Damilola Omotoso Speaks Out on Nollywood’s Dark Side, Offers Advice to Aspiring Actors

04 May 2024   |   3:06 am

Damilola Omotoso, a fast-rising actress in Nollywood, has shared her journey of overcoming challenges in the film industry, including sexual advances from directors and producers who demanded sex in exchange for roles. In an interview, Omotoso revealed how she maintained her integrity despite losing job opportunities due to her refusal to compromise. “The most common…

Damilola Omotoso

Damilola Omotoso, a fast-rising actress in Nollywood, has shared her journey of overcoming challenges in the film industry, including sexual advances from directors and producers who demanded sex in exchange for roles. In an interview, Omotoso revealed how she maintained her integrity despite losing job opportunities due to her refusal to compromise.

“The most common challenge I faced in the industry as a newbie was losing a lot of job opportunities because I turned down several sexual advances from those who were in charge of the movie productions,” she said.

To overcome these obstacles, Omotoso took matters into her own hands by producing her own films. This move not only allowed her to showcase her talents but also attracted the attention of other producers and directors, who subsequently offered her acting roles.

Omotoso, a Chemistry graduate from the University of Ilorin, entered the movie industry in 2015. Her passion for acting began in childhood, but she admits that she was nervous when she first appeared on screen, especially since she was working alongside established Nollywood actors like Muyiwa Ademola and Bimbo Oshin.

“I was extremely happy being featured for the first time; it was an opportunity for me to showcase my talent. But I was also nervous because I had to work with some of our industry veterans like Muyiwa Ademola and Bimbo Oshin,” she recalled.

Since her debut, Omotoso has featured in several films and produced her own movies, including titles such as “Oju Ide,” “Kanranjogbon,” “Radehun Alapoka,” “Married Strangers,” and “Hidden Venom.” When asked about the film that brought her to the limelight, she cited “Koranjogbon” as a significant milestone.

Despite her success, Omotoso maintains a down-to-earth lifestyle and insists that stardom has not changed her routine. “I rarely go out unless it’s important or for work, even before I started acting, so nothing has changed much for me,” she said.

For aspiring actors and actresses, Omotoso offers this advice: “First, I’m still up and coming as well, but I would say we shouldn’t be so desperate and lose our morals just to become a star. Take your time and also make sure you’re doing something different because there are a lot of people doing the same thing in the industry, and the only way to stand out is to be different.”