Actress Bimbo Thomas has explained why she stopped accepting thug roles after gaining attention for her performance in Funke Akindele’s Omo Ghetto.
She shared this during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, where she said the decision was a conscious effort to avoid being typecast.
Confirming her choice, she said, “ 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 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.”
Bimbo Thomas rose to wider recognition after playing a street tough character in Omo Ghetto, a film produced by Funke Akindele. The movie, which later had a sequel titled Omo Ghetto The Saga, became one of the most successful and widely discussed Nigerian films of its time.
Her role in the film brought her increased visibility and industry attention, but it also placed her firmly within a particular character space.
