Nollywood actor Lateef Adedimeji has opened up about the journey behind his widely recognised crying roles in movies, revealing that the character trait became a defining part of his identity in the Nigerian film industry.
During a recent interview with Morayo Afolabi Brown, the actor explained that when he first joined Nollywood, many people compared him to veteran actor Odunlade Adekola because of their similar appearance. However, he wanted to create a unique identity for himself and be remembered for a particular talent, which led him to embrace emotional roles that showcased his ability to cry convincingly on screen.
According to Lateef, his frequent portrayal of emotional characters eventually made audiences associate him with tears, earning him the nickname “the crying machine.” He said some fans could recognise him by his crying scenes even when they did not know his actual name.
“At some point, people started calling me the crying machine. They don’t know my name, but they describe me as that guy that cries a lot in movies.
When I came into the entertainment industry, people used to call me that guy that looks like Odunlade, but I wanted people to know me for a particular thing, hence my crying talent,” he said.
The actor also spoke about his popular “Iya Peju” character, revealing that the role was created during the COVID-19 lockdown period. He explained that he initially did not consider the character a major project until viewers began demanding more appearances.
“The Iya Peju character started in lockdown, and it wasn’t something I took seriously until people started asking for more,” Lateef added.
Over the years, Lateef Adedimeji has built a reputation as one of Nollywood’s talented performers, known for his ability to bring deep emotions and memorable characters to life on screen.
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