Nollywood actress Bimbo Thomas has opened up on why she deliberately stepped away from playing thug and street roles after her breakout performance in Funke Akindele’s Omo Ghetto.
Speaking during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, the actress revealed that the decision was a conscious move to avoid being boxed into one character type in the industry.
According to Thomas, her fear of being stereotyped pushed her to pause accepting similar roles, even though the move came at a cost.
“Yes, I did stop. You know as a thespian, I really wanted to showcase myself, my versatility and other sides of myself apart from what God has used Funke Akindele to do,” she said.
She explained that actors in Nigeria often struggle with typecasting once they succeed in a particular role.
“In this part of the world, actors get stereotyped and typecast, and I knew I had more to offer than being boxed into one role.”
Looking back, Bimbo admitted that the timing of her decision may not have been ideal.
“Looking back, the decision may not have been right at the time because I was not yet fully established. But I was also afraid that if I became too known for that image, it would be harder to diversify later.”
She added that if she had ventured into film production earlier, the outcome might have been different.
“If I had started producing then, things might have been different.”
The actress also revealed that the choice slowed down her career significantly.
“That choice slowed things down for me. I lost roles, I lost money, and even some friendships.”
Beyond career struggles, Thomas disclosed that she went through a deeply personal experience that changed her priorities.
She revealed that she suffered a miscarriage, an ordeal she said almost claimed her life, and this pushed her to commit fully to motherhood, even at the expense of her career.
“Then I had a baby and needed to focus on my child. Thankfully, endorsements came in, otherwise it would have been tough.”
Bimbo Thomas rose to wider recognition after portraying a street-tough character in Omo Ghetto, a film produced by Funke Akindele. The movie later spawned a sequel, Omo Ghetto: The Saga, which became one of the most successful and widely discussed Nigerian films of its time.
While the role brought her massive visibility and industry attention, it also placed her firmly within a specific character space, one she ultimately chose to step away from in pursuit of growth and versatility.