Veteran Nollywood actor, Segun Arinze, has disclosed that his character as ‘Black Arrow’ in the famous Silent Night Movie caused a turning point in his career as an actor.
Although, he had been featured in movies prior to acting in Silent Night, Segun Arinze recounted that he became popular after his role in the movie.
Speaking in an interview on TV3’s The Afternoon Show, September 10, 2025, Black Arrow as he’s affectionately known said he gave his best shot in the movie.
“I had done movies earlier before that but yes, I think that was the turning point of my career. I didn’t even know what I did but I just know that I just did the job.
“And when I was going round Nigeria people were screaming Black Arrow and I was like hey, what’s going on here? I had so many things and everywhere I go people wanted to have pics of Black Arrow,” he stated.
He continued: “I gave it my best shot actually.”
Segun further clarified that Ramsey Noah who was also featured in the 1996 Nigerian movie was the lead actor, not him.
Due to his perfect performance in the movie and playing the character, Black Arrow, he garnered the attention of many and was perceived to be the lead actor in the movie.
“I wasn’t the lead in that (Silent Night) movie. It was Ramsey, the story was all about Ramsey and Kate Henshaw was my sister. For one reason or the other, it just turned. The narrative just changed.
“I guess because we were trying to do the end bit of the firing squad of it and I told Chiko, well we should just let Black Arrow escape and come back for revenge in part 2.
“He looked at me and said okay. Stay in the crowd and then we went on to do Silent Night which became a monster and a hit,” he stated.
Silent Night is a classic Nollywood action-thriller film from 1996 about robbery whereby a gang was formed by different people. Directed by the late Chico Ejiro, it is known for being the movie that earned actor Segun Arinze his nickname “Black Arrow”.
Aside Segun Arinze who starred as Black Arrow, the movie also featured Ramsey Nouah as Stanley, Alex Usifo as the Case Judge and Stanley’s father, Joke Silva as Mrs. Agnes Odame, Stanley’s mother, Kate Henshaw as Ruth, Emeka Ike as Spako and Victoria Inyama as Julie.
