Nollywood actor Deyemi Okanlawon has opened up about the period he stepped away from acting, revealing that poor pay and a lack of fulfilment pushed him to leave the industry for a corporate job.
Speaking on the CreativiTea Podcast, the actor disclosed that he quit acting in 2019 after becoming dissatisfied with the quality of work and the financial rewards available at the time.
“I quit acting in 2019, brushed up my résumé, and got a job. I went to Silverbird Film Distribution as Head of Marketing,” he said.
According to Deyemi, his corporate career progressed quickly. He was later promoted to head the company’s Nollywood Distribution Desk before eventually serving as Acting CEO after the then CEO relocated during the COVID 19 pandemic.
Reflecting on his decision to leave the movie industry, the actor said he found it difficult to stay motivated because the work no longer gave him the satisfaction he sought.
“The pay was nonsense. The work was nonsense. I just felt like I didn’t leave a 9-to-5 job to come out and do mediocre work. It was difficult to wake up in the morning and go to work,” he explained.
He added that remaining passionate about a profession without feeling fulfilled eventually became unsustainable, prompting his return to the corporate world.
After spending about two years in the corporate sector, Deyemi returned to acting in 2021, saying the break gave him a better understanding of the entertainment business and helped him approach his career differently.
The actor noted that his return marked a turning point, as he became more intentional about his craft and career decisions, a move that has since established him as one of Nollywood’s leading actors.
His revelation has sparked conversations among creatives, with many pointing to the challenges of low remuneration in the Nigerian film industry and the difficult choices actors often make in pursuit of sustainable careers.