Nollywood heavyweight Jide Awobona has candidly admitted that money remains his top priority when accepting roles, yet he has sacrificed fat paychecks for scripts that truly move him and add lasting value to his brand.
During a revealing episode of the Conversations With Kenni podcast with host Kehinde Ajose, the versatile actor and filmmaker pulled back the curtain on his decision-making process and the emotional demands of the craft.
When asked what he looks for in a script and whether he prioritizes money or story, Awobona gave a balanced, honest response:
“The first thing is money because it’s important, but I’ve done some productions that didn’t offer good remuneration, but I accepted because I loved the script, the film, and my character.”
He praised projects with strong storytelling even on tight budgets:
“There are productions that don’t have a lot of money to run around and pay their casts, but know their onions with storytelling and postproduction… such projects will add value to your brand and it gives you fulfillment to know you’re able to play and bring the character to life.”
The conversation turned emotional when Kehinde probed how easy he finds crying on set. Awobona confessed it is far from simple:
“It’s not easy. It’s Lateef who finds it easy. For me, I have to internalize my character.”
He revealed his principled stance:
“I’ve refused to cry in a scene when I figured the situation the character was in didn’t warrant tears. Sometimes I have to make up something to give myself a reason to cry in a scene. I’m a man, it’s not every time we cry.”
Awobona pushed back against the idea that only top actors can cry on demand:
“Some people feel only good actors can cry on demand, but I disagree. Some people aren’t even actors, but they can cry on demand. For me, I cry when it’s needed. I can show emotions without tearing up.”
He ended on a firm note about professionalism when asked to act on the interview:
“I don’t act without getting paid.”
These insights from the star known for roles in Jenifa’s Diary, Inspector Jero, and his independent YouTube productions highlight the real struggles and thoughtful choices behind Nollywood’s on-screen magic.