A noticeable trend among Nigerian actors is that many, after achieving fame and recognition within the country, often aspire to explore international opportunities, particularly in Hollywood. Various actors have taken this path, with varying degrees of success.
In a recent interview with Seun Oloketuyi, Nollywood star Mercy Aigbe shared her thoughts on this trend and discussed whether she has any plans to follow suit. Here’s what Mercy Aigbe had to say.
During Mercy’s interview, she was asked “We see a lot of Nollywood stars who have achieved a lot in this industry who are trying to break into the Hollywood market and then japa. When they do come back here, if they somehow make it back here, they become so pricey that it seems like they price themselves out out of market. Are you considering Hollywood at any point in time in your career? Do you plan to also follow that train and see if you would be the one to break into the international market the way others have not been able to do yet?” Mercy Aigbe responded saying:
MERCY AIGBE: Okay, so the thing is for me I take it a step at a time. So, I say this is what I want to do, this is what I want to conquer. And then when I’m done, I move. So, of course everybody wants—I don’t know about everybody—but I want to get international recognition for my work.
But one thing that I’ve learned is that with social media, actually you can get noticed anywhere. You don’t really have to japa, you don’t. Social media is like a small village. It’s like a village. So once you constantly put in the work, when the opportunity comes, they will come and look for people here in Africa.
We are blessed with talent, most especially in Naija. I don’t know whether it’s hunger o, but Nigerians are super talented. So, most times when this international filmmakers want Africans, they want people, they would go on your social media to check what you’ve done. They would use Google, they would search and look up. So for opportunities, you don’t have to now leave. No. I am not of the school of thought that one should do that to break into Hollywood.