Actress-turned-sailor Grace Bassey, formerly known as Belinda Effah, has revealed the emotional and personal struggles that led her to leave Nollywood and pursue a new career in the United States Navy.

In a heartfelt interview with Saturday Beats, Grace said she felt a growing disconnect between herself and the industry that brought her fame.

“Before joining the Navy, I had become passive in acting. I felt stuck and wasn’t adding much value to the movie industry anymore. It all started feeling too routine; just another job for the pay.

“I wasn’t feeling the impact my movies were supposed to make, and I am driven by the impact I make. I didn’t want to be just another actress putting out films no one watched,” she said.

Although acting began as a passion for her, Grace said the profession gradually became more about financial gain than personal fulfillment.

“I started losing myself in the characters I was playing. I didn’t know who I was anymore. Without acting, I had no identity. I had to go back to the basics and rediscover who I really am.

“It took me a while. Some people just noticed I was off the scene, but the truth is, I was away for over a year,” she explained.

The 40-year-old said the decision to join the US Navy was deeply personal, rooted in her upbringing.

“I come from a Navy family. I went to Nigerian Navy School in Port Harcourt (Rivers State), and my dad retired as a Navy commander. So, this life resonated with me. Joining the Navy felt like a way to honour my father,” she said.

Despite her determination, Grace admitted that starting a military career in her 40s came with its own set of challenges.

“It was a bit of a challenge because I had just turned 40. But here I am, living the dream of being a sailor. Life over here (in the US) is a different ball game entirely, and the opportunity really challenged me,” she added.

Grace publicly announced her enlistment in the United States Navy earlier this week on Instagram.

She shared photos of herself in uniform and wrote, “First, all glory to God. Last week, I graduated from U.S. Navy boot camp as a Sailor and took the oath as a citizen of the United States.”

She also dedicated her achievement to her late father, adding: “In honour of my late father – Naval Cdr. Asido Bassey Effah.”