Nollywood actor Lateef Adedimeji has spoken about his career growth in the movie industry and how hard it has been to create his own identity.
The talented actor and father of triplets was a guest on the Morayo Show, and said during the interview that when he came into the industry, people used to compare him to one of his superiors, Odunlade but he wanted people to know him for something specific, hence his crying talent.
He noted that he became popular for his crying role, and people used to call him the crying machine and identify him with it, even without knowing his name.
“At some point, people started calling me the crying machine. They don’t know my name, but they describe me as the guy that cries a lot in movies.
“When I came into the entertainment industry, people used to call me that guy who looks like Odunlade, but I wanted people to know me for a particular thing, hence my crying talent”.
Speaking about his Iya Peju character, he said it started during the lockdown period of COVID-19, and it wasn’t something he took seriously until people started asking for more.
“The Iya Peju character started during the lockdown, and it wasn’t something I took seriously until people started asking for more”.
Lateef spoke about his journey after receiving an Icon Award at the Africa Illustration Awards. He said that when he set out on his journey, the goal was to find creative ways and make a name for himself. Now, he went from looking up to icons to becoming one.
At the 12th edition of the AMVCA on Saturday, Lateef’s movie Lisabi won Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa) and Best Makeup. While receiving his award, he dedicated it to his wife, who has given him three children.
Last year, Lateef, while reflecting on his journey, recalled how people questioned his colleague, Yewande Adekoya, when she handpicked him for a role, but she stood firm and saw the future. Lateef said when his personal production failed, he almost gave up, but he kept hustling and did lots of free work before heaven smiled on him.
The talented actor opened up on his pre-fame journey, recalling how the man who trained him in the Yoruba movie industry told him that he would fail within one year. The movie star stated that he replied to the man, telling him to give him two years, and he would see what he would become.
