My Life In Nollywood: Bolaji Ogunmola

Every week, Culture Custodian grants you an all-access backstage pass into the lives of Nollywood professionals. You get to hear their fascinating background, their behind-the-scenes stories, and more. This week’s edition features actor and filmmaker, Bolaji Ogunmola.

NollyTube, a nonce for the sub-industry of Nollywood productions hosted on YouTube, is navigated by different mainstream and indie filmmakers. These practitioners consider it a filmmaking shortcut compared to the winding cinema and streaming routes, and they also see this as a means to connect better with their audiences. Bolaji Ogunmola is one of such practitioner. Other notable names are Ruth Kadiri, Omoni Oboli, Uduak Isong-Oguamanam, Uche Nancy, and Uchenna Mbunabo.

Despite marking her Nollywood debut in 2013, it was not until a decade after that Ogunmola started building her YouTube brand. Within a year, her consistency paid off as she amassed a cult following for her riveting, authentic stories on the platform. In an X post on New Year’s Day, film critic, culture journalist and lawyer Jerry Chiemeke commended her for the delivery of “easy weekend flicks” to audiences and for constantly spotlighting talents like Eso Dike and Michael Dappa throughout last year. This is, however, not to underestimate her contributions in mainstream cinema. From her first-ever acting role in a Nollywood film Okon Goes To School, Ogunmola has evolved into a screen goddess and sweetheart delighting everyone with her feminine charm, charisma, romantic appeal, and indubitable talent.

Ogunmola has appeared in Africa Magic films, and television productions and also toured streaming platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. Some of her notable appearances as an actor are in Sobi’s Mystic, The Origin: Madam Koi-Koi, Progressive Tailors Club, A Simple Lie, Strangers, Obara’M, Shuga TV series, Kesari: The King, Slum King, IGE: The Unlikely Oil Merchant, JAPA, 3 Working Days, Ajosepo, Recall and Asiri Ade.

This interview with Bolaji Ogunmola has been edited for clarity.

Chude Jideonwo gave you a shout-out for your filmmaking contributions on YouTube in 2024. How does it feel to be honored and recognized alongside other NollyTube players like Omoni Oboli and Ruth Kadiri?

I feel grateful. I think it’s a combination of always getting up every day to go do the work and do it the best way you can hoping your efforts will be noticed. And I guess people have noticed.

In one of your YouTube videos, you said your best friend pushed you to start your YouTube channel. Could you enlighten me on that?

She used to stay in the UK and is a big YouTuber. She’s been telling me for about four to five years to start my own YouTube channel so that people can get to know me better and have a personal touch with me behind the camera. Initially, I didn’t take her advice seriously. In 2023, I decided to give it a shot and she hired someone to work with me. Film was not in my rear view instantly. I started with vlogs and then by December of that year, I realized people loved my acting and decided to start putting out my films on YouTube, one at a time. Since then, it’s been an amazing journey.

How did your acting career begin?

I started in 2013 when I acted in Okon Goes To School at Royal Arts Academy. I did leave the industry at some point because I was auditioning and nothing was happening. But I came back in 2016 when I went to an acting workshop where Biodun Stephen saw and gave me a role in Sobi’s Mystic. Since then, I haven’t left.

How did your experience at Royal Arts Academy contribute to your career?

I didn’t know anybody at the time. I had just finished from the University of Ilorin and returned to Lagos. I always knew what I wanted since my school days when I went to acting rehearsals and auditions. But I knew I needed to know people and learn more about this work, so I attended Royal Arts where I met one of the best acting coaches that I have worked with. Kehinde Joseph was our screenwriting tutor at the time, and it was really good. I got to have friends that I keep to date. Emem Ufot is one of them.

What’s the most challenging role you have ever undertaken in your career?

It has to be my latest project Summer Rain which is set for release in the cinemas on February 7, 2025. I produced it during the COVID-19 period and having to juggle that space was challenging.

What should we look forward to in Summer Rain?

The subject matter is romance, but it has much depth and life too. Expect love, good acting, a great storyline, and good cinematography. You will leave the cinemas thoroughly entertained.

In one of your YouTube videos, you said you grew up in Ibadan. Tell us about the experience.

I grew up with my grandad and attended secondary school in Ibadan. It’s interesting how, being the best science student in secondary school, one would expect me to become a doctor or pharmacist rather than being an actor. Back then, I never knew what exactly I was going to do in the entertainment space but I knew I was going to be here. I’m still very conservative because it’s embedded in me, but I’m trying to be much more outgoing and better.

How about your university education?

I attended the University of Ibadan after which I studied Business Management and Entrepreneurship at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

Do you belong to any association in Nollywood?

I’m a registered member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, and I just registered for the Producers Guild as well. I don’t attend their meetings as I should, but I’m part of their WhatsApp group where I’m updated on everything that is being done.

How do you approach acting? Do you have a particular style?

It depends on what the character entails. If it’s a biopic, you need to study the person and their mannerisms. If it is romance, you need to have chemistry with the other person and it has to be fluid. Most importantly, I like to be in the moments while I’m acting so it’s not me trying to force down a reaction. The best form of acting is when it doesn’t feel so.

Could you pick a challenging role you played recently and brush through your approach to portraying the character?

That would be my character in Iyawo Mi by Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife. That was quite challenging because it’s mental health. It took a toll on me as I didn’t know how far I was going while I was on it. It’s interesting for me because it’s coming from someone who is in the lower class in society and they thought it was a spiritual attack or a different thing from mental health. Having to read, have a backstory for that character and talk to people about it really helped me in the entire process.

Earlier on, you mentioned you took a break from Nollywood. What were you doing during the hiatus?

I was and still am in business. As an actor that is just starting out, if you don’t have a side hustle, you can get frustrated. It can be at a point where you are not getting called and the money is not good, so you need something to do on the side to cushion the effects while waiting for your next big break.

Do you have role models or mentors?

Absolutely! I admire Funke Akindele for being the blueprint and making it possible for me to dream as a Nigerian and Black girl. Also, I love Mo Abudu, Tunde Kelani, Biodun Stephen.

What’s your favorite Tunde Kelani film?

Maami. And I also like Arugba.

How do you spend your leisure time?

I watch all kinds of films. Just yesterday, I saw RRR: Behind and Beyond. I create story ideas even though I don’t write the screenplays myself. I go to the gym, I watch football with my brothers, and I like to read. I’m currently reading The Diary of A CEO by Steven Bartlett.

If you had the chance to solve a persisting Nollywood problem, what would that be?

The gatekeeping ideology of Nollywood. The idea that someone is not allowed to evolve beyond a certain level they have placed you is just annoying. We should come together and decide that we should be paid a certain amount as actors.

Do you have a long-term career plan or vision?

Yes. I do not intend to be shooting back to back in the next five years of my life. I will be creating shows, films, and documentaries. I intend to own a full-fledged studio, just like Mo Abudu and Funke Akindele. I also want to have a film village. For me, it’s about building a business and legacy that people look back to and get inspired.