Veteran Nollywood actress Stella Damasus has opened up about the persistent challenges Nigerian actors face when trying to break into Hollywood.
In a recent interview with Arrow House, the movie star shared her experience and shed light on the cultural and industry barriers that have kept many Nigerian talents from securing roles in the global film industry.
Stella Damasus highlights issues
Damasus pointed out that one of the main issues lies in Hollywood’s rigid and stereotypical perception of African identity.
According to her, casting directors in the United States tend to expect African characters to look and sound a certain way—expectations that often exclude Nigerians.
“Hollywood has a specific stereotype of what an African should look like and sound like,” she said. “They believe that Africans must have a particular accent, usually an East African one. They also expect us to be as dark-skinned as someone like Lupita Nyong’o.”
This mindset, she explained, leaves Nigerian actors struggling to fit into roles written from a narrow and generalised view of Africa—one that often fails to reflect the continent’s diversity.
Accent requirements shut out Nigerians
Damasus recalled being told directly that her natural Nigerian accent did not fit Hollywood’s definition of “African.” She said filmmakers wanted a specific sound and tone that didn’t match how West Africans, including Nigerians and Ghanaians, speak.
“Hollywood insists on a certain kind of accent,” she noted. “They expect Africans to speak with an accent that may only be native to one or two East African countries. But that’s not how we sound in Nigeria.”
She expressed frustration at how Nigerian actors are pressured to adopt foreign accents to land roles, which ultimately erases their true identity. “We are different people with different accents, and that should be seen as a strength, not a barrier,” she added.
Dark skin and misrepresentation
According to Damasus, skin tone is another critical factor that affects casting decisions. She shared how some filmmakers have told her outright that she does not fit their idea of what an African should look like.
“They told me, ‘You are not dark enough. You are not white enough to be mixed race. You don’t look like what we expect an African to look like,’” she revealed. “It’s either you’re very dark like Lupita, or you’re biracial. I didn’t fit anywhere.”
She also mentioned that her skin tone, combined with her accent, made it difficult for casting directors to categorise her. As a result, she was often overlooked for roles meant to represent African characters.
Nigerians abroad get more opportunities
Damasus went on to explain that most of the Nigerian actors who have managed to land significant roles in Hollywood were raised abroad. This, she said, gave them accents that were more familiar or acceptable to American filmmakers.
“Many of the Nigerians making waves in Hollywood today grew up in England or America,” she said. “They speak differently, and that gives them an edge.”
However, she argued that this should not be the only route to success. Damasus believes Nigerian actors who were raised and trained at home have the talent and potential to excel globally, but are unfairly sidelined due to stereotypes.
Africa is not a monolith
In a passionate part of her interview, the actress challenged the notion that there is a single African identity. She stressed that Africa is a continent with more than 50 countries, each with its own unique culture, language, and accent.
“Africa is full of different countries, and within each country are various dialects and ways of speaking,” she said. “So when Hollywood says I don’t sound African, I ask them—what kind of African are you talking about?”
Call for change
Stella Damasus concluded by calling on Hollywood to broaden its understanding of African identity and to embrace the diversity that actors from across the continent bring. She urged casting directors and filmmakers to recognise the depth of talent in Nigeria and to move beyond outdated stereotypes.
“It’s time for Hollywood to evolve and reflect the real Africa,” she said. “We have stories to tell, and we deserve to be heard and seen for who we truly are.”
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