Nana Ama McBrown on VIP with Linord
On the latest episode of VIP with Linord, we sit down with Ghanian Actress and TV Host Nana Ama McBrown to discuss her life, inspiring journey, and efforts to empower women and girls in Ghana.
| 00:00 | Narrator: She is talented, lively, and determined. Her hope is to inspire many girls and young women to believe in themselves and reach for the stars. Meet popular Ghanaian actress, producer, and entrepreneur, Nana Ama McBrown. |
| 00:00 | Nana Ama McBrown: Hello, my name is Nana McBrown. I am a Ghanaian actress, and this is my VIP story. |
| 00:00 | Linord Moudou: Thank you so much for being on the VIP show. It’s a pleasure to have you here, the big actress from Ghana. Maybe, maybe you’re just being humble, but listen, you’ve done so many movies, you’re also a writer, and a music writer. When you look at your career today, how would you describe yourself? |
| 00:00 | Nana Ama McBrown: Wow, I would say I got into TV and film production by accident. Life takes you wherever it takes you. I was at home one day, and I heard one of our actors, the late Kwame Santa, on the radio. He said, “If you want to act, go to America Films in Adum, and you can start from there.” I thought, “I want to act too, how do I start?” So, I went there, but they were about to start shooting in a few weeks. I went and said, “I want to act, can you help me?” They said, “No, but we’re looking for someone to take care of the wardrobe." |
| 00:00 | Linord Moudou: Wow, that’s a start! |
| 00:00 | Nana Ama McBrown: Yes! I didn’t know what "costume" meant, but I was willing to learn. So I became the person who would take care of the wardrobe, ironing the clothes and making sure everything was in place. After a few days, they were looking for a driver. I said, "I can drive," and they were surprised. |
| 00:00 | Linord Moudou: You were ready to do anything? |
| 00:00 | Nana Ama McBrown: Yes! I took the risk, and that’s how it all started. |
| 00:00 | Linord Moudou: So, from costume to driving? |
| 00:00 | Nana Ama McBrown: Exactly. After taking the car to the hotel, the next morning, they asked me to drive again for a scene. I was scared, but I took the chance. From then on, I worked my way up and ended up shooting about 9-10 scenes for my first movie, "That Day." |
| 00:00 | Linord Moudou: What an incredible journey! What were some of the highlights that pushed you to the next level? |
| 00:00 | Nana Ama McBrown: It was very competitive, especially because most of the productions were in Accra, while I was in Kumasi. But I grabbed every opportunity that came my way. I worked as a costume designer, makeup artist, and continuity supervisor. It wasn’t easy to get opportunities, so when they came, I took them. |
| 00:00 | Linord Moudou: That’s impressive! |
| 00:00 | Nana Ama McBrown: Yes, sometimes you don’t even have enough money to get to the location, and you end up walking back home. But you keep going. There were times I was admitted to the hospital due to food poisoning or accidents, but I never gave up. |
| 00:00 | Linord Moudou: You’re really an inspiration! Now, you have your own talk show, "McBrown’s Kitchen." Tell us about it. |
| 00:00 | Nana Ama McBrown: Yes, the idea came about five years ago. I wanted to create a show where I could educate people about cooking, especially young people. I realized that our local foods were getting lost, so I decided to do something fun and engaging, making cooking accessible to everyone. I created a mobile kitchen in a van and took it around to interview celebrities while they cooked. We make it fun, and it’s on YouTube so people can learn anytime. |
| 00:00 | Linord Moudou: That sounds amazing! What’s your favorite Ghanaian meal to cook? |
| 00:00 | Nana Ama McBrown: I love to cook a lot of dishes, but one of my favorites is peanut soup. I also enjoy cooking Jollof, green-green (spinach soup), and Fufu with Aloko. |
| 00:00 | Linord Moudou: Delicious! Now, let’s talk about the movie industry in Ghana. What’s your take on it? |
| 00:00 | Nana Ama McBrown: Ghana has an industry, but the structures are not strong. We don’t have proper regulations, and many filmmakers struggle with marketing and distribution. We have great talent, good storylines, and production houses, but we need more support. |
| 00:00 | Linord Moudou: It’s interesting because, from outside Ghana, many think the industry is well-developed. |
| 00:00 | Nana Ama McBrown: Yes, we have good production houses and films, but we still have a lot of local films that are not up to standard. However, we are hopeful the industry will grow. We need rules and regulations to guide us and more support from the government. |
| 00:00 | Linord Moudou: Your story is truly inspiring, especially for young women. Is there something you’d like to see change? |
| 00:00 | Nana Ama McBrown: I want to inspire young girls to believe in themselves. It doesn’t matter what your educational background is; you can still succeed. I didn’t have a strong education, but I took every chance that came my way. I always tell young girls that independence doesn’t mean you don’t need a man or a family. It means you can stand on your own and help others. |
| 00:00 | Linord Moudou: Such powerful advice! Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years? |
| 00:00 | Nana Ama McBrown: In the next 5-10 years, I want to grow into a bigger brand. I’m going back to school to build myself further and aim to become a CEO of a TV station. |
| 00:00 | Linord Moudou: That’s incredible! We wish you all the best. |
| 00:00 | Nana Ama McBrown: Thank you so much! |
| 00:00 | Linord Moudou: It was such a pleasure talking to you. You're a true VIP—visionary and inspiring. |
| 00:00 | Nana Ama McBrown: Thank you! |
