Nollywood actress and filmmaker Efe Irele has dismissed the belief that fame in the entertainment industry happens suddenly, insisting that every successful career is built on years of preparation and perseverance.
The actress, who recently premiered her debut cinema film “My Mother is a Witch,” said that many fans only see the final product of success without realizing the amount of effort and time that goes into it.
“There’s no such thing as overnight success,” Irele said. “A lot of people always say, ‘that person is an overnight success,’ and it even happens with our musicians. When they see old videos of the artist, they’ll be like, ‘Oh, I never knew.’”
Before making her mark as a screen star, Irele revealed she had been part of the entertainment industry for years, appearing in several popular Nigerian music videos.
“I was in Adekunle Gold’s Shade music video, Burna Boy’s Like to Party, I was in so many videos,” she said. “I’ve been in the industry, maybe not as an actor, but I’ve been in the industry since I was 15 years old — and that’s a very long time.”
According to her, success in Nollywood requires discipline, patience, and consistent effort, not shortcuts or sudden breakthroughs.
“It takes consistency and a whole lot of hard work,” Irele added.
Her story underscores the reality behind many creative success stories, that years of unseen work often precede public recognition.
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