Veteran Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele has revealed some interesting details about her grass to grace story.
According to the star, she struggled to get roles in English Nollywood despite her talent.
Funke added that her inability to get roles in Nollywood, led her to explore Yoruba genre. However, she still wasn’t successful.
The actress said that setback didn’t make her to give up.
She also emphasized the importance of separating her public and private life, prioritizing her family and work over fame.
“I didn’t get a big role in the Yoruba industry, I launched myself with my first production. My brain was always working, you have to just move, do something, what can you do now? I remember then, before the biggest break, Jenifa, I got into the Yoruba movie genre and I didn’t get a big role.” She said.
The interviewer then asked: “But was that your original idea to get into Yoruba movies first? How did you go into that for you?’
She replied: Okay, when I didn’t get roles in English and I got frustrated, I was on a project with Ayo Adesoya. I told Auntie Ayo, I don’t have roles. I said, I’ll talk to your producer, I’ll have you on board for Yoruba movie. And she spoke to the producer, I was invited to come and act in Oshugo then. And from there, I met with Titi Abalogu, I met Iyabo Ojo, and I told him, I need roles. And Iyabo said, okay, come, come. She took me to the Audun Fakako, where you have the Yinka Quadri Ogogo, Taiwo Hassan. She said, this is my friend, give her a job, blah, blah, blah. They didn’t give me the big role. I actually launched myself with my own production, my first production.”
Interviewer: Are you serious?”
Funke: I wrote it, I produced it. But I learnt a lot from the Yoruba movie genre, how to produce. I learnt a lot, I was always focused on the cameras, how things were moving up and down. While I walked on, I need to know, I was directed by the late Lloyd Weaver. I was always checking the cameras, checking the props, checking everything, asking questions. You know, I’m actually self-taught, I didn’t go to school to study production.”
Interviewer: Yeah, because you are so talented.
Funke: Yes, I studied everything, you know, I was just looking at what they were doing. With what I have up in here, I came up with a plan and produced my first movie, the 13th movie.”
Interviewer: You’re self-taught, basically.
Funke: Yes, I’m self-taught. You’re self-taught.
Interviewer: How have you been able to cope, separate? Because a lot of people say people who are naturally funny, people who are all happy, good, lucky, that on the other side, they’re very shy, very quiet, very private. Are you like that?
Funke: I am. It’s part of me.