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Tag: Lilian Afegbai

  • Colleagues relegated me to minor roles – Lilian Afegbai

    Colleagues relegated me to minor roles – Lilian Afegbai

    Actress Lilian Afegbai has opened up on her experiences in the film industry, revealing the challenges she faced in getting substantial roles. 

    In an interview on PulseNG, she said despite her acting skills, she was often cast as an extra by industry friends who overlooked her talent. 

    Frustrated by being repeatedly relegated to background roles, Afegbai emphasised her professional status to remind them of her capabilities.

    She said: “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 in the film, but when it becomes a norm that your friends casting for a big production forget that you are an actor and when you remind them, they say you should come and play extra. They were comfortable with me playing extra.”

    However, Afegbai’s career saw a significant breakthrough with her role as Idia in the Netflix crime thriller “To Kill a Monkey.” 

    Under the direction of Kemi Adetiba, she showcased her range and strength as an actress, earning praise from viewers. 

    The series, which explores themes of cybercrime, betrayal, and survival, features a talented ensemble cast, including Stella Damasus, Bucci Franklin, and Chidi Mokeme.

  • Lilian Afegbai: I poured my soul into playing ‘Idia’ in ‘To Kill A Monkey’

    Lilian Afegbai: I poured my soul into playing ‘Idia’ in ‘To Kill A Monkey’

    Nollywood actress Lilian Afegbai has opened up about the emotional depth and intensity she poured into her character, Idia, in the newly released Netflix film ‘To Kill A Monkey’, directed by Kemi Adetiba.

    Reacting to an outpouring of praise from fans and industry colleagues, Afegbai took to Instagram to express her heartfelt gratitude, describing the experience as a “whirlwind of love and support.”

    “Playing Idia was more than just a role,” she wrote. “It was a journey of becoming one with a character whose strength, vulnerability, and spirit I poured my soul into.”

    The actress, known for her versatility, credited director Kemi Adetiba for entrusting her with the role and guiding her through the process of embodying the character. She described the opportunity as a deeply transformative experience that pushed her limits and left a lasting impact.

    “I gave everything to bring her to life, and seeing your kind words, messages, and encouragement means the world to me and makes it all worth it,” she added.

    Read Also: Actress Lilian Afegbai queries sales of Asoebi in dollars

    Afegbai also appreciated the cast, crew, and supporters of the film, saying their collaboration and support made the moment unforgettable. She vowed to carry the love and encouragement with her, expressing how honoured she felt to be embraced by viewers and fans.

    “To everyone who has watched ‘To Kill a Monkey’ and shared their overwhelming love for my portrayal of Idia, thank you from the depths of my heart,” she wrote.

  • Actress Lilian Afegbai queries sales of Asoebi in dollars

    Actress Lilian Afegbai queries sales of Asoebi in dollars

    Actress Lilian Afegbai has expressed outrage and disappointment over the growing trend of selling traditional Yoruba wedding attire (Aso ebi), in dollars.

    The actress, in an Instagram video, shared her shocking experience after receiving a wedding invitation that required guests to purchase Asoebi for $1,200.

    Afegbai narrated how she initially thought the price was in Naira but upon seeing the dollar sign left stunned and wondered what was happening in Lagos.

    She questioned the rationale behind such an extravagant expense for a one-time wear, highlighting the absurdity of spending millions of Naira on Asoftbi.

    Read Also: Lilian Afegbai speaks out against Nollywood’s alleged labeling culture

    The actress’s outburst has sparked a conversation online, while some people have defended the practice, citing the high cost of living in Lagos and the desire to make weddings memorable, others have condemned it as a form of exploitation and a reflection of the country’s misplaced priorities.

    The actress said in part: “Una don dey sell asoebi for Dollars in Lagos. Naso wan lady invite me, I come check the invite see 1200, I come shock dey ask say say 1200 naira? Naso I come dey happy say things don dey change for Lagos. Na him I say make I just blink, na him I see dollar sign for the 1200. Na him i say hey, wetin dey occur for here. I quickly carry my phone times 1200 x 1600. HOw many million naira be that. For Asoebi wey I go wear one time?”

  • Lilian Afegbai speaks out against Nollywood’s alleged labeling culture

    Lilian Afegbai speaks out against Nollywood’s alleged labeling culture

    Actress and filmmaker Lilian Afegbai has expressed frustration with the growing divide in the industry, where creatives are labeled based on the platforms they work with.

    Afegbai took to Instagram to address the issue, stating that the labeling culture creates a hierarchy that diminishes the talents of those who work primarily on platforms like YouTube.

    She argued that this mentality stifles the growth of emerging actors and filmmakers.

    The actor shared personal anecdotes, including being dismissed as “not a YouTube face” and receiving lowball offers from producers.

    She emphasised the need for viewers to give lesser-known actors a chance, rather than judging movies based on the presence of certain people on posters.

    Read Also: Actress Lilian Afegbai apologises to women in their 30s she previously insulted

    “Normally, an actor is an actor. It’s about, are you a good actor? Can you act? But it’s you viewers that have turned the whole thing upside down.

