Veteran actor Jumoke George reveals Nollywood’s dark secrets

Veteran Nollywood actress Jumoke George recently opened up about the distressing experiences that forced her into a 14-year break from the Nigerian film industry.

In an emotionally charged interview on Oyinmomo TV, the 59-year-old actress exposed the pressures she faced to conform to superficial beauty standards, including demands from directors to bleach her dark skin to fit the industry’s narrow ideals.

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“My skin tone was not the only setback I encountered in this business… For my skin tone, they complained that I was too dark, and I would tell them to add my lightning to the scene to make me look lighter.”

“You cannot push me into something I do not want to do. I will glow with this skin till old age, and do not forget, black does not crack.”

But George’s struggles extended beyond her complexion. She revealed that her commitment to personal integrity was met with backlash, as some industry executives allegedly prioritized romantic favors over genuine talent.

“The other reason why I did not get any roles or see the back of a lens for 14 years is because I refused to sleep around.”

Refusing to compromise her principles, Jumoke George was sidelined, effectively bl@cklisted after rejecting advances that she describes as rampant.

“I started having issues with getting roles when the executives wanted a relationship in exchange for it… The pressure was getting immense, and it was more than 20 to 30 people.”

“Another thing was that if you dated one of them, broke up, and went ahead to date someone else, they would discuss you among themselves… I said to myself that as long as God exists, I would not find myself in such a space.”

Her strength to resist these expectations speaks volumes, shining a light on the hidden sacrifices made by actors who refuse to conform.

“Black doesn’t crack,” she declared proudly, emphasizing her commitment to authenticity.

Jumoke George in her interview, paints a powerful picture of the challenges faced by actors like herself within the exploitative Nollywood industry over genuine pursuit of artistry.