Nollywood can improve by giving roles to actors who truly fit the characters, not just those who are popular online, while also allowing more time for practice and preparation before filming. Producers and directors need to balance fame with real talent because, in the end, good performances are what keep audiences interested and help the industry grow.
By Henry Ezejelue
In today’s Nollywood, one question keeps coming up quietly on film sets, in production meetings, and even among viewers at home: Are actors being chosen because they can truly perform, or simply because they are popular? The conversation may not always happen publicly, but it is becoming harder to ignore.
Social media has become a major factor in casting decisions. These days, before some actors are considered for roles, producers and marketers often look first at online visibility rather than performance history. How many followers do they have? How active are they online? Can they generate engagement and attention?
From a business standpoint, the logic is understandable. Films need visibility, and recognizable faces help with promotion, audience attraction, and sometimes even funding opportunities. Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has previously acknowledged that audience appeal and visibility now play a major role in modern film marketing, particularly in the streaming era where attention is highly competitive.
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But the bigger question remains: does popularity automatically translate into strong performance? In many recent productions, the gap becomes obvious. A film may have quality cinematography, good locations, and a promising storyline, yet once certain characters appear on screen, something feels disconnected. The emotions do not fully land, the delivery feels forced, and the performance struggles to convince the audience. The issue is not necessarily that such actors are untalented, but that some roles appear not to have been fully earned. This is where the concern begins. When popularity becomes the primary qualification, casting gradually shifts from suitability to visibility. And in acting, that can become dangerous because not every role depends on presence alone. Some characters require emotional depth, timing, and psychological understanding that cannot simply be manufactured through fame.
Veteran actress Joke Silva has repeatedly emphasized the importance of proper training and character interpretation, warning that visibility alone cannot sustain believable performances. Similarly, renowned British actor Michael Caine once observed that screen acting succeeds most when it feels truthful rather than exaggerated, stressing that “the camera sees everything.”
At the same time, it would be unfair to conclude that fame automatically equals poor acting. There are actors who have managed to balance both visibility and genuine performance ability. The real issue is balance and many industry observers believe that balance is becoming increasingly fragile. Another factor that cannot be ignored is the pressure created by Nollywood’s fast-paced production structure. Tight schedules, rushed shooting timelines, and limited rehearsal periods often leave actors with little opportunity to fully settle into their characters. Even talented performers can struggle under such conditions.
Afolayan has consistently argued that quality filmmaking requires patience, preparation, and discipline, noting in several interviews that rushed productions often affect performance depth and storytelling quality. The result is what audiences frequently notice today: performances that feel hurried, predictable, or emotionally shallow.
At the same time, audiences themselves are evolving. Nigerian viewers are now more exposed than ever before. Through platforms like Netflix and other global streaming services, viewers regularly consume international content and are increasingly comparing acting standards, storytelling quality, and character realism. Audiences are no longer just watching films they are studying performances. This is where Nollywood must be careful. If casting continues to lean too heavily on popularity alone, the industry risks weakening one of the most important foundations of filmmaking: believable characters.
Encouragingly, however, a shift is beginning to happen. Some producers are gradually returning their focus to performance and character suitability rather than pure visibility. Certain directors are becoming more intentional with casting choices and actor preparation. There is also a growing awareness that not every role should automatically go to the most visible face, but rather to the actor best suited for the character.
Actor Richard Mofe-Damijo has often emphasized that successful performances come from understanding character truth and emotional honesty rather than merely appearing on screen. Actors themselves also have responsibility in this conversation. In today’s industry, staying relevant is no longer just about being known but about consistency, growth, discipline, and delivery. Audiences may initially be attracted by fame, but it is performance quality that sustains respect.
Nollywood can improve by giving roles to actors who truly fit the characters, not just those who are popular online, while also allowing more time for practice and preparation before filming. Producers and directors need to balance fame with real talent because, in the end, good performances are what keep audiences interested and help the industry grow.
Henry Ezejelue, a Theatre Arts graduate, wrote from Lagos