    “Other people have to have room to grow. More actors have to come. How many films is your fave going to be in at the same time? It’s not possible”, she said in part.

    Captioning the video, she wrote: “YouTube Actors Lol. Sometimes people fail to see your worth or acknowledge your growth, but that says more about them than it does about you. Your value isn’t diminished by their inability to recognize it. Keep growing, shining, and staying true to yourself—it’s not your fault they choose not to see it”.

  • Actress Lilian Afegbai apologises to women in their 30s she previously insulted

    Actress Lilian Afegbai apologises to women in their 30s she previously insulted

    Media personality and actress, Lilian Afegbai, has publicly issued an apology to all the women she once judged for being single in their 30s.

    Reflecting on her past behaviour, she acknowledged that she used to mock single women over 30, but has since realized that age is merely a number.

    In a video shared on her Instagram page, Lilian admitted her ignorance at the time, attributing her actions to her own experiences and lack of understanding of life’s complexities.

    She expressed regret for her past behaviour and recognized her imperfections as a result of youthful indiscretion.

    She admitted that she is the oldest student at her present school and described how difficult it has been for her to blend in.

    Read Also: Lilian Afegbai cries out over fraudulent act by house help

    Below are some reactions by netizens:

    justlassious noted: “Na now we know”

    wf_jamesbrown said: “Yes. It can’t be frustrated sometimes”

    sophiaofthegoodlife asked: Which one be aunty chikodi eh. Why u call my name”

    mss_bint_ wrote: “Lily I dey meeting no make me laugh make dem No pursue me”.

    raliatabubakar1 penned: “Akanchawa baddie meself done tire oh…at times my head go wan knock but na to adjust the crown. packaging or nothing.”

  • How ladies can attract ideal men – Lilian Afegbai

    How ladies can attract ideal men – Lilian Afegbai

    Nollywood actress Lilian Afegbai has advised her fellow women on the key elements necessary to attract the type of men they desire.

    Using her X account, the actress shared a discreet tip on what draws her kind of men to her.

    She emphasized the principle that individuals tend to attract what they project, highlighting the significance of speaking positively about men to attract the right ones.

    Afegbai cautioned women against expecting high-quality men if they consistently express negativity about them.

    Read Also: Lilian Afegbai cries out over fraudulent act by house help

    She advised them to articulate their desires positively and witness them manifest into reality.

    She said: “What you put out, you attract. I want to share a tiny secret here: The minute I started saying positive things about men, my love life and all. I started attracting the kind of men I wanted in my life. You can’t keep saying men are t sh en are and expect quality Speak into existence what you want and it will come to you.”

  • I wanted to quit acting, relocate overseas – Lilian Afegbai

    I wanted to quit acting, relocate overseas – Lilian Afegbai

    Actress Lilian Afegbai, popularly known as Lily Afe, has pointed out 2023 is better than 2022.

    She said she wanted to quit acting and relocate from Nigeria earlier this year because of the struggles she encountered in 2022.

    The media personality said last year was tough and she kept slipping in and out of depression, which made her decide to quit the movie industry and relocate to start afresh.

    Lilian Afegbai said: “Testimony time. Beginning of this year I wanted to Quit Acting, Entertainment Industry in general and just focus on my businesses and probably relocate [japa] and start from scratch. I spoke to God, I was Intentional about everything I asked of him. He listened to me and showed up.

    Read Also: Orisha of Lagos announces Awoodah pop-up fashion show

    “Last year was horrible for me, I was in and out of depression. I felt horrible. Long story short, The only person that can really fix your situation is God. The people that showed up for me this year, some of them never knew me but they could spot my talent just by watching Akanchawa baddie story.

    “He used people I least expected to remind me of who he is. I just want to say I’m grateful for not quitting. Please even when it feels like it’s all over, Don’t give up. I know it’s hard, but truly when you hand it over to God. Go and sleep and the rest is history.

    @kemiadetiba I need to do a special post for you thank you. PS | I will share the bigger testimony soon, but for today just say thank you Jesus for me.”

  • Lilian Afegbai cries out over fraudulent act by house help

    Lilian Afegbai cries out over fraudulent act by house help

    Media personality, Lilian Afegbai has expressed disappointment as she shared how her house help defrauded her with lies.

    Lilian explained in a video via her Instagram account how her house help had cooked a lie to extort money from her.

    She said the housemaid introduced a male accomplice, claiming him to be her brother, adding complexity to the plot.

    It was gathered that the actress fell for the deception and transferred the sum of one hundred thousand naira to her house help, believing it would aid in treating the fabricated heart condition.

    Read Also: I bleached while growing up, Lilian Afegbai opens up

    The truth eventually came to light when the house help confessed to the scam and Lilian suspected a connection to a business deal gone wrong, which prompted the house help’s confession and in response, Lillian chose to block her.

    Expressing her frustration, Lilian wondered what she had done to deserve such duplicitous house help, given her reputation as a successful businessperson.

    Sharing the video, she wrote: “You can’t play baddie for Christ. The country is hard but nor use me for repairs Abeg. Akanchawa baddie don quit fake life.”