By Nollywood鈥檚 metrics, Tosin Adeyemi is still a rising star, but she鈥檚 already making waves. She has delivered acclaimed performances in blockbusters like and the AMVCA-nominated Tokunbo.
She appears in both Akinola Davies Jr.鈥檚 My Father鈥檚 Shadow and James Omokwe鈥檚 Osamede, the two Nollywood films selected for . How has she pulled this impressive feat off?
Here鈥檚 how Tosin Adeyemi did it, as told to Dennis.
On studying Theatre Arts to become a professional actor in Nollywood
The first thing you should know about me is that I like to dance. As a child, I was always dancing 鈥 at parties and in school. But when I wanted to go to university, dancing was not my first option. Like many of my peers, I wanted to study Law. Mass Communication was my second option.
But my sister was already at the University of Lagos and had roommates studying Theatre Arts, so she suggested I do that instead.
Studying Theatre Arts at UNILAG doesn’t prepare you for the realities of being a working actor. We spent a lot of time learning about the Renaissance period, Sophocles, and Aristotle. But they don鈥檛 necessarily teach you acting, to be honest. We learnt theory, but not enough about contemporary life as a working actor. In large part, this is because our lecturers were mostly not practising actors.
We didn鈥檛 do any film or TV training 鈥 just stage and theory. That鈥檚 why many people who want to transition from stage to film end up going to film school. They assume, 鈥淵ou want to act? Go figure it out.鈥
However, there was much to learn about acting in school, about discipline, and the ethics of the work. Being able to practice on stage shaped me, even if school didn鈥檛 fully prepare me for the real world.
How to start out as an actor in Nollywood
I started while still in school. I did small performances here and there. I joined a theatre group, where we rehearsed for three weeks for a performance that paid us 鈧3,000. But things got better, and I landed my first major role in a musical. I auditioned but didn鈥檛 get in the first time. A second audition came up, and I got in as a backup singer.
When I graduated and went for NYSC, I continued acting. I didn鈥檛 show up at my Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) for four days. I was redeployed to another city, but I didn鈥檛 let that faze me. I knew I had talent, and I was honing my craft. The only way I could share it with the world was through auditions and getting paid.
Looking back at those early days, it was exciting. That mindset cuts across everything I do. I don鈥檛 usually think about who鈥檚 watching; I just go for something and trust the results will follow.
It wasn鈥檛 until five years in that I realised, 鈥淥h wow, I鈥檝e been doing this for half a decade.鈥 It was stressful, but I didn鈥檛 really see it that way. To be fair, those theatre days were some of the best of my life. We did other kinds of activities, like trust tests during rehearsals. Once, we broke in pairs, took turns blindfolding each other and allowed the other person to lead. It was fun 鈥 stressful, yes 鈥 but fulfilling.
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On Getting the roles in My Father鈥檚 Shadow and Osamede
Lala Akindoju, the actress, asked me if I would audition for the role in My Father’s Shadow. The director, and writer Wale Davies were at the audition. I did, and a month flew by, and I thought I wouldn’t get the role, but then Akindoju reached out and said I had gotten the role. For Osamede, I got a message from the director James Omokwe, and I was told to send a video audition. I did that, and they asked me to send another one in Benin. I asked my friend and my mother to translate it for me. It was a long process, but I sent it. I don’t even speak Benin. I am from Edo State, but I speak Imoga,聽which is different from Benin. That was how the journey began, and I spoke Benin from the beginning to the end of the film.
On getting paid as an upcoming actor in Nollywood
In the early days, acting didn鈥檛 pay much, but it was enough. I started with the 鈧3,000 just like I said. Back then, as a student, the little I was making was sufficient. Even after school, I lived with my parents. I never really thought it wouldn鈥檛 be enough. Over the years, I鈥檝e always been busy and the pay has gotten better. Even when they were paying 鈧90k or 鈧200k, it was still okay.
But also it wasn鈥檛 just theatre I was doing. I also did voiceovers.
How to transition from stage to Nollywood
I鈥檓 an actor, and whatever platform I get 鈥 film, radio, stage 鈥 I use it to showcase the gift God gave me. Film and TV just happen to be more visible and give you global recognition. But it鈥檚 all about using what God gave you.
I鈥檝e always wanted to do film and TV, I just didn鈥檛 get the opportunities. I used to audition for both theatre and film even back in school, but film offers didn鈥檛 come as often. Now, they鈥檙e coming more. I just go to auditions when I see it and do my best.
How to work hard as an actor
People think we enjoy luxury, but this work is hard. Staying in character, doing deep character work 鈥 if you act badly, people will see it. Imagine being someone else for so long, and people are watching your every move. You鈥檙e telling a lie, but they believe it.
Then, there are times the emotions linger. Sometimes, after I鈥檝e just finished a very emotional scene and we need to shoot the next one, it might take me time to reset. They say 鈥渃ut,鈥 but I鈥檝e been crying, and I can鈥檛 just turn it off instantly. Still, I know it鈥檚 a job. Every actor should understand that. At the end of the day, it鈥檚 about living the emotions.
If you鈥檙e still crying after the 鈥渃ut,鈥 it鈥檚 natural. People who work in film are used to this, so it’s not awkward. Sometimes, the set is just silent from the heaviness of the scene. The crew might be teary, too. It happens.
Can a Nollywood actor be successful and not be a celebrity?
The dynamics of Nollywood are different from those of Hollywood. Here, it is harder to be successful and not be a celebrity. Many actors overseas aren鈥檛 even on social media. But in Nigeria? I鈥檓 not sure. Our industry feeds off content, razzmatazz, and paparazzi. I don鈥檛 think you can be a successful actor here without being a celebrity.
This is a situation that both the audience and the film industry have created and now thrive on. Whether it鈥檚 sports or entertainment 鈥 whatever puts you in the public eye 鈥 you鈥檙e expected to be visible. I’ve introduced myself to people as an actor, and they asked me, 鈥淵ou say you act, but I鈥檝e never seen you on Africa Magic or Netflix.鈥 Just because you haven鈥檛 seen me doesn鈥檛 mean I鈥檓 not successful. I might just be on stage.
How much does a Nollywood actor earn in 2025
For film, it really varies depending on the project. But I’ll use day players as an example. Day players are people who are paid a salary for their work. They are paid per day. Sometimes, famous actors also work as day players, so that factors in.
When I started, it used to be 鈧3,000. But now things have changed. Some earn 鈧30k to 鈧50k per day. Others get 鈧100k. It depends on the number of shoot days.
For stage, it depends on your negotiating skills and the production鈥檚 budget. One actor might charge 鈧1 million, another 鈧300k for the same role.
How to get roles in Nollywood
Getting a role in Nollywood, even for cinema films, is easier now. The internet helps. There are auditions happening every day. Africa Magic commissions a lot of projects. Producers are giving young actors chances through auditions. Just record a monologue, submit it, and hopefully you get picked.
Also, when sending your monologue, you do not need to cry and shout. We tend to think pain is the strongest emotion, but it鈥檚 not. Joy, laughter, and stillness are just as powerful.
There used to be a time when only big names and skit makers got roles in movies. That is changing. More filmmakers are open to using new faces, as long as they can deliver.
Right now, I am just so happy to be one of the new faces. In five years, I want to have been in five times more films, and I hope I can do that.
