Actress Yetunde Alabi Talks About Staying True to Herself in Nollywood

Actress and producer Yetunde Alabi, known as Ashabi, has shared her thoughts on the pressures in the movie industry. She believes that no role is worth losing your values for.

In an interview with Saturday Beats, Ashabi mentioned that she had heard stories about sexual pressure in Nollywood. But she has never faced any uncomfortable sexual advances for roles.

“I haven’t encountered any uncomfortable sexual pressure. If you set boundaries, people won’t try such with you. I set boundaries. Work is work,” she said.

Ashabi advised aspiring actors to remember that sacrificing their values for a role can lead to problems that are hard to escape.

She said, “No role is worth losing yourself over. If you let somebody get down with you because of a role, how about the next script?”

Ashabi talked about her gradual rise in Nollywood. She started with small roles and learned by watching more experienced actors.

Reflecting on her challenges, Ashabi mentioned feeling overlooked and underestimated at times. Still, she refused to compromise her values for quick success.

“My philosophy in life is, I would rather build slowly than compromise myself just to arrive quickly,” she said.

On Rivalry and Competition

Ashabi addressed the rivalry among actresses. She noted that competition is natural in an industry where many talented women are vying for limited roles. She learned not to see every setback as jealousy.

She said, “Sometimes you’re simply not the person’s choice or your personality doesn’t match. Sometimes there’s no competition. And sometimes some people just behave badly.”

The actress also spoke about comments regarding her skin tone, facial features, and body. She emphasized that she has learned not to define herself by others’ opinions.

“You cannot build your entire identity around people’s opinion of your appearance,” she said.

Ashabi is proud of her dark skin and natural looks. She intentionally shows her audience her true self without heavy styling.

“I want my audience to know that this is me, this is how I look, and I love how I look,” she said.

She also mentioned that fame has taken away some of her privacy. But it has given her a chance to tell stories, create opportunities, and connect with people.

“Fame has taken away a certain level of privacy. There are things I do casually that I can’t do anymore,” she said.

Beyond acting, Ashabi sees herself as a storyteller, producer, and entrepreneur who is still growing.