“They Tried to Box Me Into Side Chick Roles” — Bolaji Ogunmola Opens Up on Nollywood Struggles

Nollywood actress Bolaji Ogunmola has opened up about the challenges she faced at the beginning of her acting career, revealing that she was frequently stereotyped because of her dark complexion and curvy figure.

Speaking in a trending interview with content creator Joseph Onaolapo, popularly known as Jay On-Air, the actress said she was often pushed toward playing “side chick” roles during a period when lighter-skinned actresses dominated the industry.

“It was almost like they wanted to put me in a box. I am dark-skinned. There was a time when light-skinned people were reigning, and they told me I was very curvy and tried to limit me to ‘side chick’ roles,” she said.

Despite the obstacles, Ogunmola described her journey in Nollywood as tough but rewarding, noting that persistence kept her going even after setbacks, including her experience on the reality show Next Movie Star, where she failed to make the final house.

“My journey has been crazy, but I have just kept at it,” she added.

Beyond acting, the actress also spoke about her passion for business and why she chose entrepreneurship over a conventional office career. According to her, she always wanted to build something meaningful outside entertainment and never saw herself working a regular 9-to-5 job.

Ogunmola stressed the importance of financial planning and diversification for creatives, warning that fame in the entertainment industry can be temporary.

“Life is in phases. You are popular today, you may not be tomorrow. What are you doing to put food on the table? You should be investing and positioning yourself from now,” she said.

The actress also credited acclaimed filmmaker Biodun Stephen for playing a major role in shaping her understanding of movie production and professional growth.

According to Ogunmola, observing and learning from experienced producers on set helped her develop both creatively and professionally.