How I was stereotyped in my early acting years – Bolaji Ogunmola opens up

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Bolaji Ogunmola has opened up on her experience in the film industry, revealing that she was stereotyped during the earlier days of her career.

The actress, while speaking with Jay-On-Air, revealed that she was initially boxed into playing certain characters because of her skin tone and figure.

Bolaji explained that the stereotype came at a time when light skinned actors dominated the screen and were mostly cast as the lead characters.

”It was almost like they wanted to put me in a box. I am dark-skinned. There was a time when light-skinned people were reigning, and they told me I was very curvy and tried to limit me to ‘side chick’ roles. That went on for a while, and I didn’t like it. My journey has been crazy, but I have just kept at it,” she said.

Ogunmola also spoke about her decision not to venture into the corporate world, stating that she preferred creating her own path.

“I just wanted my life to have meaning at that time. I am not somebody who likes to sit at home; I wanted to do something. I never wanted to do 9–5. I will not do 9–5—it’s not just me. Shoutout to people who do it, I applaud you. But for me, I am business-savvy like that,” she added.