Deyemi Okanlawon recently discussed how his acting career was initially hindered by his lack of a substantial Instagram following. On the latest episode of the Echoo Room Podcast with Quincy Jonze, Okanlawon shared that his social media presence was often a barrier to landing roles, as producers would judge him based on follower count rather than his acting skills.
“I’d tell myself, ‘I’m giving my all on set, so why am I being judged by the number of followers I have?'” he recalled. “Eventually, I realized that some people focus more on personal branding than on the craft itself, so I decided to work on building my brand.”
Things took a positive turn for Okanlawon when he was invited to work with notable figures in the industry, including Funke Akindele, Kunle Afolayan, Mo Abudu, and Niyi Akinmolayan. His breakthrough came with “Omo Ghetto: The Saga,” which became the highest-grossing film of 2020 and established him as a leading actor.
Okanlawon named Richard Mofe Damijo, Olu Jacobs, and himself among his favorite Nollywood actors, and he also respects Bimbo Manuel and Femi Branch.
He emphasized that acting was not his original dream; rather, he aspired to greatness. “Acting was never the dream; greatness was. When people come to me wanting to act, I ask them, ‘What else do you know?’ If you have a unique skill, use it. Don’t limit yourself to one thing. Keep learning and aim high. Don’t let your current situation restrict your dreams.”