Nana Ama McBrown is a Ghanaian actress. She found mainstream success following her rousing performance in the Twi-Language movie Nsem Pii. Nsem Pii is often cited as the movie that ushered Twi-language Ghanaian movies into the mainstream. A fact that is attributed to Nana Ama’s performance in the film. Although often overshadowed by her English-speaking counterparts across West Africa, Nana Ama, in recent years has gathered a strong loyal following of her own among Ghanaians.
Early life
Nana Ama was born in Kumasi, Ghana. Nana Ama’s mother, Cecilia Agyenim Boateng, and her father Kwabena Nkrumah, divorced when Nana Ama was young. With her father gone and her mother unable to take care of her and her six other siblings, Nana Ama together with her siblings were adopted by Kofi McBrown and her aunt, Madam Betty Obiri Yeboah. As a result, Nana Ama considers her childhood to have been difficult.
Along with her six siblings, Nana Ama grew up in Kwadaso, Kumasi with her aunt, and her adopted father. To this day, she considers her aunt her ‘real mother’. She has said in interviews that she does this in gratitude to her aunt having provided her with a stable and caring home.
Nana Ama attended Peters International school, moved on to Melesota International and then to Central International. She continued to Kwadaso L.A. J.S.S, completed and went to Prince of Peace Secondary School all in Kumasi. Later, she attended the College of Business intending to become a secretary.
Career
Mainstream success
Nana Ama essentially stumbled into acting. She answered an auction call on the radio by Miracle Films and was hired to do costuming instead. However, on the set, Nana Ama was able to snag the lead role after the director, Samuel Nyamekye, felt that she was better suited for the role. In 2001, her first movie That Day, was released launching her career.
Her performance in That Day opened the floodgates to choicer roles, landing her a spot on the TV Series Tentacles.
In 2007, the movie Asoreba co-starring Agya Koo and Mercy Aseidu, turned Nana Ama into a household name. Since then, Nana Ama has slowly built a strong following by releasing a slew of critically acclaimed movies.
Personal life
Nana Ama has been linked to Omar Sheriff Captan, her co-star in a number of movies, although both have continually denied any romantic attachments.
In 2004, Nana Ama McBrown was engaged to Okyeame Kwame, a Ghanaian musician. In the course of the year, the pair was seen traveling together all over Europe and America promoting Okyeame Kwame’s solo release. While there, Nana Ama took the opportunity to audition for a slot in an African American documentary in Los Angeles, California. The pair later split in early 2005.
On 15 July 2007, Nana Ama was enthroned as the Nkosuohemaa (or ceremonial queen-mother of development) of Assin-Basiako near Assin-Fosu in the Assin North District of the Central Region, Ghana.
Filmography
A list of some of Nana Ama’s popular movies.
He Is Mine”
Madam Joan
Nsem Pii
Kumasi Yonko
Odo Ntira
Love Comes Back
Kae Dabi
Asoreba
Wo nyame som po ni
Alicia
Fools Paradise
Dea Ade Wo No
Girl Connection
Playboy
My Own Mother
Friday Night
Di Asempa(Osofo Maame)
Asabea(The Blind Girl)
Evil Heart
The pastor’s wife
Pastors Club
The End
Nana Ama McBrown is a Nollywood Actress and from Ashanti region .She hails from Kumasi, Kwadaso. Her mother name Mrs. Cecilia Adzanim Boateng and her biological father is Mr. Kwabena Nkrumah. However, Nana was adopted by Mr. Kofi Mc Brown who is based in the USA as his father. Unfortunately, her biological father couldn’t look after her whenshe was a child, so she had to manage my way through. In the interview, Nana unravel her secrets.
Please, tell us about your childhood days.
I grew up in Kwadaso, Kumasi. I stayed with my auntie and she took very good care of me and my siblings .We are seven (7) in number. Four (4) girls and three (3) boys. All I want to do is to thank my auntie for her care and support. Sometimes I don’t want to mention my mother’s name, because she didn’t take care of me. I don’t feel she is my mother. My auntie, Madam Betty Obiri Yeboah is the woman I considered as my mother, because she was there for me
Tell us about your academic background
I started from Peters International school, then to Melesota International and then to Central International. I continued to Kwadaso L.A. J.S.S, completed and went to Prince of Peace Secondary School all in Kumasi. I then proceeded to College of Business studies, where I studied secretarial ship. I do have plans of furthering my education.
Wow! You read Business in College. Have you ever worked with the Certificate you were awarded?
I have never worked with the certificate I received from the College of Business Studies.
How did you get into acting?
I heard of an announcement for an auditioning on the radio but before then I used to watch African movies and I developed a strong passion for acting. So I took that opportunity and I went for the auditioning at Miracle Films. Luckily, I was picked and this is how far I have come since that day.
Did you go through the ranks to get to where you are today in acting or it just happened?
It just happened, when I went to the auditioning, the director nominated me to do the costuming. It was on set that I got myself a role. That was my first movie and the title is “That Day”. I played with the late Santo, Judas, Fred Amugi and some other good actors. it was in April 2001. The director saw me and said there is something in me that he could help bring out. He’s helped me a lot and I always give thanks to him. His name is Mr. Samuel Nyamekye, the owner of Miracle Films. I was 24 years when I acted my first movie.
You have been acting for some years now. Did you ever think you were going to make it big in such a short period?
If I’m doing something and my spirit tells me that I’m going to fail, I won’t dare. I promised myself I’m going to be a great actress so I’m not surprised where I am today. I did a lot of research because I realized that most of our Ghanaian movies are not natural. Sometimes people feel intimidated by the big actors and actresses but I told myself that I don’t care about were somebody is, all I want to do is to act and act well. I knew I was going to get there and thank God I’m getting there
What makes you act the way you do?
It’s myself. Acting is about emotions and appearances, so you need to get yourself involved and you make sure you get your costumes and make-ups the way you want. Most of the time, I use my own costumes because I want to get what I want.
How many movies have you acted so far?
I’ve acted over 20 movies.
Which is your best?
My best movie is “Madam Juan” because the role I played was very challenging. Apart from “Madam Juan”, it’s “Kai Debi”. In that movie, I acted as a blind village girl. Sometimes, the producer gives you a script today and tells you, we are shooting tomorrow.
What is your greatest wish in life?
I want to go to heaven
What is the relationship between you and other Ghanaian actors?
I’m very nice to them. We sometimes meet and share some drinks. I won’t say I am very close with everyone but we are all nice to each other.
What do you have to say about the acting industry of Ghana?
So far so good. In the past, it was always the same faces all the time but now I see young people coming in. I think the challenge is getting tough. Nobody will sit and allow others to over shadow him. So everybody is doing well. We also have more producers coming in and I think we are going forward. Personally, I’ m not chasing competition, but my dream. I have a dream and that’s what I am chasing.
What inspires you?
I was born to no parents so I have learnt to face life all by myself. I make good use of every opportunity I get to make it a reality. I get inspired most of the times through the lyrics of some songs, read books and when I go to church, my pastor.
What do you have to say to your fans?
I love them so much and I will keep on giving them the best in me.