‘I abandoned myself for work’ – Funke Akindele reveals secret of her success

Award-winning Nollywood producer and actress, Funke Akindele has said she owes her success in the movie industry to hard work, dedication and sacrifices. 

Speaking in a recent interview with Bella Naija, the record-breaking filmmaker said the reason she keeps breaking and settling new records in the Nigerian cinema was because of how committed she is to her job.

Akindele explained that she is dedicated to her job to the point that she “abandons” herself for work.

She stressed that she doesn’t make her hair except for special occasions and rarely parties. 

The interviewer asked: “Every movie does better than the last. What is that unique touch? What do you do differently to achieve this level of success? 

Akindele replied: “It is a lot of work. When I say a lot of work, a lot of giving your all into work. I was looking back, I was telling myself that, ‘People are saying you look beautiful. You’re loving yourself in the mirror. Why did it take you so long to care about yourself?’

“I abandoned myself for work. I don’t even make my hair, except I am going on the red carpet for something very important. I don’t attend parties. I don’t visit people. I put everything into work. Research, writing, work. 

“I am neck deep into work. I sacrificed my time. It is just now that I am relaxed, doing skincare routine, looking beautiful and smelling nice.

“It was a last of sacrifices for me. So for me to get all these achievements, for my last movie ‘Behind The Scene’ to gross 2.7 billion naira, it was a lot of sacrifices,” she explained.