Nollywood actress Bimbo Thomas has opened up about the struggles she faced in her early acting career and how she successfully broke free from being stereotyped.
The Omo Ghetto star shared her journey as a guest on Old Secrets, a podcast hosted by High Chief Obio Oloyejulius, where she reflected on the challenges she encountered in carving out her path in Nollywood.
Speaking on her early days, Thomas revealed that she deliberately avoided film production at the start of her career.
She said:
“When I left school, I told myself I wanted to be established as an actor first before venturing into film production.”
At the time, she was often cast in tough roles, particularly those involving street life.
“Those years when I was given roles that involved fighting or breaking bottles were good because I can’t actually fight in real life; it’s all make-believe,” she explained.
However, Thomas soon realized the danger of being typecast.
“I told myself that if I continued playing these kinds of roles, they wouldn’t offer me other parts. Because I am a Theatre Arts major and did an apprenticeship as an undergraduate, I knew I had more to offer,” she said.
The actress emphasized her versatility, noting that she is also a stage performer and a skilled vocal artist.
She further stressed that Nollywood can be quick to stereotype actors:
“If I kept playing the same tough characters, I wouldn’t get different opportunities because the industry is quick to stereotype you.”
To change that narrative, Thomas said she made a conscious effort to slow down on such roles so that both audiences and casting directors could see her full range of talent.
