would like to stay in the role of Scar.
After a protracted absence caused by a struggle with Bell’s Palsy, Mokeme made a comeback with the film “Shanty Town.”
