“I’m a storyteller. This is my calling,” actress and producer Shah G. Onwuka proclaims with conviction.
“I’ve tried to be a scientist. I’ve tried to be a corporate mogul,” she adds. “I could have a ten-figure job. And if someone from an indie film was like, we need you to play a receptionist for ten minutes, I’d be like, I’m calling off work. I’m doing it because I want to be in the sacred space of storytellers.”
Born in East L.A. County’s Bell Gardens, Shah was always drawn to theater and acting. While growing up in a family of seven, where “everyone was playing sports or video games,” Shah would retreat to the “hallway closet to read Shakespeare.”
Landing the role of King Lear at London’s George Bernard Shaw Theatre became a defining moment in her career. Though initially hesitant, Shah now proudly acknowledges her strong theater background.
Related Stories
ALLBLK’s ‘Wicked City’ Closes Season 3 with a Spectacular LA Event
‘The Fire Inside’ Burns Bright with Heart, Humanity, and Visual Elegance
“I stood on those stages and brought life to those people,” she proclaims. Additional theater credits include Titus Andronicus with Shakespeare on the Deck and King Duncan in “Macbeth” with Tomorrow Theater.
When asked about the word “diva,” Shah explains its origins in opera, referring to the grand dame.
“Diva is not a dirty word in theater,” she says. “It means you own your space, your beauty, and your hard work. You take center stage to bring light and life to these stories. A true diva is a leader.” This belief in owning her presence would soon be tested in the initial stages of her acting career.
Early auditions were challenging. She admits that her craft wasn’t yet strong enough for a particular role, which she felt required a more confident actor.
“I just wanted to go back into the closet, read the script, and hide,” she confesses. But instead of retreating, she faced the moment head-on. “Nope,” she told herself, as she stood and auditioned.
She was asked to read in Spanish and perform with different accents. She recalls the experience, saying, “It became fun for them to watch me crash and burn.”
Despite the doubts and discomfort, Shah holds a deeper belief about the power of showing up.
“I believe that we can show up in different ways and still be rebellious and revolutionary and make an impact,” she shares. “Sometimes our presence is the revolutionary act.”
Shah G. Onwuka reflects, “I was embarrassed, and I was doubtful, but I stood there and reminded myself: This is what I bring to the table. It has to be enough. I’m from East LA. What I’m not going to do is cry, beg, or ask [for pity].” After finishing, she graciously said, “Thank you for this opportunity. I hope you have a great day.
“I walked out of there with my heels on, too much makeup, and the longest weave,” she recalls. “But I told myself, I’m walking out of here with some knowledge.”
Reflecting on the experience, she says, “At least I had the integrity to own it and respect the room. They clowned me, but I can look back now and say I learned the most from situations like that.”
That moment became a turning point. “I enrolled full-time in acting school,” she states, ultimately attending the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England. She updated her headshots and worked tirelessly.
“At first, it was to prove people like that wrong, but eventually, it became about something bigger. It became a pursuit of my passion.”
Today, Shah G. Onwuka boasts multiple films, including the Chris Stokes thriller “Rock the Boat 2” and the upcoming Eric Gregson drama “Dark Arrows.”
When asked for advice, she says, “The best advice I can give, especially to young Black girls, is to be yourself. If your voice doesn’t sound like anyone you know or anything you’ve heard, it’s because you were put here to change the world.”
