Posted by Chinenye on Tue 14th Jul, 2026 - tori.ng
Nollywood star Funke Akindele has opened up about the sacrifices behind her remarkable journey in the film industry.
(Funke Akindele. Photo Credit: TheCable)
Award-winning Nollywood producer and actress, Funke Akindele, has said she owes her success in the movie industry to hard work, dedication and sacrifice.
Speaking in a recent interview, the record-breaking filmmaker said the reason she keeps setting new records in Nigerian cinema is her deep commitment to her job, explaining that she is so dedicated to her craft that she often "abandons" herself in the process.
She noted that she rarely does her hair except for special occasions and hardly attends parties.
Asked what she does differently to keep outperforming her previous films with each new release, Akindele said it comes down to a lot of hard work and giving her all to her craft.
She recalled reflecting on comments about how beautiful she looked and questioning why it had taken her so long to start caring for herself, revealing that she had put herself aside for the sake of work, going as far as skipping her hair unless attending something as significant as a red carpet event, and avoiding parties or social visits altogether in order to focus on research, writing and work.
She described herself as having been completely immersed in her craft, sacrificing her time in the process, and said it is only recently that she has begun to relax, take up a skincare routine, and enjoy looking and smelling good.
She said the string of sacrifices she made was ultimately responsible for her achievements, including her most recent film, "Behind The Scene," which grossed ₦2.7 billion.