Nollywood actress Omowunmi Dada has shared the intense physical and emotional challenges she endured to portray her role in the critically acclaimed 2019 film Òlòtūré.
In a candid interview with Nollywood On Radio, the actress recounted how she immersed herself deeply into the life of a sex worker to bring authenticity to her character.
Reflecting on her preparation, Omowunmi revealed, “One production that really challenged me was Òlòtūré. We shot it in 2018, and it stretched me in ways I never imagined.
“I had to make tough character decisions. For example, I spent two weeks visiting a brothel every single day, mingling and gisting with prostitutes. I needed to understand their world and their modus operandi if I was going to convincingly play one of them.”
The physical demands of the role were equally grueling, with Omowunmi taking on habits completely alien to her. “I don’t smoke, but for Òlòtūré, I smoked. I’ll never forget my first day on set—I smoked 14 sticks of cigarettes. By the time I got back to my hotel, I was throwing up.
“It was so bad that I told Sharon Ooja, and she mentioned that she felt the same way when she started but was advised to drink milk to counter the effects. Unfortunately, the milk didn’t work for me,” she recounted.
Despite her body protesting, Omowunmi was determined to stay committed to the role. “There were days I would arrive on set already feeling sick. The director, Kenneth Gyang, would suggest I take the day off, but I would say, ‘No, just give me paracetamol and a few minutes to rest.’”
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