Actress Constance Owoyomi has shared the story of how she landed the role of Madam Adunni in Kemi Adetiba’s Netflix series To Kill a Monkey.
Taking to her Instagram page on Friday, the actress posted a video narrating the journey that led her to become one of the standout characters in the crime thriller.
Before diving into the details, she thanked Kemi Adetiba for trusting her and appreciating her craft both on and off the set, describing it as an honour to be part of such an “amazing” show.
She said, “Back in 2022, Kemi Adetiba put out an audition notice and I was excited because I looked forward to working with her. I’ve watched her shows and she is so good. I went to her comment section and I saw people were flying from pretty much every state in Nigeria. So I’m like it’s gonna be so crowded that day. I toyed with the idea of going and not going.”
Constance explained that her friend attended on day one of the auditions and kept giving her updates about how massive the crowd was.
“With all the information, I braced up for day two. So let’s just say the rest is history. I got there and when it was my turn, I gave my monologue in English and I switched to pidgin.”
She recalled how Kemi was just about to ask if she could speak pidgin before she did so.
“She told me to wait behind. I got to read again, the script, and I got shortlisted. So came the waiting period—months. In my head I was like, ‘Have they gone with someone else? What’s happening?’ A lot of thoughts.”
Her patience eventually paid off in 2023 when she received a phone call.
“One day in 2023, I got a call from Remi Adetiba. When he said his name, I just started screaming and he was like I should calm down. He told me about the character and what I would be playing. He gave me some information and said the rest will be communicated to me over time. I was ecstatic, I couldn’t contain my joy, I was so happy.
“When I got the script, and I was told about the character. I was just told she is a local woman who owns a restaurant in the suburbs and I wondered how I could play the character.
“Let’s just say, I ran with the character and just decided to bring Madam Adunni to life.”
Constance added that she surprised even herself with her performance.
“I didn’t know I could speak pidgin English like that until I ended up shocking myself and everyone who watched the movie.”
She recalled her first day on set: “If you watch To Kill a Monkey, you will know I was in episode 1 and 2. I got to shoot on day 1, all my nerves were kicking in. Then they put that makeup on and the wig, my steps changed and Kemi Adetiba also said I was walking differently. I answered that I will walk differently because I’m no longer Constance but Madam Adunni.”
She also appreciated Kemi for her warmth on set and thanked everyone who has watched the series.
In To Kill a Monkey, Madam Adunni is the scheming owner of a local restaurant where Efemini (played by William Benson) works. The character plays a key role in Efemini’s moral and financial descent. In one of the early episodes, Adunni exploits Efe’s desperate situation by demanding sex before giving him a loan to pay his wife’s hospital bill. After their encounter, she gives him the money, but he gets robbed on the way to the hospital.
In another episode, Adunni gets furious when Efe disobeys her by serving Oboz and his gang instead of letting the salesgirl do it. She fires him on the spot, but Oboz clears Efe’s debt and offers him a job. Efe later rejects the offer and begs Adunni for his job back. She demands sex again, only to dismiss him afterward. Feeling betrayed, Efe lashes out, calling her “evil and wicked” before storming out.
Constance, a certified political scientist from the University of Lagos, made her mainstream acting debut in Amaka Igwe’s Fuji House of Commotion. Since 2013, she has played the role of Mimi in Tinsel, one of Nigeria’s longest-running TV series.
To Kill a Monkey premiered on Netflix on July 18, 2025. Created and directed by Kemi Adetiba, the eight-episode series follows Efemini, a man forced into cybercrime by circumstance.
The show stars William Benson, Bucci Franklin, Stella Damasus, Bimbo Akintola, Chidi Mokeme, Lilian Afegbai and others. It has been praised for its gripping storytelling, bold visuals and compelling performances.
