Nollywood Actor Opens Up on Hollywood Casting: “It Wasn’t About Being African—They Knew What They Wanted”

A Nollywood actor recently reflected on his casting experience in Hollywood, sharing that being African did not pose any barrier when he landed a major international role.

In an interview, the actor dismissed the notion that African actors are still sidelined in the global film industry due to their backgrounds, saying, “I think that was probably back in the days. Now it’s different. When I got cast for the role, it wasn’t because I was African or anything. I can switch it up and be a full-blown Yankee boy if I want.”

He added that while traces of his native accent might still be detectable, it posed no challenge during his audition or casting process. “No matter how much I speak American English, you can still catch one or two accents, but it wasn’t an issue at all,” he said.

On how he landed the role, the actor credited his U.S.-based agent for the opportunity. “She called and said, ‘This is up, would you like to audition?’ I did the audition—and by God’s grace, I got it,” he recounted.

When comparing casting systems abroad and in Nigeria, he pointed out that casting abroad is more strategic. “Even abroad, when they write scripts, they already know the actor they want. If that person isn’t available, they have a backup. If you’re a filmmaker and you don’t know who you want to cast for your leads, you have a problem,” he explained.

He added that while supporting or minor roles might require open auditions, major roles are usually pre-visualized with specific actors in mind. “I can’t even remember the last time I auditioned in Nigeria,” he said.