Nollywood actress Bimbo Thomas has opened up about the reason she deliberately stopped accepting street-tough and thug roles after gaining massive recognition from her performance in Funke Akindele’s hit movie Omo Ghetto.
In an interview with media personality Chude, monitored by Gossip News Now, the actress revealed that her decision was intentional, driven by a desire to avoid being restricted to a single character type.
According to Bimbo, she wanted audiences and industry players to recognise her range as an actress, rather than associating her solely with rough street characters.
She explained that the Nigerian film industry often places actors in fixed boxes once they become known for a particular role, and she was determined not to allow her career to be defined that way.
Believing she had more depth and versatility to offer, Bimbo said she chose to step back from those roles — even though it came at a cost.
At the time, she was still working to fully establish herself in the industry, and turning down such roles slowed her career progression. Acting opportunities became fewer, income dropped, and some personal relationships were affected as a result.
She also disclosed that motherhood later shifted her priorities, as she had to focus more on raising her child. During that phase, endorsement deals provided financial support.
Bimbo first shot into the spotlight with her gritty performance in Omo Ghetto, one of Nollywood’s most successful films, which later returned with the sequel Omo Ghetto: The Saga.
While the role significantly boosted her visibility, it also placed her in a narrow acting category, something she was keen to escape to protect her future in the industry.
Speaking on the experience, she said:
“Yes, I stopped taking those roles. As a thespian, I wanted to show my versatility and other sides of myself beyond what Funke Akindele helped project. In this part of the world, actors are easily stereotyped and typecast, and I knew I had more to offer than being stuck in one box.
“Looking back, the timing might not have been perfect because I wasn’t fully established yet. But I was also scared that if I became too popular with that image, it would be difficult to switch later. If I had started producing my own projects at that time, things might have turned out differently.
“That decision slowed my career. Then I had a baby and needed to focus on my child. Thankfully, endorsements came through; otherwise, it would have been very difficult. I truly paid a price for that choice — I lost roles, money, and even some friendships.”
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