Majid Michel

Majid Michel (22 September 1980) is a Ghanaian pastor and actor. He received nominations for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2017.[2][3] He eventually won the award in 2012 after three previous consecutive nominations.[4][5]

Majid Michel
Born
Majid Michel

(1980-09-22) 22 September 1980
Cantonments, Accra, Ghana
OccupationActor and pastor
Years active2000–present
Spouse(s)Virna Michel
Children3[1]
Websitemajidmichel.com

Early life

Michel was born in Cantonments, a suburb of the Ghanaian capital Accra. The son of a Lebanese father and a Ghanaian mother,[3] he grew up in Accra with his nine siblings. He attended St. Theresa's Primary School, and later, the Mfantsipim School, the alma mater of Van Vicker and also of former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. In secondary school, Michel was actively involved in theatre and was a member of the school's Drama Club. As a member of the drama club, he received a Best Actor Award in one of their performances on Emancipation Day in Cape Coast, Ghana.[3]

Career

Michel entered professional acting by auditioning for a modelling agency; a neighbour had introduced him to that agency. He was invited to join the modelling agency, Super Model Agency, on the behest of his next-door neighbour. He starred in the television series Things We Do for Love, acquiring his nickname "Shaker" on the set. His role in Things We Do for Love was to be played by a Lebanese boy, and Michel attributes being given the role due to his Lebanese heritage. In a 2017 interview with Star FM Ghana, Majid explained that he didn't get the role for the first film he auditioned due to poor acting from him, describing his "passion for acting" as what made him to continue to press forward in the film industry.[6]

Things We Do For Love became a success and propelled him into the mainstream. On the strength of his performance in the series, he was cast in his first movie, Divine Love, as the male lead, alongside Jackie Aygemang as the female lead, with Van Vicker in a supporting role. All three used their roles in the movie to debut their movie careers. Divine Love was a huge success, turning Majid Michel, Jackie Agyemang and Van Vicker into household names across Ghana.

In 2008, Michel starred as the lead role in the film Agony of the Christ, which received seven nominations at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2009.[2] In October 2017, Majid revealed that he is paid at least $15,000 for a role in a film, he also disclosed that he has earned as much as $35,000 to star in a film.[7] In 2016, Majid explained that despite playing mostly romantic roles in films, he has never had a sexual relationship with an actress.[8] In October 2017, Majid explained on a radio interview that due to his religious beliefs, he will no-longer accept to play character that requires him to kiss on set.[9]

Nollywood breakthrough and success

Michel is one of the Ghanaian actors who got into the film industry during the period in which Frank Rajah Arase signed a contract with Ghana's Abdul Salam Mumuni of Venus Films. The contract basically involved introducing Ghanaian actors into the mainstream Nollywood film industry and making them have a star power comparable to Nigerian actors. Films produced under this contract featured Michel include: Crime to Christ (2007), Agony of Christ (2008), Heart of Men (2009), The Game (2010) and Who Loves Me? (2010) amongst others.[10]

Michel made his Nigerian Nollywood debut in the 2009 romantic drama, Emerald, playing a leading role alongside Genevieve Nnaji. While Majid's performance was commended, along with his strong on-screen chemistry with Nnaji, the film received largely mixed to negative reviews.[11][12] However, the 2009 film Silent Scandals brought Majid into prominence in Nigeria;[13][14] The film received wide positive critical review for its high production values and Michel's performance, along with his strong on-screen chemistry with Genevieve Nnaji.[15][16][17] Nollywood Forever Comments: "His [Michel's] intensity is concentrated in his eyes and he uses it well so it is understandable that he always gets roles in which love and women and the seduction of them play a large role".[18] Same year, another film featuring Michel, Guilty Pleasures was released;[19] Guilty Pleasures upon release was met with generally positive reviews, with praise given to Michel's performance as well.[20][21][22][23] He continued this lucrative trend into 2010, where he starred alongside Genevieve Nnaji once more in Bursting Out,[24] a film which got mixed critical reviews.[25][26][27][28]

Michel was quite outspoken in the media when he started off his career in Nigeria; He confessed in an interview that the first time he met Genevieve, "everything stood still"; he was so star struck that he offered to carry her bag and to be her personal assistant.[29][30] In another interview, he stated that Genevieve Nnaji is the best kisser in the film industry.[31][32][33] He also stated in an interview that Genevieve taught him "how to act",[34] and also implied in another interview that Ghana has no film industry.[35][36] All of these, along with the explicit roles he played in films made him have controversies always trailing him during his early days. In late 2010, it was reported that the actor is taking a break from Nigeria after receiving death threats supposedly from his Nigerian colleagues, who thinks that he is getting too many jobs.[37][38] During this time, he went back to act in Ghana, where he featured in films such as 4 Play (2010) and its sequel 4 Play Reloaded (2011).

