Monalisa Chinda doesn’t just act; she tells stories that cut deep, stories that explore who we are, what we carry, and how we move forward. With a career stretching over decades, Monalisa has become one of the most recognizable figures in Nigerian entertainment, but she wears that status lightly. She’s more focused on the stories she still wants to tell and the lives she hopes to touch along the way.

When Fulcrum Magazine sat down with her, it became clear: Monalisa isn’t just chasing roles. She’s building something much bigger, a body of work rooted in truth, purpose, and a fierce love for the African continent.

“The allure of storytelling, the thrill of becoming someone else, and the power to evoke emotions in others,” that’s how it all started for her. From the beginning, acting wasn’t about fame; it was about connection. And as she grew, so did her need to tell stories that reflected her world.

That desire eventually led to MonalisaCode Productions, her own platform for shaping narratives that go beyond the usual. “I’m driven by a desire to challenge stereotypes and showcase the richness and complexity of our continent,” she says. Her films and series are unapologetically African but speak to something universal: identity, struggle, love, and survival. “Our stories can heal, educate, inspire,” she adds. “I’m committed to sharing them with the world.”

 Monalisa has watched Nollywood shift from scrappy beginnings to an industry with real international attention. “The growth is incredible,” she says. Better production. Stronger scripts. Wider distribution. But she’s not naïve about the work still ahead.

“We need to build stronger infrastructure, invest in our talent, and form real partnerships outside Nigeria,” she says. For her, it’s about making content that resonates globally without losing what makes it deeply Nigerian. “We have something unique here. We just need to keep refining it.”

If there’s one project that shook her to her core, it’s Anointed Liars. Tackling themes like corruption and redemption pushed her creatively and emotionally. “It was challenging,” she admits. “But it reminded me why I do this.”

The film’s impact on audiences was immediate and lasting. It made her double down on her mission: to create work that means something, that sticks with people after the credits roll.

Monalisa’s drive doesn’t stop at filmmaking. Through the Arise Monalisa Foundation, she’s working to support women and children across Nigeria. “I saw the gaps early on education, healthcare, opportunity,” she says. “I couldn’t just look away.”

The foundation has helped thousands through scholarships, healthcare drives, and economic empowerment programs. But there’s one story that always stays with her: a young girl who received a scholarship and later became a doctor. “Despite everything stacked against her, she made it. That’s what keeps me going.”

Partnering with international organizations like the United Nations has helped the foundation grow its reach. “These partnerships have opened doors to more resources, awareness, and momentum,” she says. “One connection can ripple out and change so many lives.”

Ask Monalisa what keeps her balanced, and she doesn’t hesitate: her faith, her family, her daughter. “They keep me anchored,” she says. “They remind me what really matters.”

Growing up in a home that valued education and service, Monalisa found her first role models in her parents. Later, she looked to women like Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, and Wangari Maathai, women who found strength in their voices and used them to lift others.

If she hadn’t found herself in film? “Maybe I’d be a diplomat. Or a human rights lawyer,” she says with a smile. “Something where I could fight for people, make change.”

But you get the sense that Monalisa would have found her way back to stories even in another life. For her, storytelling isn’t a career move. It is a way to speak truth, build bridges, and, most of all, make people feel seen.

And in a world where so much still goes unsaid, that might be the most powerful thing of all.