Nollywood Actress Shaffy Bello has, for the first time, spoken on her failed marriage—which she claims she sacrificed for her successful career in Nollywood.

The 50-year-old thespian disclosed this in a recent interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo. She revealed how she left her husband and kids behind in America over 10 years ago in search of greener pastures for herself in Nigeria. She said “I came back to Nigeria to spread my wings, I felt like I was pregnant and couldn’t have a chid, like my wings were sort of closed in, like I was boxed in.

I needed more, my soul needed more, I was yearning for more. I didn’t know the price that will come with it but I had to make the sacrifice. I paid the price of not having a connection with my children then. My daughter was 13, my son was 11. I was an hands on mother before I left them. At a point I even quit my job to raise my kids. I sacrificed a lot for them to be nurtured only to now leave them in their early teenage years with their father and then again, their dad is out there making a living and i am here in Nigeria making a living so they missed the joint parental touch but that is about that”

I left my husband because he allowed me. We divorced 5 years ago when I was 45 and that was a huge sacrifice, he is a good man and father to the children. The distance affected us, long distance relationship was difficult but I knew I wanted this, if I go back, it will be too much of a sacrifice, I wouldn’t be myself and at some point i will resent him so I had to focus on what I wanted. I don’t regret the decision I took.”

When asked how she handles being judged over the decision, Shaffy Bello responded saying; “I judged myself but I thank God he did it for me this way, because it is better for me. You see, I don’t care much what people say about me, but I care more about my children and close knit family.”

She added that she’d love to give love a chance again . “Yes, I will. I love marriage and marriage at this age for me is gonna be sweet, no babies to nurture just enjoyment,” she said.