Award-winning Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has said that women are the backbone of Nigeria’s film industry, saying they dominate key areas and often operate multiple businesses alongside their acting careers.
Speaking during an interview at Naija FM 102.7 which was shared on Youtube on Friday and has since been trending, the actress emphasised the critical role women have played in sustaining Nollywood from its early days.
“Women are the ones who hold this industry, right from the start. Women are the ones who do well for this industry. Women are mostly the producers. Women are the ones who hold Nollywood really,” she said.
She further highlighted the entrepreneurial drive among female actors, noting that many of them run multiple businesses in addition to acting.
“I don’t know any female actor, even small ones who just entered this industry, that don’t get at least like three or four businesses,” she said. “A lot of the females get businesses. They run different things. Most of them are influencers. They are doing acting, modelling, they have shops.
“You will hear say this one get boutique, that one gets this one, virtually everybody I know gets one or the other. Our job is very intense. You have to be on call. With acting, this is crazy to me. I think the balance must be there,”
Omotola also compared the experiences of male and female actors, stating that while men receive admiration, the level of attention women get is more intense.
