Stella Damasus Highlights Challenges Nollywood Actors Face in Hollywood

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Veteran actress Stella Damasus has shed light on the obstacles Nigerian actors encounter when trying to break into Hollywood, attributing their struggles to rigid stereotypes about Africans within the global film industry.

In a conversation with Arrow House, shared on Facebook on Friday, Damasus pointed out that many Hollywood producers hold a narrow view of what African characters should look and sound like. According to her, these expectations often exclude Nigerian actors, whose accents and appearance don’t align with the industry’s preferred mold.

She explained that Hollywood typically expects African actors to have East African accents and dark skin tones similar to Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o. This generalized image, she said, does not reflect the diversity across the African continent and limits opportunities for performers from other regions, especially West Africa.

“Hollywood wants a specific kind of African look and sound,” Damasus said. “They expect a particular accent that doesn’t represent most Nigerians or Ghanaians. Yet that’s what they’re used to, and it’s hard to convince them otherwise.”

She added that many Nigerians who have landed major roles in Hollywood were raised abroad, particularly in the UK, and speak with British or American accents. This often gives them an edge in fitting into Hollywood’s casting preferences.

Damasus also revealed how her own experiences highlight the industry’s bias. “They told me I wasn’t dark enough to fit the African image they wanted, but also not light enough to be considered mixed race. And my accent didn’t fall into any of the categories they were comfortable with,” she recounted.

She emphasized the diversity within Africa, stressing that each country—and even regions within countries—has its own distinct accents and cultures. “Africa is made up of many nations, each with its own voice. Yet, Hollywood often chooses to portray us through a single, inaccurate lens,” she concluded.

Watch her speak below…

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