Nollywood actress Tierny Olalere has opened up about her painful battles with depression and industry sabotage, disclosing how she was blacklisted for a year and a half while fighting to stay afloat in a tough entertainment space.
In a candid interview on the Conversations With Kenni podcast hosted by Kehinde Ajose, Tierny credited God for saving her from depression that almost claimed her life and for blessing her with supportive people.
She expressed strong faith that her story is far from over: “God wasn’t done with her story,” and promised to return to the interview one day to testify.
When asked whether popular people are more prone to depression, Tierny painted a raw picture of the harsh realities many celebrities face.
“Nigeria itself is depressing. The lives we live is triple: The instagram life, limelight, and the real one which no one sees is there. I could be hyper on an instagram live and go offline to face the reality that my rent is due or something.”
She drew parallels with the South Korean entertainment industry:
“Why do you think K-Drama guys always die. Even with how big their creative industry is, they still end up dying, depressed, or overdosed. There’s real struggle out there.”
Tierny also confirmed the existence of sabotage and backstabbing in Nollywood, speaking from personal experience as a victim.
“You’re asking a victim. I was blacklisted for a year and a half. No one called me for a job. They kept dismissing me because they didn’t want to work with me. Someone said she was too scared to associate herself with me.”
She added that she later discovered who was behind the blacklist but chose not to address everything publicly. Tierny expressed gratitude to her support system, especially her mother, friends like Olaiya Temitope, and her younger sister, who stood by her during the dark period.
“Thank God for my mother… Naturally, I’m dogged so I didn’t let the situation affect me. Nollywood industry is not for the faint hearted.”
Tierny’s resilience and honesty highlight the often-hidden challenges faced by entertainers in Nigeria’s competitive movie industry.