Actress Nana Ama McBrown is best known for her roles in both Kumawood and English-speaking Ghanaian movies but not many are aware she used to be a costume designer.

She revealed on Monday that she started her acting career as a passionate costume designer. She did costuming for several years before she finally gave up to focus on acting.

According to her, although she essentially stumbled into Ghana’s movie industry, she didn’t get it easy. She worked hard to be where she is today.

“I started out as a costume person…I worked with Miracle Films for years as costume person and even though my third or so movie made a hit, I was still the costume person for Miracle Films. It was about five or six years I did that for Miracle Films,” she said on Hitz FM on Monday.

Nana Ama was hired by Miracle Films to do costuming. However, on the set, she was given the lead role after the director, Samuel Nyamekye, felt that she was better suited for the role. In 2001, her first movie, ‘That Day’, was released launching her career.

She found mainstream success following her performance in the Twi-language movie, ‘Asoreba’.

Currently, she is one of the most celebrated actresses in Ghana with a long list of movie credits. She is also a favourite figure for most TV commercial brands.

“I didn’t have any formal training in acting. I think it has to be something with you. It has to be a gift from God. I know you can learn and be perfect but I think God gives to some people. It is not something I struggle with. Sometimes too if you go through a lot in life, it gives you the experience to interpret the character convincingly,” Nana Ama added.