GHANA’S performance at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) in recent times has not been anything to be proud about.

While our flailing film industry might be partially to blame for this, Ghanaians have also not been as supportive of our nominees like we should.

However, things changed last Saturday, September 1, when actors Adjetey Anang and Lydia Forson made us all proud with their Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress wins respectively at this year’s edition of the AMVCAs held in Lagos, Nigeria.

Adjetey Anang won for his role in the Ghanaian movie, Keteke and Lydia Forson was celebrated for her role in the Nigerian film, Isoken.

Lydia Forson has been nominated a number of times since the AMVCA started six years ago and like the popular saying, she had always been the bridesmaid and never the bride which as she told Showbiz shortly after she won, had left her asking what she had been doing wrong.

Now that she has finally gotten her hands on one of the trophies, the Sidechic Gang actress said she feels validated.

“My win shows that I have been validated, you work and expect that people appreciate you and if it doesn’t come, you are forced to ask if you’re really doing the right things.

“You know people do or use shortcuts to achieve things and if you decide to use the right way and you don’t get appreciated, it feels like you not doing it well so I do ask myself if I’m doing it right etc. This award is for Ghana,” she said.

Recounting her early days as an actress, Lydia Forson said, “I remember when I started doing movies, I was paid little money with my first few movies but I didn’t give up, I worked so hard and today, I am here so yes, this award simply means hard work pays.”

To those who are interested in acting or are acting, yet are not getting what they deserve, Lydia had these words for them.

“Don’t give up, keep pushing, it will get better because hard work really pays. Yes, people will not understand you but let my win be an inspiration.”

A graduate of the University of Ghana, Legon, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Information Studies, Lydia Forson’s career started when she participated in the The Next Movie Star in 2007. Before that she had some roles in the movies Hotel St. James (2005) and Run Baby Run (2006).

She got her big break with Sparrow Production’s Scorned and Perfect Picture which earned her the Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2010.

Lydia has since featured in a number of movies including Phone Swap, A Sting in a Tale, Masquerades, Letter From Adam, Side Chic Gang among others.

-Showbiz