Nollywood actor, Deyemi Okanlawon has advised social media skit makers aspiring to transition into the acting industry to put in the extra work to make their dreams come true.
The actor was asked for his opinion on social media skit makers using the medium to break into the acting industry. In turn, he emphasized the importance of perseverance and hard work.
He began, “If you’re ever trying to do anything different from the norm, if you’re known for something and you’re trying to do something different, it’s going to be difficult.”
“Nobody is going to readily roll over and allow you; I’ve learned that the hard way. So if anyone finds themselves in that situation, what I would suggest is to just keep that vision alive and keep working towards it,” Deyemi added.
Reflecting on his career, the actor recalled a time when he was typecast as the villain in movies.
“There was a time in my career when I was the bad boy of Nollywood; I was the villain and I saw it but I didn’t particularly like it. I wanted to play the loverboy, the good guy, or the pastor, but they were giving me the villain.”
Deyemi Okanlawon
Going further, he explained how his approach eventually made filmmakers see that he could be more than just a bad boy.
“I said to myself, ‘This is the opportunity that I have’ to maximize this opportunity and so I took every villain that was ever asked to play and I made them so different and still so believable.
“They tried to put me in a box but I made sure I painted the box differently and I worked with what I had until people started to realize that I could do more.”
Deyemi Okanlawon
The actor urged those facing similar obstacles to remain steadfast in aiming to achieve their goals.
“I think that anyone who finds themselves in a situation where they feel like the path where they want to be is not readily available, I think they need to put in the extra work and it will happen,” Deyemi concluded.
Actor Reveals The Most Embarrassing Moment of His Life
Deyemi shared his experiences on his way to stardom, explaining his most embarrassing moment in life.
The popular actor revealed that he left his mother’s company and moved out of his family home only to realize he had nothing and had to start from scratch.
“It was difficult to even try … You know how Nigerian business is, some parents, they don’t really listen to the kids that work with them. So I got up, packed my bag, and told my mother I was resigning and I was leaving the house, and I had nothing. That was when I realized I actually had nothing in the world”.
Deyemi Okanlawon
He recalled how he used to share flyers on the streets of Lagos, just trying to make ends meet. This led to the most embarrassing moment of his life; running into an old friend from school while doing so.
“I was sharing flyers one day, one friend of mine from UNILAG drove past, packed, called me by nickname, and was like what… I said eyyy, you know, na hustle, na hustle.
“People ask me what’s the most embarrassing moment in my life, that was the most embarrassing moment in my life.”
Deyemi Okanlawon
He also admitted that life wasn’t easy after he left home and cut ties with his family. He recalled watching people drive by in luxury cars, sparking a desire to own a brand-new vehicle of his own.
Determined to make it a reality, he worked tirelessly, fueled by the question, ‘When will I ever be able to afford a car?’ This burning ambition eventually led him to purchase his first car, a brand-new ride.
The actor used the platform to encourage individuals who might be going through similar challenges.
He said, “I was sharing flyers, watching people drive cars and I ended up with a brand new one, so I am convinced that you should never limit the size of your dreams to your present reality, dream big, it costs you nothing.”
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