- Acclaimed actor Deyemi Okanlawon revealed he quit acting in 2019 due to deep frustration with uninspiring roles and poor financial compensation.
- The Nollywood star explained that he couldn’t justify leaving a stable 9-to-5 career to engage in what he felt was mediocre work, leading him to briefly return to corporate employment.
- After restructuring his career path, Okanlawon returned to the screen to establish himself as one of Nollywood’s premier leading men and box office draws.
Nollywood superstar Deyemi Okanlawon has opened up about a pivotal moment in his career, revealing that he completely walked away from the film industry in 2019 due to a combination of poor financial rewards and uninspiring roles.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the acclaimed actor shared these insights during a recent appearance on a podcast, shedding light on the harsh realities he faced before rising to become one of Nigeria’s most sought-after leading men.
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Reflecting on his journey, Okanlawon explained that his decision to exit the screen stemmed from deep-seated frustration.
He noted that he had originally abandoned a stable corporate career to pursue his passion for acting, only to find himself entangled in sub-optimal projects that failed to justify the financial sacrifice.
The lack of creative fulfillment and standard remuneration eventually took a toll on his motivation, making it increasingly difficult to show up on set.
The actor stated that the disconnect between his passion and the industry’s output made it impossible to continue at the time, which ultimately prompted his return to conventional corporate employment.
He explicitly mentioned that he did not leave a standard corporate career only to settle for what he described as mediocre work, noting that when the work and the pay feel meaningless, passion alone cannot sustain a career.
According to him, it became a struggle to wake up in the morning and head to work, and he questioned the value of being deeply passionate about a craft if it ultimately leaves you unfulfilled.
This realization led him to quit and rejoin the 9-to-5 corporate workforce, where he briefly served as the head of marketing for Silverbird Film Distribution.
Fortunately for movie lovers, Okanlawon’s hiatus was short-lived. He returned to the screen approximately a year later after restructuring his career approach and finding a more sustainable balance.
Since his return, he has systematically built a formidable profile, delivering stellar performances across blockbuster cinema and premium television series to cement his status at the very top of Nollywood.
His transparent revelation has since sparked vital conversations among industry stakeholders regarding the critical need for better actor welfare, standard compensation structures, and higher production values across the competitive African entertainment landscape.
