Nollywood actress and filmmaker Tierny Olalere has shared her inspiring journey into the industry, revealing how her passion for storytelling pushed her from church productions to self-produced cinema films despite starting with zero connections.
In a candid interview on the Conversations With Kenni podcast hosted by Kehinde Ajose, Tierny opened up about her early love for acting and the bold steps she took to break into the competitive Nollywood space.
“I’ve always had a flair for acting because I write a lot and I was one of the filmmakers in my church when I was younger. I wrote, produced on stage, and acted.”
While still a student at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Tierny made a firm decision to pursue acting seriously. She frequently travelled between Ogbomoso and Lagos for auditions, refusing to let distance become a barrier.
“I was still in school when I decided to focus on acting. I met a lot of people because I used to go for auditions. I’d leave Ogbomosho—where I schooled in Lautech—to come to Lagos until I met someone who trusted me with my first role as a lead cast. That was Kikelomo Oguntade.”
From there, Tierny took a major leap of faith by self-funding her first film titled Pajuda. She later achieved a significant milestone when her first cinema film gained traction despite her being relatively unknown at the time.
“My first cinema film really did well even though no one knew me then. I think I made 2.5 million naira in my first weekend.”
Tierny expressed gratitude for the breakthrough, noting that an industry insider who liked the quality of the film helped push it to Viva Cinema. Though she admitted not making huge profits initially, the experience brought her respect and recognition in the industry.
“I’m very audacious. I didn’t plan for it but someone in the industry just said he liked the film—it was shot well. He took it to Viva Cinema and they collected it. I was shocked at first. I didn’t make my money, but then it was worth it. It was an experience. It gave me some kind of reception and respect which I love.”