In 2012, he starred in the War film Somewhere in Africa, playing a tyrant. Though the film didn't do well critically, Michel's role delivery got him wide acclaim,[39][40] and he won an Africa Movie Academy Award for the first time.[4][5] This launched his career once again in Nigeria where he has since established himself as a star and has been featured in mainstream Nigerian films. In 2014, he co-starred in the all-time blockbuster 30 Days in Atlanta for which he got listed by Nigerian Cinema Exhibition Coalition as one of the highest box office grosser of 2014.[41] Other 2014 films featuring Michel include: Forgetting June, which was met with generally negative reviews.[42] He however featured in Knocking on Heaven's Door and Being Mrs Elliot, both of which had decent performance, commercially and critically.[43][44]

Filmography

Personal life

Majid Michel is married and has three children. On 19 November 2015, he revealed that his wife of 10 years was responsible for his success.[50] And he references only God before her. He renewed his marriage vows in the same year.[51]

Majid is a born-again Christian.[52][53] On 4 October 2016, he was a guest minister at a local church where he shared the word and performed deliverance on people.[54] Speaking to Joy F.M in Ghana, Majid described his new spiritual life as "genuine and inspired from his understanding from the Bible".[55] On 1 April 2017, he explained that his refined relationship with God has cost him some of his friends. He went further to state that his present friends are determined solely through vision from God.[56] In a 2017 sermon celebrating Easter, Majid summarised the whole essence of the cruxification of Christ as being to "overthrow racism, hate, envy, jealousy, pride, war and demonic powers with a simple filled-grace life".[57] In October 2017, Majid stated that he has been used by God to perform miracles on people.[58] On masturbation, Majid described the act as a sin towards God. He went further to state that it was inevitable for one to engage in the act at least once in a lifetime.[59] He also disclosed that he was once a victim in his younger years but encourages youths to desist from it.[60][61] During a social media debate with Freeze, Majid disagreed with Freeze stance on tithing. Majid argued that tithing was not an old testament doctrine.[62] Rather, he opined that tithe should be given to the church to help the poor.[63]

