Rising Star Damilola Oni Shares Insights on Her Journey and Ambitions
Bold, beautiful, and articulate, Damilola Oni is a fast-rising actress and movie producer with nearly a decade of experience in the entertainment industry. In an interview with Segun Adebayo, Oni opens up about her career, plans, and views on the industry.
Q: Looking back at your journey and the future you intend to build for yourself, what do you think you need to do to stay in the limelight?
Damilola Oni: what brought me here is strong enough to keep me relevant. Work, prayers, and not giving up on myself brought me here. I’ll be fine if I keep doing that and improving. I need to be strategic with my work and increase my visibility. Working with reputable producers will help push my name further.
Q: You have appeared in several skits with popular skit-maker, Mr. Macaroni; how would you describe his personality?
Damilola Oni: Mr. Macaroni has been my friend for over seven years. He’s selfless, reliable, and non-judgmental. He sees people as human beings first, so I trust him and prefer talking to him more than anyone else.
Q: Which would you rather do? A skit or a real movie?
Damilola Oni: I would love to do a real movie. Skit-making has become its industry, which is great, but my passion lies in making full-length films.
Q: People say being top-heavy is your selling point; is this true?
Damilola Oni: I guess having an attractive body can be a selling point because of social media. However, I prefer to be known for my talent and hard work rather than just my physical attributes.
Q: The industry is populated by different characters and people with diverse backgrounds; how do you try to be different?
Damilola Oni: I embrace my heritage and culture. I studied Linguistics in Yoruba at the University of Ibadan and have a Master’s degree in Indigenous Knowledge and Development. Speaking deep Yoruba and fluent English sets me apart in the industry.
Q: Does it bother you that the Yoruba movie industry does not pay its practitioners well enough?
Damilola Oni: It used to bother me, but I now understand the financial challenges as a producer. Despite the poor fees, many of us stay because we love what we do, and we’re inspired by the success stories of actors before us.
Q: What keeps you going despite the challenges?
Damilola Oni: Seeing how past actors succeeded despite the odds is inspiring. Social media also offers us a platform to reach a global audience and attract brands that appreciate our work.
Q: If there is something or someone that worked for you and pushed your career to this level, what could it be?
Damilola Oni: I am grateful for the Aajirebi show on Africa Magic, Red Media Film and Arts Academy, and Libra TV. They have all played significant roles in my career.
Q: Rising to the top of one’s game is one thing, staying relevant is another. What is your take on this?
Damilola Oni: Consistency and focus are key. Many people get carried away with fame and lose focus. Staying relevant requires continuously providing fresh content and staying true to oneself.
Q: How successful are you as an actor?
Damilola Oni: I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m getting closer to my goals. Things are working out for me, and I’m grateful for that.
Q: You have a penchant for entertaining your fans on social media. Is that a strategy?
Damilola Oni: My social media presence isn’t a strategy. My body is part of me, and I dress how I like. I enjoy keeping my fans engaged and entertained.
Q: It must be hard finding true love, isn’t it?
Damilola Oni: Finding true love isn’t hard, but I’ve been unlucky with men within my age bracket. However, I believe the love of my life is on his way.
