People I Called Friends Rejected Me In Nollywood – Nigerian Actress, Lilian Afegbai Says

Nollywood actress Lilian Afegbai has revealed that she encountered repeated rejection at the start of her acting career, particularly from individuals she already knew within the industry.

In an interview with The Sun, the former Big Brother Africa housemate said she struggled to secure acting roles even though many of her friends worked in film production.

She explained that many producers and casting directors turned her down or offered her only minor parts, which made the journey difficult.

According to her, the rejection was even harder to deal with because it came from friends who overlooked her acting potential and constantly placed her in the background.

She said those experiences motivated her to keep improving her craft instead of giving up on her dream.

The Edo-born actress revealed that determination and hard work eventually changed her story.

The To Kill A Monkey actress said consistency helped her move from being an overlooked talent to a respected name in Nollywood.

She said: “One of the biggest challenges I faced was dealing with rejection and people not being willing to take a chance on me as an actress. In the beginning, I heard a lot of ‘no’s, and sometimes it felt like doors just weren’t opening.

“People that I know, friends in the production industry, casting me as an extra and not an actor. It’s different when you play a cameo, but when it becomes the norm for your friends to forget you are an actor, it’s frustrating. When you remind them, they say you should come and play extra.

“Instead of letting it break me, I used it as fuel to work harder, sharpen my skills, and prove myself. Over time, consistency and perseverance paid off, and those same ‘no’s eventually turned into ‘yes.’”