Nollywood star and filmmaker Funke Akindele has opened up about her rise from minor film roles to earning her first N1 million in 1999. thanks to her iconic role as Bisi in the popular TV series “I Need to Know.”
In a video shared on her Instagram page on Saturday, Akindele revealed she began acting in 1996, mostly playing minor “waka pass” roles. She endured several rejections at auditions before finally landing her big break.
“I started my career in 1996, going for auditions in 1997, hearing a lot of ‘no’s’ until I got one big ‘yes’ with I Need to Know. That’s how I earned my first ₦1 million,” she said.
However, her path to the role wasn’t smooth. She recalled nearly losing the part due to “overacting” during the pilot episode.
“They called me and said, ‘You’re good, but you’re overacting. Go study the character again.’ I was devastated,” she recounted.
Back home, her younger sister helped her practice. Since Akindele was not a teenager at the time, she struggled with the voice and demeanor of her character.
“My sister read the script out loud and nailed the teenage vibe. That helped me switch into the role. That’s how I secured the part.”
Upon receiving the payment, Akindele turned to her mother first.
“I showed my mom the money. She advised me to pay my tithe first.”
After tithing, she headed straight to Yaba Market to upgrade her wardrobe.
“I didn’t have shoes, barely had clothes. I changed everything, shoes, bags, outfits. The girl that had no shoes yesterday now had plenty.”
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