Mojisola Adebanjo: Don’t Judge Actors by Movie Roles

Actress, Mojisola Adebanjo, has called on the public to see actors as professionals rather than judging them based on the roles they portray on screen.

Speaking in an interview with Saturday Beats, Adebanjo addressed common misconceptions that often affect the personal lives and relationships of actors, particularly actresses.

According to her, many people enter relationships with actresses carrying preconceived notions, such as assumptions that they are flirtatious, disloyal, or constantly seeking attention because of the nature of their work.

She said, “Misconceptions are brutal. ‘Actresses are flirty,’ ‘public women can’t be loyal,’ ‘she’s always busy.’ The ‘actresses are like this or that’ stereotype is exhausting.

“People assume you’re always acting, always unavailable, or always chasing clout. Those stereotypes make people bring insecurity into relationships from day one. Serious partners sometimes struggle with the hours, the kissing scenes, or being in the public eye. I would like them to just see us as professionals. For example, a male medical doctor who attends to women is not misjudged because of his career path.”

Adebanjo also spoke about the pressure actresses face regarding their appearance, noting that the industry places heavy emphasis on looks and visibility.

“The pressure isn’t just ‘be pretty.’ It’s ‘stay visible.’ Nollywood can be quick to celebrate the face on the poster before the craft behind it,” she said.

Arguing that women in entertainment face greater scrutiny than men when it comes to age, weight, and physical appearance, the actress however maintained that she has learnt to embrace herself despite negative comments.

“Men age like fine wine. Women get told, and they’re too old for certain roles. Body, weight, skin; people talk about everything. But I love myself so much, and I don’t allow all the negative comments to affect me,” she added.