Film producers that want to give their work their best shot are thrilled to have the famous actor “Deyemi Okanlawon” on their team. Even though Okanlawon, also known as “Deyemi The Actor,” studied Chemical engineering and worked in the corporate world for a while before acting became his passion, he has persistently demonstrated to his fans why he is deserving of the position he currently holds in their hearts. He discusses his illustrious career and his plans for the future with SEGUN ADEBAYO.

Different characters are always striving to make their way into the spotlight in the entertainment sector, especially in the movie industry where you work. What are your thoughts on this advancement and how it affects the craft?

The sky is, in my opinion, vast enough for everyone, but the truth is that those who put in the effort to hone their art and recognize the value of the acting industry are the ones who will succeed in the long run and leave a legacy of brilliance.
I take great pride in all facets of my job, on and off screen. I was raised to aim for perfection in all I did, to steer clear of quick cuts wherever possible, and to make deliberate decisions regarding my personal and professional objectives. By God’s grace, I am now attracting top producers and directors who create the best quality productions both inside and outside of Nigeria. It has taken some time to materialize, but it’s occurring at the best possible time.

By the looks of things, Deyemi seems to be in many people’s faces, mostly for positive reasons. Up until this point, though, you could have passed for someone who was just trying to finish his film and head home. What changed?

I entered the film business from out of corporate Nigeria, and I approached my career like any other ordinary job. Realizing that you had to be noticed and a brand in the entertainment industry takes some time. I learned that acting has a business component in addition to the craft, which includes developing a brand, but I’m glad I focused on the substance first.

I chose to take a sabbatical from my work sometime in 2019 after becoming somewhat dissatisfied with it. I then polished up my resume and returned to the corporate sector. I hardly had time to perform in movies when I joined Ben Bruce’s Silverbird Film Distribution, but I gained even more insight into the inner workings of the Nigerian film industry. I began receiving calls from producers I had always wanted to work with—such as Funke Akindele, Kunle Afolayan, Kemi Adetiba, Niyi Akinmolayan, and Moses Inwang—when the pandemic struck in 2020 and all theaters were closed. By the time the theaters reopened, the calls continued, so I made the decision to go back to acting full-time.

Since you’ve been in the game for a long and don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, what are your plans to ensure that this face remains relevant for at least ten more years?

I can honestly state that the only reason I am here today and will remain here is because of God’s grace and mercy. I know this sounds corny, but the truth always does. My love of acting, my dedication to my profession, my capacity to make the correct decisions, my ability to build healthy relationships, and my discernment in managing many facets of my life have all been very helpful. I also have a number of mentors. My top three are Pastor Poju Oyemade, Denzel Washington, and RMD, whose lives I have studied to gain insight into how to have a prosperous life, a stable family, and a long-term job.

Looking at the transition your career has gone through and how you have become such a great name over the past few years, would you say you have quit the difficult period of your career?

I’ve learned that there is never an end to the “struggle” for a better life. Therefore, even though I now draw the greatest Nollywood productions and make a lot more money than I did before, my current objective is to look toward working throughout Africa and the rest of the world.

Let’s take a peek at the beginning since the splendor would not exist without the tale. Has performing always been your thing, or what inspired you to pursue this career?

For the majority of my life, acting was a serious pastime of mine; in fact, I saw it as my mission, or duty to God, even though I never intended to pursue acting professionally. In addition to starting a cake and bread business while I was a Chemical Engineering student at the university, I was also involved in a school fellowship acting club, which eventually developed into my current employment.

How difficult were those days for you, when you had to practically prove to producers that you could deliver? How did you handle being turned down?

I will constantly strive for greater things in my life and profession, therefore for me, the grind never ends. Being the middle kid without any special treatment, I had to learn how to deal with and externalize rejection at a young age. This helped me tremendously in my sales and marketing profession and finally proved to be a vital skill as an actor. For instance, many auditions, much like job interviews, can be extremely stressful at times. However, auditions are more than simply a chance for me to play a part that I might or might not get. Additionally, auditions are a fantastic way for me to market myself and show off my skills in case I don’t get the part for any other reason than talent.

In your case, how did you persuade your parents and yourself that acting was the right career choice for someone who studied Chemical Engineering?

The last time I needed my parents’ approval for anything was when I was in JSS class. After I showed them that I could take care of myself, they essentially let me live my life and were only there to offer counsel, which I mainly ignored. The true problem was convincing myself to quit a well-paying career, but following a string of events that I consider to be miraculous and some introspective moments, I asked myself what I might be the best at in the world, and acting was the answer that surfaced.

You recently starred in several successful box office films, such as King of Boys and Omo Ghetto The Saga. Tell us how your brand was improved by these projects.

I had been acting for about 8 years, carefully choosing individuals and projects to work on, and presenting myself as a premium A-List actor, until 2021, when I was finally called that by anyone (apart from my wife). I’m extremely lucky that this has given me the chance to collaborate with some of Nigeria’s most prestigious brands and box office titans as well as top producers (like Mo Abudu, Funke Akindele, Kunle Afolayan, Kemi Adetiba, Toyin Abraham, Niyi Akinmolayan, Uduak Isong Oguamanam, Biodun Stephens, Kayode Kasumu, Vincent Okonkwo, Inkblot production, Film One entertainment, etc.). Many more A-list producers like Bolanle Austen-Peters, Ayo Makun, Steve Gukas, Editi Effiong, and others are people I’m excited to collaborate with.

We all know how much of an impact celebrities have on people and their opinions, and elections are quickly approaching. What do you think about the situation of the country in 2023?

Nigerians ought to give up on seeking self-proclaimed “incorruptible saviors” who, like Joseph, were either freed from prison or wore shoes to school in order to “change” our fortunes. It’s also time for us to move past depending on social media influencers, political pundits, and entertainment industry insiders to tell us who to vote for. Instead, we should conduct our own independent research to choose the best candidate, then put our best effort and, if feasible, money where our mouth is. I will use my resources, influence, and vote to support a candidate I believe in, if and when I come across one. To get us out of the mess that they and their kind created, we need to stop focusing on career politicians and start supporting candidates like Peter Obi and Banky Wellington who have demonstrated their ability to succeed in the real world and who have amassed wealth and influence without favoritism or political attachments.