Nollywood icon Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has shared a deeply personal story about her life in a recent interview with Nigerian filmmaker, Chude Jideonwo. The actress revealed that after her father’s untimely death when she was just 13 years old, she was so desperate for money that she considered turning to prostitution to make ends meet and protect her younger brother.
“When I was 13, they came to pick me up from school, and I knew something was wrong. I prayed that nothing had happened to my dad,” Omotola recounted. “When I got home, I realized my dad was dead, and going through that mental process, I did not know how to react, and I did not know how I was feeling. I was just silent, but now that I am older, I think I really understand everything.”
The actress went on to explain that she was determined to do whatever it took to provide for her family in the wake of her father’s death. “I was very desperate to do anything and said I would rather sell my body than for anybody to take my younger brother apart,” she said.
However, Omotola also acknowledged that her life might have turned out very differently if not for her eventual success in the movie industry. “There’s nothing anyone says to me that can move me. I’m so confident in who I am, and I don’t fear anyone. I don’t fear for my life. Probably I would’ve become a prostitute today if not for Nollywood,” she added.
Despite the challenges she faced early in life, Omotola is now a celebrated actress, model, and philanthropist, and her story serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.