At the Creative Youth Experience, Nollywood star Lateef Adedimeji opened up about one of the defining struggles of his career: the burden of constantly being compared to fellow actor Odunlade Adekola.
For years, he explained, this resemblance almost derailed his journey before he found a way to stand apart.
Adedimeji revealed that when he entered the movie industry, people were quick to tag him as Odunlade’s look-alike, not just in physical appearance but also in the way they expected him to perform.
The comparisons became so overwhelming that they threatened to reduce his identity to someone else’s shadow.
“It became a problem for me to be another person because I was used to being referred to as Odunlade’s look-alike,” he said.
“As flattering as it may sound, I knew deep down that it was not sustainable.”
The actor confessed that the temptation to lean into that resemblance was strong. Industry insiders and even fans would often suggest that he should just follow in Odunlade’s footsteps, but Adedimeji realised that mimicking another person’s craft would never bring him true recognition.
He described the experience as emotionally draining, as every role seemed to come with the weight of expectation that he would perform like Odunlade.
“At a point, I knew I couldn’t keep up with it. It was too difficult to mimic someone else’s natural style and still remain authentic,” he said.
Faced with this identity crisis, Adedimeji made a conscious decision to embark on a journey of self-discovery.
He began searching for something unique that would not only set him apart but also ensure that his name carried its own weight in Nollywood.
This search led him to embrace vulnerability on screen, especially through his ability to cry convincingly in roles. He explained that this was a deliberate choice.
“I had to discover my craft and my unique style,” he said. “That was what led me to crying in most scenes, just to be known for one thing that was truly mine.”
For Adedimeji, crying became more than a gimmick; it became his emotional signature.
At first, some viewers mocked him, claiming he was typecast as “the actor who cries too much,” but over time, his tearful performances won him admiration for their rawness and depth.
He pointed out that crying on screen is not as easy as it looks.
“When I cry in movies, I want people to feel the pain, the joy, or the weight of the story. I want my tears to connect with something inside the audience,” he said.
“That was how I began to build a style that was no longer Odunlade’s, but Lateef’s.”
Over the years, this bold choice has transformed Adedimeji into one of Nollywood’s most respected actors, with leading roles in blockbusters and biopics.
Reflecting on the journey, he described it as a lesson in the importance of authenticity.
P “If I had continued copying someone else, I would have faded out long ago,” he said. “Finding myself was the hardest part, but it also became the most rewarding.”
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