Actress Fausat Balogun, popularly known as Madam Saje, has spoken about the hardship she faced before fame, revealing that she once stole food to survive.
In an interview with The African List, the actress said her early years in the movie industry were marked by struggles, including working without pay.
“Anyone who says they don’t face challenges in this job is lying. I suffered a lot in this job. My sufferings have turned to joy. We went to shoot a movie at a school, didn’t make any money, and came back empty-handed. We had a moment where we went to steal food to survive. I remember a place in Oyo State where they sold Amala: you pay in one place and collect soup elsewhere. The little money we had, we would manage to eat. Don’t be too faster than your destiny, wait for your time. When your time comes, it will be like you did a money ritual”.
She added that challenges are part of the profession and advised younger actors to be patient with their journey.
Fausat also revealed in a past interview that she did not go beyond primary school due to her early involvement in acting, a limitation she said affected her command of English and opportunities in the English-speaking segment of Nollywood.
Despite these setbacks, she has built a long-standing career in the Yoruba film industry, earning recognition for her roles and remaining a respected figure among her peers.
