Younger actresses care more about physique than craft – Bimbo Akintola

By Tosin Brown –

Veteran Nigerian actress Bimbo Akintola has criticized younger actresses for focusing more on their looks and physiques than on developing their talent.

In a recent interview, Akintola noted that many actresses in today’s industry prioritize appearance over their craft.

“Now people say, ‘No, my makeup is not right for this,’ or ‘I cannot wear this.’ We are more concerned about how we look, which is why generally there is a spike in BBL. Everybody is doing BBL,” she said.

The 55-year-old recalled the early years of Nollywood, which she said were built by actors dedicated to their craft despite meager pay.

“The passion is gone. When we joined the industry, it was passion-driven. How much were people being paid? It was not a lot of money, but the passion to make a difference, to do something you felt was your reason for being, was there,” she explained.

She added, “Everyone we met was on that same level of passion. Aunty Joke, Aunty Shola, all of them were so passionate about the work. You had people who would not sleep. Who was talking about food? Who was talking about 12- or 14-hour working days? You worked till you finished, sometimes till the next day, and you were still back there to continue.”

According to Akintola, acting in those days was not about glamour but about reflecting real life through art.

“Our work is gritty, it is reality, not just glamour. We reflect life back to society. I think when you do stage, you still get that passion. You still see passion-driven people who just want to give their best to the audience,” she concluded.