LAGOS – Actress Bimbo Thomas has opened up about the decision to move away from playing “thug” roles after gaining widespread recognition for her performance in Funke Akindele’s film Omo Ghetto.
In an interview with Chude Jideonwo, Thomas revealed that she made the choice to showcase her versatility and prove that she could play diverse roles beyond her iconic street-tough character.
The actress explained that she didn’t want to be typecast, a common phenomenon in the industry where actors get fixed in one image.
According to her, she had more to offer and wanted to demonstrate her range, even if it meant slowing down her career temporarily.
Thomas acknowledged that the decision wasn’t easy, as it led to reduced work, financial losses, and even affected some friendships.
According to her: “Yes, I did stop. You know, as a thespian, I really wanted to showcase myself, my versatility and other sides of myself apart from what God has used Funke Akindele to do. In this part of the world, actors get stereotyped and typecast, and I knew I had more to offer than being boxed into one role.
“Looking back, the decision may not have been right at the time because I was not yet fully established. But I was also afraid that if I became too well-known for that image, it would be harder to diversify later. If I had started producing then, things might have been different.
“That choice slowed things down for me. Then I had a baby and needed to focus on my child. Thankfully, endorsements came in; otherwise, it would have been tough. I paid a price for that decision. I lost roles, I lost money, and even some friendships.”
