Actress and film producer Yvonne Nelson has revealed that growing up, her dream was to become a rapper.
In an appearance on The Career Trail programme, which aired on JoyNews and Joy Learning TV, Yvonne shared nostalgic memories from her high school days when she was part of a rap group. “I wanted to be a rapper. Back in school, I used to rap a lot. We had a group like the Fugees, and I was the Lauryn Hill of the group. I loved Lauryn Hill,” she said.
She confessed that she was always excited whenever an entertainment event came around, as it gave her the opportunity to showcase her rap talent. However, her journey took an unexpected turn when she met Ghanaian filmmaker Abdul Salam, who introduced her to the movie industry—a shift that changed her life forever.
“Life happens. Destiny happens. I found myself in the entertainment industry because it was meant to be. I didn’t even audition for a role. Abdul Salam saw me at Afrikiko, spoke to me, took my number, and invited me to the set. That’s how everything started for me,” she explained.
This serendipitous encounter led to her first major role in the movie Princess Tyra, which catapulted her into the limelight, making her a household name.
Despite her rise to fame, Yvonne shared the challenges she faced along the way, particularly balancing acting with her academic commitments as a Level 200 student at Central University.
She also opened up about one of the most difficult moments she experienced on set while working with veteran Ghanaian actor Kofi Adjorlolo.
“There was one time I was filming with Kofi Adjorlolo and he got angry that I was forgetting my lines; I wasn’t acting well. He stepped out. He was so furious and went like, change her, she can’t act. She is wasting our time,” she recalled.
Instead of being discouraged by the criticism, Yvonne took it as a learning experience. “I had to learn on the job. I had to believe in myself. I realised that acting is something that I should take seriously,” she said.
While her dream of becoming a rapper didn’t materialize, Yvonne expressed her gratitude for the path that led her to a successful career in the entertainment industry.