Tell us about yourself and what you do for a living? – Kindly include some of your projects with dates.
My name is Damilola Alabi. I'm a Nigerian and a yoruba girl from Ondo State.
I’m a UK based filmmaker and entertainer. I’ve produced several movies. I also act and present TV shows as well as Radio shows. This is what I do for a living. Some of my projects are The Rubicon (2014), Rescue Me (2008), Wannabe (2014), Temilorun (2017), Ruby Tales series (2014), Mystified (2017)
ON HER PERSONALITY
Tell us about your childhood – Where you were born, what you loved doing, your hopes and dreams while growing up.
My childhood was very good. I was born in Lagos State, Nigeria to an Accountant mum and an Engineer dad. I loved making friends growing up, I was quite the social type. I dreamt of been a news broadcaster because I admired the newscaster on TV.
What educational qualifications do you possess and how did this prepare you for a career in acting?
I studied Law at the University and I worked in law firms for some years. It was while working at a law firm I had my first acting experience so while my educational qualification didn’t particularly prepare me for my film career, I can say it played a huge part in getting me started.
Did you ever imagine you would one day become an acclaimed and celebrated Actress and Filmmaker? What influenced your passion to excel?
I never really imagined I would one day become a celebrated actress, all I knew at the time was it was a passion that I wanted to indulge in as much as possible. I just wanted to act that was all? Everything else that comes with it now is extra and very well appreciated. There's nothing like doing the thing you love and enjoy.
Describe Dami?
I’m an easy going person, I do tend to care too much about what people say and think of me but I'm working on that as you cannot get anywhere in life thinking and worrying about what people think of you. I like to think I'm friendly and approachable but I'm quite shy and sometimes people misinterpret it as me being snobbish.
Tell us about the first role you played in a movie, what was your initial experience like?
My first acting experience was in 2008 on a movie called Rescue Me produced By Afolabi Makinde of Best of Your Choice. I played the role of a doctor who broke the pregnancy news to a joyous couple played by Clem Ohameze and Steph Nora Okeke. It was an amazing experience and I knew then and there that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Were there times when you wanted to give it all up due to challenges and difficulties? If YES, what kept you going?
There were times when I felt maybe I was doing things wrong and I was sorely tempted to give up most especially when some people close to me asked me if I was sure of what I was doing. What kept me going was the knowledge that I love what I am doing and really couldn't imagine myself doing something else. I have a burning passion for acting and film production so I just have to make it. I told myself I needed a lot of patience and determination. It’s a conviction for me and so I made myself find different ways to approach the situation. That’s how I was able to deal with it all.
Photography by Ellis Mbeku for EMSTUDIOSng
What episode in your career would you term as the most challenging and why was it so?
The most challenging episode in my career was when I was just about to get into it. I didn’t know how to start, I didn’t know anyone or anything all I had was the drive. So I started going for auditions and castings and some of these auditions you have to wait hours before you get attended to and sometimes after waiting for hours they don’t even attend to you at all. And there were times I had to pay to attend auditions that nothing came out of. Also in Nigeria there were a few times I met some producers and they would make the most embarrassing propositions to me in exchange for an acting role. Lots of broken promises along the line.
For me challenges are a part of life how to deal with them and overcome is the important thing. And to do that one just has to keep going, stay focused, roll with the punches and celebrate the little victories.
What’s would you attribute to your successes, determination and passion?
I will say for success one just has to be determined and passionate. You always have to keep your goals in mind. And the determination to succeed comes from the passion and love you have for what you are doing. If you love your career you will be determined to make it work.
ON HER CAREER
Tell us about your first acting opportunity in the movie “RESCUE ME”. What was the experience like?... Click To Finish Reading The Interview On Fruit Tree Magazine
Photography by Ellis Mbeku for EMSTUDIOSng
www.emstudiosng.com
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