Nollywood: The Searchlight Beams On Kaycee George

Long before his entry into the entertainment industry, everyone who encountered him believed he was sculpted for the camera. But the Aguluezechukwu, Anambra State born Kaycee George (Kenechukwu George) was half-heartedly thinking of a career in the sciences, which came to fruition with his admission to study Quantity Surveying at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. It was here that the reasons for his pleasant looks, imposing height, stylish gait and near-flawless speech came to interplay with reality.

“As a child I always re-enacted scenes from the movies I had watched and people loved to watch me do those.  I would act out scenes performed by veterans like Pete Edochie, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Sola Sobowale and others. People recognised this about me and everyone who watched me perform always suggested I took it up professionally. But it was at Nnamdi Azikiwe University that I gave it a professional shot, when someone hooked me up with a modeling job” he said.

In 2012, to Kaycee George’s astonishment, this first attempt brought him a renowned brand, MTN and despite his lowly part in the project, fetched him seventy five thousand Naira, a considerable fee for a newbie and student. This ignited his passion and he could not help sourcing for more briefs.  By the time he was done with school, and having modeled for a lot of brands including Konga and Guaranty Trust Bank, which paired him with Sharon Ooja, an actress and Emma O My God, a comedian, he had built adequate affinity to let him explore his passion in the industry.

“After my NYSC, I tried my hands on a 9-to-5 job in a company somewhere in Lagos. But my mind was engrossed in the entertainment industry. One day, I was invited for an audition and I had to work so hard in order to get the role. I rehearsed fervently so I could give the audition my best shot. Incidentally, I did not hear from them for a long time afterwards. In fact, I had forgotten about it, until the day I got their invite. That is why I see my entry into acting as a work of grace”, he remembers.

That production turned out to be E.V.E, a popular drama series from the stable of Africa Magic where he played the role of Leo, alongside Nollywood acts like O.C Ukeje, Osas Ighodaro, Jimmy Odukoya and Ufuoma McDermott.  He remembers the anxiety that trailed this first encounter before a filming camera with nostalgia, having conquered such fears today.

“At first, I was nervous because it was my first time acting professionally. But I worked with really amazing professionals on set and it helped me overcome all the nervousness” he said.

The spectacular performance on that set has opened a flurry of other acting opportunities as his phone keeps ringing for one production after another. From ‘Rule Number One’, where he played a company’s boss, to the Emem Isong-produced ‘On Her Terms’, where he played the role of a deceptive lover boy and Chico Ejiro’s  ‘Many Wives of Chief Okafor’, many Nollywood producers have recognised him as the next big thing in the industry and can’t help bringing him into their productions.

For Kaycee George, whose new found attention has instantly translated into a soaring followership base on his social media pages, he intends to put in his best in the make believe world.