Popular Nollywood actor Deyemi Okanlawon has revealed that he walked away from acting in 2019, saying he was frustrated by poor pay and a lack of fulfilment in the industry.
Speaking during a recent interview on the CreativiTea Podcast, the award-winning actor said he reached a point where the quality of work available and the financial rewards no longer justified staying in the profession.
Okanlawon explained that he had left a stable corporate career to pursue acting, but eventually felt he had traded one job for another that failed to meet his expectations.
According to him, the lack of purpose and inadequate remuneration made it increasingly difficult to remain motivated.
“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-to-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-to-5 work,” he said.
The actor said returning to corporate employment gave him an alternative after leaving the movie industry, although he later found his way back to acting.
Since his return, Okanlawon has re-established himself as one of Nollywood’s most sought-after actors, featuring in several acclaimed films and television productions while earning recognition for his versatility and on-screen performances.
His comments have reignited conversations about remuneration, working conditions and career sustainability in Nigeria’s film industry, where many actors have previously spoken about the financial realities behind the glamour.
