Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has opened up about her humble beginnings in the entertainment industry, revealing how perseverance transformed her from minor background roles to earning her first million naira. In an inspiring video shared on Instagram, the actress traced her journey back to 1996 when she struggled to secure meaningful roles despite attending numerous auditions.
The breakthrough came in 1999 when she landed the role of “Bisi” in the popular television drama “I Need to Know,” a performance that would change the trajectory of her career. “I started acting in 1996, doing waka pass roles and going from one audition to another. I kept hearing ‘no’ until I finally got a big ‘yes’ with I Need to Know. That was when I earned my first one million naira,” Akindele recalled.
However, success wasn’t immediate. The actress revealed that she nearly lost the role after producers criticized her performance during the pilot shoot. “I performed so well during the pilot and was waiting for a call that didn’t come on time. When they eventually called me in, they said I was overacting and asked me to go back and study the character again,” she explained.
A pivotal moment came when her younger sister stepped in to help her understand the character better. “She told me I didn’t sound like a teenager. Then she read the script and acted it out for me. I picked it up from there, and that was how I truly became Bisi,” Akindele shared, highlighting the importance of constructive criticism and collaboration in artistic growth.
Reflecting on how she spent her first significant earnings, Akindele emphasized the values instilled by her family. “I didn’t have good shoes or decent clothes. I paid my tithe and went to Yaba to buy new ones. The girl who once had nothing finally had something,” she said, describing how she first showed the money to her mother, who advised her to pay her tithe before shopping for much-needed wardrobe items.
More Buzz
The actress noted that her performance in “I Need to Know” provided her with significant visibility and marked the beginning of her steady rise in Nollywood, eventually leading to her current status as one of Nigeria’s most successful filmmakers and actresses.
