Nollywood actress Lilian Afegbai shares her struggles in landing meaningful roles, shedding light on the challenges she’s faced in the industry. In a PulseNG interview, Lilian Afegbai disclosed that her industry colleagues often relegated her to background roles, overlooking her acting talent despite her capabilities. Frustrated by this, she emphasised her professional status to remind them of her abilities.
The Frustration of Being Typecast
Lilian Afegbai shared her frustration with being typecast in minor roles by industry friends, saying:
“People that I know, friends in the production industry, casting me as an extra and not an actor. It’s different when you play a cameo in the film, but when it becomes a norm that your friends are casting for a big production, forget that you are an actor, and when you remind them, they say you should come and play an extra. They were comfortable with me playing extra.”
A Breakthrough Role
Lilian Afegbai’s career gained momentum with her breakout role as Idia in the Netflix thriller “To Kill a Monkey,” where she demonstrated her acting prowess under Kemi Adetiba’s direction. The series, exploring cybercrime, betrayal, and survival, boasts a talented cast, including Stella Damasus, Bucci Franklin, and Chidi Mokeme, and earned Afegbai widespread acclaim.
A New Chapter
With her role in “To Kill a Monkey,” Afegbai proves that she is more than just a background actress. Her talent and dedication have earned her a spot among Nollywood’s elite. As she continues to shine in the industry, her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring actors and a reminder that perseverance and hard work can lead to success.
