Idia Aisien, a Nollywood actress, has revealed how she faced harsh criticism for her complexion and language in the entertainment industry.
In a recent interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, she spoke candidly about the unfavorable press surrounding her debut performance in “Nneka The Pretty Serpent.”
The actress, who was born in Edo, expressed her heartbreak at some who claimed that because she is not Igbo and has light skin, she is not a good fit for the role.
she said;
“When it first came out in the cinemas, I was a little bit heartbroken by some of the comments that people were leaving. Comments about me not being light-skinned or Igbo, about me destroying what meant something to a lot of Nigerians. Nigerians loved their veteran actors. They love their Nollywood classics. So, it was something that I just wished people could see how much passion went into it at the time,” .
She added, “I was hurt at first because Nneka is a fictional character and anyone could bring something different to the character but I don’t think that tribe and skin colour should matter. I mean, Black Panther was Americans pretending like they are in Africa. A lot of people who criticised it (the film- Nneka the pretty serpent), criticised it because of the choice of Nneka, which broke my heart.”
The 31-year-old actress also highlighted the difficulties faced by women in Nigeria and the entertainment industry.
She lamented the way some people accuse successful women of being supported by men and credit their success to a male lover.
She recalled how her father had once purchased her a brand-new car, despite the claims of her colleagues that she had obtained it from their boss.
She said it is disgusting and that Nigerians should treat women with more respect and consideration.
She added, “Nigerians need to be kinder to women, we don’t like women in this country because if you look at everything in terms of job, pay, and how women are treated.”
Watch a short clip from the interview below;