VENO TV: Entertainment"I Quit Acting in 2019 Because the Pay Was Poor" — Actor Deyemi Okanlawon Date: 03-07-26
Popular Nollywood actor Deyemi Okanlawon has revealed that he temporarily quit acting in 2019 after becoming frustrated with the poor remuneration and lack of fulfilment in the profession.
Speaking during a recent interview on the CreativiTea Podcast, the award-winning actor disclosed that the quality of work available at the time, coupled with inadequate financial rewards, forced him to step away from the movie industry and return to a regular corporate job.
According to Okanlawon, he felt disappointed that after leaving a stable 9-to-5 career to pursue his passion for acting, he found himself doing what he described as "mediocre work" for poor pay.
"So, I quit acting in 2019. I quit because the pay and the work were nonsense. I just felt like I didn't leave 9-to-5 work to come and do mediocre work," he said.
The actor explained that the lack of fulfilment made it increasingly difficult to remain motivated, prompting him to return to corporate employment for a period.
Despite that setback, Okanlawon eventually made a successful return to Nollywood and has since established himself as one of Nigeria's leading actors, featuring in several blockbuster movies and acclaimed television productions.