Nollywood actress Damilola Oni has opened up about a challenging experience early in her career, alleging that a senior colleague once attempted to derail her professional progress.
Speaking in an interview on Oyinmomo TV, Oni recounted that the colleague refused to work alongside her, effectively forcing her off a lead role. She explained that during the production, she was left waiting on set for several hours without guidance, only to learn that the producer had been issued an ultimatum by the senior actor.
“The person said they can’t work with me, that they can’t be on the same set as me,” Oni said. “I had waited five, six, even eight hours, wondering why I hadn’t started filming as the lead. Later, the producer asked if I had offended anyone. He told me the other actor said we had to pick between us, and he wouldn’t pick me. The only option was to give me a minor role with just a few scenes.”
Despite the setback, Oni chose to stay and continue pursuing her career, describing it as a matter of resilience. “I wanted to leave. I was distraught, but I didn’t want to let someone crush me. The sky is big enough for everyone to fly,” she stated, emphasizing her belief that success is not a zero-sum game.
Oni also highlighted the pressures women face in the entertainment industry, including online harassment. She spoke candidly about receiving explicit messages and unsolicited nude pictures from men on social media. “Sometimes I open my Instagram in the morning and find a man’s nude picture,” she revealed. “Some say they watched me on African Magic and were aroused. I am single. That doesn’t mean everyone making advances is my type.”
Additionally, the actress criticized the industry’s focus on self-promotion over talent. “From time immemorial, the person with hype mostly excels over the talented ones. Sometimes the people who should be famous aren’t the ones we hear about. But those who can hype themselves have gained the world,” Oni said.
Through her reflections, Oni paints a picture of an industry where resilience, self-belief, and strategic visibility are as important as talent in navigating the path to success.