In 2022, fresh from completing her training at Del-York Creative Academy, Sharon Rotimi stepped into the industry with a drive to take on meaningful roles. In just a short time, she has built an impressive portfolio across both streaming platforms and television, with standout performances, including Closed Book, which earned a selection at the prestigious 2024 AFRIFF.
Determined to push her artistic boundaries, Rotimi launched a monologue series in 2024, breathing life into the stories of significant women from biblical narratives. This year has been transformative for her career, as she takes on leading roles in three major productions: The Yard on Africa Magic Showcase, Finding Me on Amazon Prime, and the theatrical release The Artifact. Each project highlights her versatility, cementing her as one of Nollywood’s rising stars.
Culture Custodian spoke to Rotimi, discussing her artistic evolution, the challenges she’s faced, and what drives her to keep pushing the boundaries of her craft.
Last year, you started an Instagram series, “All the Women in Me”. Can you walk me through the impact of the series? What insights did you gain about imbuing different characters?
At the time when I was doing it, I didn’t have a lot of monologues up on my page, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to have monologues on my page. But at the same time, it was sort of my manifesto to the world about my philosophy. And I’m a feminist, I don’t want that to be a secret part of me. But I don’t think I’ve sat down to check the results. Of course, people have seen that I can do certain things as an actor. And people can say, okay, this person is a Christian, or she’s a feminist. I think that’s what I’ve gotten out of it.
You’ve had quite a roll this month. Finding Me, The Yard, and The Artifact are significant milestones in your acting career, with The Artifact marking your first cinema appearance. What unique challenges did each role present?
First off, I like the fact that they’re very different. I like the fact that they help me explore different sides of myself as an actor. For Finding Me, I wouldn’t say I experienced a lot of challenges. Funke Akindele is very hands-on as a director. She is the type of director to practically break everything down for you and explain, okay, this is who this character is, this is why she’s doing what she’s doing, these are her motivations. So, to be honest, I didn’t have to do much work because she already had a vision for it.
For Chidimma in The Artifact, I remember talking to a mentor before filming because I wasn’t sure how well I’d be able to portray the tomboy character. Everybody who knows me knows I’m a very girly girl. And I remember him telling me to look into my personal life, think of people who I know to be tomboys, and maybe draw from them. That was my best friend and older sister. Her name is Anu Bajela. I knew her as this boyish girl whom I respected and looked up to. She had great leadership qualities, and I just basically drew inspiration from her. Another form of obstacle was the logistics because we had to move from state to state.
Your character in The Artifact was courageous, adventurous, and a tomboy. What was the process of preparing for this character?
Most of my preparation processes come from what I’ve learned from film school. I went to Del York and then from the acting coaches I’ve had over the years. One of them is Coach Stella Damasus, a renowned Nigerian actress. And it is just doing your research, trying to find out what their motivations are. You create their backstories and work from there. Like I said, I had to draw inspiration from somebody I knew personally, whether it was the way she walked or the way she thought, because Chidimma is, you know, tactical. She has leadership qualities, she’s intelligent.
The film was shot across the country, with different cultural experiences. What did this teach you about Nigeria, and what are your opinions on tourism?
I’m going to be honest. We went across these states by road in December. It was exciting, the prospect of discovering places in Nigeria where I had never been, because I grew up here in the southwest. I was brought up in Lagos and did most of my schooling in Ogun State. The only time I went outside the southwest was about 14 years ago.
On the one hand, if you’ve seen the film, you can see what a beautiful place Nigeria is. You see the greenery, the locations, the beautiful people. However, I did get the anxiety of being on the road, especially with the state of insecurity in the country. So while I think, you know, films like this are great and showcase a need for us to pay attention to tourism in Nigeria, it’s also a call for us to pay attention to the state of insecurity in the country. There was a place we went to in Plateau state, and a day or two after, that village was attacked, and people were killed. We can’t fix tourism without fixing security. People want to go to places where they feel safe.
Many actors describe their first cinema role as a transformative experience. Can you share a specific moment during the filming of The Artifact that made you realize the magnitude of this milestone?
I guess it was just being in the same space as actors that you’ve watched your entire life. And you’re just sitting back in those moments and wondering, there was a time when all of this was a prayer, and now it is happening right in front of me. I am living in it.
Your recent projects seem to showcase a diverse range of narratives. How do you choose roles that not only challenge you as an actress but also contribute to meaningful conversations about women’s experiences in Nigerian cinema?
I’ve just been very lucky or blessed with the kind of roles I have had. I’m a believer in divinely orchestrated coincidences, so I think that God orchestrates things. And with the kind of roles I have played, there is no way in my heart and my mind that I do not believe that God did not put this in place for me as regards future roles. First things first. I am an actor, so I might be given roles that Sharon would not agree with. But it’s a craft, and I’m a professional.
Looking beyond your recent projects, what kind of stories or characters are you most passionate about bringing to life?
I don’t want to box myself in as an actor. I want to explore. I want to do different things. But as regards the type of stories, I can’t speak specifically to themes, but I do know that I’m very drawn to arthouse films. Now, that’s not saying I do not like commercial films. But I am the sort of person who cares deeply about her art. And I think I want to do lots of films that speak to the artist in me. Again, I love money. I want to make money. But I think it would do my heart a great deal of good to do work with art house film filmmakers.
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