Veteran Nollywood actress, Bimbo Akintola, has expressed deep concern over what she describes as the growing obsession of younger actresses with body enhancements at the expense of their craft.
Speaking in a recent interview with fellow actress Ayo Adesanya, the 55-year-old screen icon compared the current generation of actors with her own era.
She highlighted a sharp decline in passion for the art of filmmaking.
According to her, legendary figures such as Sola Sobowale and Joke Silva embodied unwavering dedication and love for the craft, unlike today’s generation who, she claims, prioritise looks, glamour, and surgical procedures like Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBL) over storytelling and performance.
“And every person that we met in the industry was so passionate, even Aunty Joke and Aunty Shola were so passionate about the work. You had people working overnight without sleep. Who is talking about food? We worked 12 to 14 hours straight, sometimes till the next day, until the job was done,” Akintola recalled.
She stressed that back in her time, commitment and sacrifice defined Nollywood.
Also, actors are willing to go the extra mile for authentic storytelling.
She noted that the focus was never on glamour but on producing impactful content that mirrored real life and addressed societal issues.
However, she lamented that today’s Nollywood has shifted its priorities.
“People now say, ‘No, my makeup is not right for this,’ ‘I can’t wear this.’ We are more concerned about looks. Which is why there is a spike in BBL. Because everybody is ‘BBLing.’ They are more concerned about their look rather than the content,” she said.
Bimbo Akintola added that stage acting still preserves some of that raw passion and discipline.
Also, the mainstream movie industry is increasingly being overshadowed by the pressure to look glamorous and surgically enhanced.
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Her comments have since sparked mixed reactions online, with many fans agreeing with her critique, while others argue that balancing talent with physical appearance is part of today’s entertainment landscape.
