Veteran Nollywood actress Stella Damasus has shed light on the persistent challenges Nigerian actors face in securing roles in Hollywood, pointing to rigid stereotypes and unrealistic expectations within the American film industry.
In a recent conversation with Arrow House, Damasus explained that one of the biggest obstacles is Hollywood’s narrow and outdated perception of what an “African” should look and sound like—a perception that often excludes Nigerians.
According to her, many Hollywood casting directors expect African actors to have specific physical features and accents typically associated with East Africa, particularly referencing Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o as the standard. This, she says, marginalizes West African talent.
“Hollywood filmmakers insist on a particular kind of African accent, one that doesn’t reflect how we [Nigerians] actually sound,” Damasus said. “Maybe that’s how a few East African countries speak, but Nigeria and Ghana are different. We all have our unique accents.”
She added that this limited view affects casting decisions, making it difficult for Nigerian actors to land roles unless they meet certain physical or linguistic criteria.
“They told me, ‘We want Africans to be very dark, like Lupita. You’re not dark enough. But you’re also not light enough to be considered mixed race. Your accent isn’t British, American, or what we think is African. So, we don’t know where to place you,’” she recounted.
Damasus further pointed out that most Nigerians who have secured major roles in Hollywood were raised abroad, often with accents more palatable to Western audiences.
“Most of the Nigerian actors you see in big Hollywood films grew up in England. They sound different. And that makes it easier for them to get through the door,” she said.
She criticized Hollywood’s homogenized portrayal of African identities, stressing that Africa is a vast and diverse continent, home to thousands of languages and dialects.
“How do you think Africans sound? Africa isn’t a country—it’s a continent made up of over a billion people from countless cultures. Yet, Hollywood insists on a single mold.”
Damasus’s candid take highlights the ongoing need for better representation and a broader understanding of African diversity in global cinema.
