Actor Deyemi Okanlawon has revealed that he walked away from Nollywood in 2019 because he was unhappy with the poor quality of movie projects and the low pay actors received.
Speaking on the CreativiTea podcast, Deyemi said he struggled to remain passionate about acting after leaving a stable 9-to-5 job only to find himself working on productions he considered unfulfilling.
He explained that the lack of financial reward and meaningful roles eventually convinced him to step away from the industry.
“So, I quit acting in 2019. I quit because the pay and the work were nonsense. And I just felt like I didn’t leave 9 – 5 work to come and do mediocre work.
“It was difficult to wake up in the morning and go to work, and what is the point of being passionate about something and then not being fulfilled by it. So I quit and then went back to 9-5 work,” he said.
Following his decision, Deyemi returned to the corporate world, joining Silverbird Film Distribution in a marketing role. He has previously credited his wife, Damilola, for encouraging him during that period and supporting his career break.
After taking time to reassess his future, the actor made a comeback to Nollywood in 2020 and has since starred in several acclaimed films, including Omo Ghetto: The Saga, Blood Sisters, The Black Book, All’s Fair in Love and Red Circle.
