By Lawrence Agbo
Bolaji Ogunmola has opened up about the early struggles she faced in Nollywood, revealing that she was often stereotyped and limited to certain roles because of her appearance.
Speaking in an interview with social media personality and content creator Joseph Onaolapo, popularly known as Jay On-Air, the actress said producers often tried to place her in a fixed category because she is dark-skinned and curvy.
According to her, there was a period in the industry when light-skinned actresses were more preferred, and she was frequently pushed toward playing “side chick” roles instead of being considered for more diverse 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,” she said.
Ogunmola, who once participated in the Next Movie Star reality show but did not make it into the final house, described her path in the film industry as challenging but rewarding because she remained consistent despite the setbacks.
“My journey has been crazy, but I have just kept at it,” she said.
Beyond acting, the actress said she deliberately ventured into business early because she knew she did not want a traditional 9-to-5 office job.
She explained that she has always been business-minded and wanted to build something meaningful outside the entertainment industry.
“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.
Ogunmola also advised young creatives to think beyond fame and focus on financial stability, noting that popularity in the entertainment industry can be temporary.
“Life is in phases. You are popular today, you may not be tomorrow. What are you doing to put food on the table? You should be investing,” she said.
She also credited filmmaker Biodun Stephen for playing a major role in her growth, describing her as her first teacher in movie production.
According to Bolaji Ogunmola, learning from other producers and serving before leading helped shape her career and professional mindset.
Leave a comment