Acting has made me disciplined and patient, Darasimi Nadi

In this chat with VERA ALKALI, child actress Darasimi Nadi shares her love for acting, how she balances school and filmmaking, what she has learned from seasoned actors, her dream of working on international projects, and the legacy she wants to create as an adult actress.

What made me fall in love with acting was the chance to become different people and tell different stories. I love that when I act, I step into someone else’s world and make people feel something through that character. I also enjoy being on set and working with others who love telling stories.

It can be exciting, but it can also be challenging. I’m still a teenager, so I want to enjoy being young, hang out with my friends, go to school, and do normal teenage things while taking my career seriously. I’ve learned to be responsible and manage both sides of my life. I’m grateful to do something I truly enjoy at my age.

School takes a lot of my time, especially when I have tests, assignments, or exams. Acting also needs commitment, especially when I’m working on a project. I try to plan well to ensure neither my studies nor my acting suffers. My education is very important to me, so even when I’m busy with acting, I make time to study.

Sometimes my classmates notice me, especially when a movie I’m in comes out or something about me trends. But most of the time, they still treat me like their friend. I actually like that because when I’m in school, I just want to be Darasimi and enjoy being a normal student.

My family plays a huge role in my journey. They support me, guide me, and make sure I know that school and my wellbeing are very important. They also encourage me when things don’t go as planned. I’m thankful to have people who support me and keep me grounded.

I’ve met many people who inspire me in different ways. Working with experienced actors has shown me that acting is not just about knowing lines. It’s about listening, observing, being prepared, and understanding the character. Every set has given me a chance to learn something new from those around me.

Expressing certain emotions can be the hardest part, especially when the emotion is intense or very different from how I feel. Learning lines is something I’ve gotten better at with experience, but making sure the audience feels what the character feels is different. That’s what I’m always working on.

Yes, sometimes I feel nervous. I think being nervous is normal, especially when you care about doing a great job. I usually prepare myself mentally, go over my lines, and focus on the character rather than how I’ll look. Once the scene starts, I normally get into it, and the nervousness fades.

Yes, definitely. There have been scenes where I finished and felt proud because I knew I had given my all to the character. Those moments are special because acting is about constantly improving. When you feel that you really connected with a scene, it feels good.

There have been many funny moments on set. You spend long hours with the same people, and everyone becomes comfortable. I enjoy when something unexpected happens during a scene and everyone tries hard not to laugh. Those moments can be tricky because once one person starts laughing, it’s hard for others not to join in.

I would love to play a character very different from me. Maybe someone with a completely different personality and background. I especially enjoy characters that challenge me emotionally and push me outside my comfort zone. I want to play a role that makes people forget they are watching Darasimi and see the character instead.

Acting has taught me that I can do things I sometimes think I can’t. It has also taught me discipline, patience, and how to work with different people. Most importantly, I’ve learned that it’s okay to make mistakes because every mistake teaches you something.

People may not realize how much I enjoy simple things and just being me. I can be playful when I’m around people I’m comfortable with. I also love food, spending time with loved ones, and discovering new things. Being an actress is a big part of me, but it doesn’t define everything about me.

I want acting to stay a big part of my life, but I’m still young and exploring. I don’t think I have to figure everything out about my future at 15. I’m interested in many things, and I want to give myself the chance to learn and find what I’m really passionate about. For now, I know I love acting and want to keep growing in it.

My biggest dream is to become an actress who can work on amazing projects in Nigeria and internationally. I want to play challenging roles, work with great filmmakers, and eventually inspire younger people who want to act.

When I become an adult actress, I want people to remember me as someone who took her craft seriously, stayed true to herself, and used her talent to tell meaningful stories. I don’t just want to be remembered as a child actress who grew up. I want people to say that I became a really good actress.