Veteran Nollywood actress Yetunde Wunmi has opened up about how her deep passion for acting led to the collapse of her marriage.
In an emotional interview with BBC Yorùbá, the actress recounted her journey in the entertainment industry, which began in 1982 under the mentorship of Sunday Akinola’s theatre group.
Wunmi revealed that her inspiration came from the legendary filmmaker Adeyemi Afolayan, popularly known as Adelove.
She fondly recalled her first encounter with Afolayan, a moment that ignited her lifelong interest in theatre.
“Adelove brought the stage drama to Danjuma’s film close to where I lived then. I cannot forget the man. He wore all white that day, white shoes and a white car. Everyone rushed towards him, and I went closer just to touch his clothes. It felt like I touched gold. That was when my love for theatre truly began,” she shared.
However, Wunmi’s dedication to her craft came with significant personal sacrifices. She admitted that her passion for acting led to the end of her marriage, as her commitment to theatre became a point of contention.
“I lost my marriage due to my love for this theatre,” she said. Despite this, Wunmi remains steadfast in her choices, expressing no regrets. “I have never regretted doing theatre because God has been gracious to me,” she added.
Wunmi also shared a particularly heartbreaking experience during her early years in theatre. She joined her boss’s theatre group while nursing a 41-day-old baby.
Driven by her love for acting, she chose to travel with the troupe to Ilorin for performances, without informing her husband of the true nature of her trip. “I only told my husband I was visiting my mother in another town,” she explained.
While on tour, Wunmi would hand over her baby, wrapped in her costume, to someone backstage whenever she was called to perform.
Tragically, the baby’s health began to decline, developing a high fever. Wunmi sought medical help, buying medication from a pharmacy.
Despite her boss’s advice to return home due to the baby’s condition, she remained with the group, determined to fulfil her passion for acting.
“I was eventually paid N16, the exact amount I spent on treating the child. I wasn’t concerned because I was just happy to have been part of the show,” she recalled.
The situation took a devastating turn when her child passed away at one year and ten days old.
Wunmi described the loss as one of the most painful experiences of her life. “The most painful part was that the baby died after a year and ten days. The child did not live long enough to enjoy my success in theatre. It’s something I will never forget,” she said, her voice heavy with emotion.
Despite the personal sacrifices and tragedies she faced, Wunmi’s love for acting remains unshaken.
Her story is a powerful reminder of the highs and lows that come with pursuing one’s passion and the sacrifices artists often make in the pursuit of their craft.