References
  1. "PHOTOS: Majid Michel Steps Out With Pregnant Wife". 2016.
  2. "AMAA 2009: List of Winners and Nominees". Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  3. "Interview with Majid at ModernGhana.com, 2008". Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  4. Opurum, Nkechi (23 April 2012). "Rita Dominic wins best actress". Daily Times. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  5. Alonge, Osagie (23 April 2012). "Rita Dominic, Majid Michel win big at AMAA 2012". Nigerian Entertainment. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  6. "I Failed My First Audition – Majid Michel". Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  7. "Actor reveals how much he charges for a movie role". Pulse. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  8. Amodeni, Aduni. "I have never slept with any actress – Majid Michel". Naij.com. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  9. Nsikak, Nseyen (17 October 2017). "Why I wont be kissing in movies – Majid Michel". Dailypost. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  10. "How I Discovered Many Ghanaian Movie Stars – Frank Rajah Arase". citypeoplemagazine.com.ng. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  11. "Emerald". NollywoodForever. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  12. "Emerald". Nollywood Reinvented. 27 May 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  13. Alonge, Michael (7 September 2012). "Vivian Ejike's Silent Scandals". Nigeria Films. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  14. "The Next Big Nollywood Hit: Silent Scandals premieres in Lagos". bellanaija.com. 14 December 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  15. "Silent Scandals". Nollywood Reinvented. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  16. "SILENT SCANDAL (Excellent Movie Starring Genevieve Nnaji)". African Movie Reviews. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  17. "SILENT SCANDALS". Covenant University. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  18. "Silent Scandals". Nollywood Forever. 22 December 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  19. Twum, Chris (8 January 2010). "Madjid, Ramzy star in Guilty Pleasures". ModernGhana. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  20. "Guilty Pleasures". Nollywood Reinvented. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  21. "Movie Review: Guilty Pleasures". The NET NG. 1 December 2009. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  22. "Guilty Pleasures". Nollywood Forever. 10 November 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  23. "GUILTY PLEASURES (Excellent Cast+Emem Isong Produced)". African Movie Reviews. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  24. "Majid Michel & Genevieve Nnaji steam up the screen once again in "Bursting Out"". BellaNaija. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  25. "Bursting Out". Nollywood Reinvented. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  26. "Bursting Out". Nollywood Forever. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  27. "Bursting Out". Talk African Movies. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  28. "Bursting Out (Miss Tilii Movie Review)". African Movie Reviews. 21 December 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  29. Olatunji, Sam (24 March 2011). "First time I saw Genevieve Nnaji, the world stood still–Majid Michel". Nigeria Films. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  30. "First time I saw Genevieve Nnaji, the world stood still–Majid Michel". Gistmania. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  31. "Majid Michel: Genevieve Nnaji Is The Best Kisser". Ghana Web. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  32. Febiri, Chris-Vincent Agyapong (27 September 2010). "Majid Michel Says Genevieve Nnaji Is The Best 'Kisser' Among All, Jackie Appiah,Nadia Buari, Yvonne Nelson, Martha Ankomah & Co Can't Come Close To Her". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  33. "Genevieve Nnaji Is The Best Kisser -Majid Michel". Nigeria Movie Network. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  34. "Genevieve Taught Me How To Act –Majid Michel". GoldMyne TV. 30 April 2012. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  35. Ike, Quojo (13 February 2014). "Actor Majid Michel Says There Is Nothing Like Gollywood Like Ghanaians Are Claiming". GhanaFilmIndustry. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  36. "Majid Michel says that Ghana has no movie industry?". Zion Felix. 13 February 2014. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  37. Olatunji Samuel (11 July 2010). "Why Majid Michael refused to come to Nigeria". Nigeria Films. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  38. "Who's chasing Majid Michel out of Nigeria?". Ghana Meets. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  39. "Somewhere in Africa". Nollywood Reinvented. 3 June 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  40. "Review and Critique on the film 'Somewhere in Africa'". OMG Ghana. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  41. "OC Ukeje, Majid breaking the cinemas". Daily Independent. January 2015. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  42. "Forgetting June Review". NollyWood Reinvented. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  43. "Knocking on Heavens Door on Nollywood Reinvented". nollywoodreinvented.com. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  44. "COMING SOON: Being Mrs. Elliot". nollywoodreinvented.com. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  45. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  46. "Amuma [Official Trailer] Latest 2015 Nigerian Nollywood Drama Movie". irokotv. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2020 – via Youtube.
  47. "'The Department' Watch Osas Ighodaro, OC Ukeje, Majid Michel in trailer". Pulse Nigeria. Chidumga Izuzu. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  48. "Majid Michel goes 'Crazy' in New Movie "Mad Man I Love"". Naijaurban. Naijaurban. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  49. "Trailer Shatta Wale, Bisa Kdei, Majid Michel, star in new movie "Shattered Lives"". Pulse.com.gh. David Mawuli. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  50. "My wife is the only reason I am Majid Michel". Pulse.ng. 2015.
  51. "10 Years & Counting! Ghollywood Actor Majid Michel & Wife Virna Renew their Vows". Bellanaija.com. 2 August 2015.
  52. "I'm a true servant of God now – Majid Michel". The Punch. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  53. Nwachukwu, John (16 June 2017). "I'm a true man of God – Actor Majid Michel". Dailypost Nigeria. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  54. "Ghollywood actor, Majid Michel turns pastor". Vanguardngr.com. 6 October 2016.
  55. Effah (2017). "This photo of Majid Michel will make you believe in the anointing oil".
  56. "Since I became born again, my friends have abandoned me – Majid Michel". thenet.ng. 2017. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  57. "Majid Michel unveils the mystery behind Christ's death". GhanaWeb.com. 19 April 2017.
  58. "I Have Healed The Blind And Cripple – Majid". Peace FM. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  59. "Stop watching porn – Majid advises". Ghana Web. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  60. "I loved to self service. Every adolescent has masturbated before" – Majid Michel". Information Nigeria. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  61. "Masturbation is a sin – Majid Michel".
  62. "Majid Michel Debate on Tithing With OAP, Freeze". Information Nigeria. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  63. "Tithe Is this a donation or tax?". Pulse. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
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