Veteran Nollywood actress Stella Damasus has opened up about her early years in the Nigerian film industry, recalling how being grouped with Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and Genevieve Nnaji led to intense comparisons among fans.

Damasus shared the reflection during an interview with Pulse TV, where she discussed the period when the three actresses were widely regarded as some of the leading female stars in Nollywood.

Key Takeaways

• Stella Damasus recalled being labelled part of Nollywood’s “Big Three” alongside Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and Genevieve Nnaji.
• She said the actresses built their careers by remaining authentic to themselves.
• Damasus recalled that their popularity generated considerable comparisons among fans.
• She said the actresses felt the need to keep proving themselves and avoid being seen as the weakest among the group.
• The actress also reflected on building their careers before the widespread use of social media.

Stella Damasus Recalls Nollywood’s ‘Big Three’ Era

Looking back at that period of her career, Stella Damasus said she, Omotola and Genevieve were regarded as Nollywood’s “Big Three.”

According to the actress, the three women stood out because of their individual talent, personalities and dedication to their work.

Damasus stressed that they were not trying to build their careers by imitating one another.

She explained that each actress remained authentic rather than attempting to become someone else or pursuing fame and money as the primary motivation.

“They called us the Big Three, Omotola, Stella and Genevieve. We were very authentic; we weren’t trying to be other people, copy other people, or be who we aren’t,” Damasus said.

She added that everything about their approach to their careers was authentic.

How The ‘Big Three’ Label Created Comparisons

For Damasus, being placed alongside two other highly regarded actresses also brought another dimension to their careers.

She recalled that their growing popularity resulted in fans comparing the three actresses and choosing their favourites.

According to her, the comparisons meant that each actress had to continue demonstrating her ability and proving herself.

“It brought about a lot of comparisons. Fans who love one more than the others, and we had to keep proving ourselves,” she said.

Damasus added that none of them wanted to be perceived as the weakest of the group.

“So we don’t think we are the weakest. Nobody wanted to be the weakest,” she added.

Her recollection therefore centres on the competitive pressure created by public comparisons rather than establishing a personal feud between the three actresses.

A Different Era Before Social Media

Damasus also highlighted how different the entertainment landscape was when she, Omotola and Genevieve were building their careers.

Unlike today’s celebrities, who can immediately see reactions to their work across social media platforms, the actresses had limited ways of measuring their popularity at the time.

Damasus said there was no social media to tell them how far their careers could go or how widely they were being recognised.

“There was no social media to tell us how big we could get. We didn’t know,” she recalled.

She explained that seeing themselves on movie posters was one of the more visible indications of their growing public recognition.

Beyond that, recognition often came when people encountered them in public.

What Stella Damasus Remembers About Their Journey

The actress described the period as one in which young, talented women were coming together to work with determination.

She recalled the three actresses as young and talented performers who were committed to succeeding in the industry.

Damasus said their authenticity was an important part of how they approached their careers, with each woman developing her own identity rather than simply copying another performer.

That environment also meant that public comparisons became part of their experience as their profiles grew.

Why The Comparisons Mattered

Damasus’ recollection provides a glimpse into an earlier phase of Nollywood, when prominent actresses could become major talking points without the constant social-media feedback that defines celebrity culture today.

The actresses’ growing visibility created a natural basis for fans to compare their performances, personalities and individual appeal.

For Damasus, those comparisons also contributed to a desire among the actresses to keep demonstrating their abilities.

Her comments offer a personal account of what it was like to develop a career during that period of Nollywood’s growth, before social media became a major way for entertainers to measure public attention.

What Stella Damasus’ Reflection Reveals

At the centre of Damasus’ recollection is the experience of being publicly grouped with two other prominent actresses while each was establishing an individual career.

She described the three as authentic performers who were focused on their craft, while acknowledging that public comparisons placed additional pressure on them.

Rather than describing a confirmed personal rivalry, Damasus’ comments show how fan comparisons and competition for recognition became part of the experience surrounding the three actresses’ rise.

Her reflection also highlights how differently celebrity careers were experienced before social media provided entertainers with immediate access to audience reactions and online visibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who were Nollywood’s “Big Three”?

According to Stella Damasus, she, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and Genevieve Nnaji were referred to as Nollywood’s “Big Three” during their early years in the industry.

What did Stella Damasus say about the three actresses?

Damasus said the three actresses were authentic and did not try to copy one another as they built their careers.

Why were Stella Damasus, Omotola and Genevieve compared?

Damasus recalled that their prominence led fans to compare the actresses and develop preferences for one over another.

Did Stella Damasus describe a personal rivalry with Omotola and Genevieve?

Her comments, as provided in the interview report, focus on comparisons and the pressure to prove themselves. They do not establish a personal feud between the three actresses.

What did Damasus say about social media?

She recalled that the three actresses were building their careers before social media was widely available, meaning they had fewer ways to know how popular they had become.

Final Word

Stella Damasus’ reflection offers a look back at a formative period in Nollywood, when she, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and Genevieve Nnaji were widely recognised together as the industry’s “Big Three.”

While their prominence brought comparisons from fans, Damasus’ account emphasises their individual authenticity, determination and desire to prove themselves as performers.

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