Actress Adunni Ade has shared the difficulties she faces in the film industry because of her mixed heritage.
In an interview with Seun Oloketuyi, Ade revealed that some producers question her fit for particular roles based on her appearance.
Ade, who has a German-American mother and a Nigerian father, initially trained as an accountant at the University of Kentucky before relocating to Nigeria to focus on her acting career.
She disclosed that she frequently faces last-minute rejections from producers without any explanation.
Despite this, the actress expressed her gratitude to God and noted her satisfaction with the fact that she is not restricted to particular types of roles.
“I’ve had the opportunity to portray a wide range of characters, and I’m grateful for that. I appreciate not being confined to specific roles.
“Sometimes, casting for lead or parent roles can be challenging for filmmakers. They might struggle with finding someone who fits the role of a character’s parent. In contrast, Yorùbá culture doesn’t face this issue.
“If I need to play someone’s daughter, there are actresses like Madam Saje or Shaffy Bello who can take on the role of my mother, and they can always come up with a story for the father.
“There have been times when I’ve been excited about a role after receiving a call or script, mentally preparing to embody the character, only to have the opportunity fall through at the last minute.”
“In the past, it would really affect me and leave me questioning why the decision changed at the last minute, especially if they hadn’t considered it before contacting me. Recently, this happened again, but I’ve learned to accept it. I told myself it’s not a problem; there will be another opportunity.”
