Her family’s impressive filmmaking history does not daunt Nollywood actress Eyiyemi Afolayan. She is confident that her own career will surpass even her father’s achievements.
Her father, Kunle Afolayan, is a highly regarded filmmaker in Nollywood. He is known for movies like “The Figurine,” “Phone Swap,” and “October 1.”
This filmmaking talent seems to run in the family; Kunle himself is the son of Adeyemi “Ade Love” Afolayan. Adeyemi Afolayan is a respected filmmaker and dramatist. He is also the father of other successful actors in Nollywood: Gabriel Afolayan, Moji Afolayan, and Aremu Afolayan.
“I’ve seen my grandpa’s movies and I can see there’s definitely a development from the way my grandpa used to make his movies to how my dad makes his movies,” Eyiyemi said during an interview with Channels TV.
“In a few year’s time, I’m going to be a very big filmmaker myself and I’m going to do better by God’s grace,” she added.
Eyiyemi Afolayan’s acting career began at the young age of 18. Her first role came in her father’s movie “Aníkúlápó,” a Netflix original released in 2022. She played the character of Princess Omowunmi. She reprised the role in a follow-up TV series titled “Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre.” The movie premiered on March 1, 2024.
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Working alongside her father was a smooth and positive experience for Eyiyemi. She expressed her deep appreciation for this unique opportunity to pursue her passion for acting. She initially felt some pressure working with experienced actors on the project; she overcame those feelings and ultimately had a successful filming experience.
“Everyone on set didn’t treat me like a kid. They came down to my level. I was able to warm up to them and it didn’t seem like I was the youngest on set,” she said.
Eyiyemi Afolayan has other commitments currently; she is a model and singer. But her goal is to eventually make a big impact in Nollywood.
“Education is my focus, but I’ll be done in two years; when I’m done, I’ll be in the industry fully,” the mass communication student said.
