Award-winning actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has revealed that her remarkable achievements in Nollywood were built on years of discipline, dedication and personal sacrifices, saying she gave almost everything to her craft in pursuit of excellence.
The filmmaker, who has continued to break box-office records with her productions, said her commitment to storytelling and filmmaking has been the major factor behind her consistent success in the industry.
Speaking in a recent interview with BellaNaija, Akindele explained that she spent years prioritising her career above her personal needs, as she focused on research, writing, production and improving her skills.
According to the actress, the intense dedication came at a cost, as she often neglected self-care and social activities while chasing her professional goals.
She disclosed that during some of her busiest years, she barely paid attention to her appearance, only making efforts for major public appearances such as red-carpet events.
Akindele said she avoided parties and social gatherings because she wanted to dedicate more time to creating quality films and building a lasting legacy.
“I abandoned myself for work. I don’t even make my hair, except when I am going on the red carpet for something very important. I don’t attend parties. I don’t visit people. I put everything into work. Research, writing, work,” she said.
The actress added that she is now learning to balance her career with personal wellbeing after years of intense commitment.
“I am neck deep into work. I sacrificed my time. It is only now that I am relaxed, doing my skincare routine, looking beautiful, and smelling nice,” she explained.
Akindele noted that the sacrifices she made contributed significantly to her career milestones, including the remarkable success of her recent film, Behind The Scene, which reportedly generated N2.7 billion at the box office.
“It was a lot of sacrifices for me. So for me to get all these achievements, for my last movie ‘Behind The Scene’ to gross 2.7 billion naira, it required many sacrifices,” she said.
When asked why her films continue to achieve impressive box-office results, the filmmaker attributed the success to dedication and giving every project her full commitment.
“It is a lot of work. When I say a lot of work, I mean giving your all to it,” she said.
Akindele also reflected on her personal transformation, noting that she has only recently started paying more attention to self-care.
“I was looking back, and I was telling myself that, ‘People are saying you look beautiful. You’re loving yourself in the mirror. Why did it take you so long to care about yourself?’” she added.
Funke Akindele Reveals How Tyler Perry Inspired Her Filmmaking Journey
Beyond her personal sacrifices, Funke Akindele has also opened up about the influences that shaped her career, revealing that American filmmaker Tyler Perry was one of her early inspirations.
In a post shared on X, the actress said she has never been embarrassed by her humble beginnings and believes that learning from successful people is an important part of growth.
“I’ve never been ashamed of my humble beginnings, and I never will be. Tyler Perry is one of my role models and I learnt a lot from watching his films, especially when it came to storytelling and writing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with learning from someone you admire. In fact, that’s how many great journeys begin,” she wrote.
The filmmaker explained that while she drew inspiration from Perry’s storytelling approach, she continued to develop her own style through training, experience and continuous learning.
“Over the years, I broadened my knowledge, attended workshops, sharpened my craft through experience, and found my own voice. And I’m still learning because growth never stops,” Akindele added.
She expressed appreciation that younger filmmakers now look up to her work and see her as a source of inspiration.
“Today, many upcoming filmmakers say they’ve learnt from my work, and I’m truly grateful for that. That’s how creativity is passed on. We learn, we grow and we inspire others,” she said.
Encouraging aspiring creatives, Akindele advised them to embrace their beginnings, remain committed to learning and continue improving their craft.
“Never be ashamed of where you started. Keep learning. Keep growing,” she said.