Popular Nigerian actress, Stella Damasus, has opened up about the struggles Nollywood actors face when trying to land roles in Hollywood movies. According to her, the biggest challenge is Hollywood’s narrow view of what Africans should look and sound like.

In a recent conversation with Arrow House, Damasus said that Hollywood often expects all African actors to speak with East African accents and to have very dark skin—something many Nigerians don’t have. Because of this, they often don’t fit the roles being offered.

She noted that most Nigerian actors who have managed to get big roles in Hollywood usually grew up in places like England. This means they often speak with British or American accents, which gives them an advantage during auditions.

Damasus revealed that Hollywood casting directors have told her directly that African actors must sound a certain way to get roles. She said, “They want an accent that we Nigerians don’t naturally have. Maybe some small East African countries do, but not us. We sound different.”

She also talked about how Hollywood focuses a lot on how African actors look. She recalled being told that she was not dark enough to be the African they wanted and not light enough to be seen as mixed-race. This made it hard for casting teams to find a place for her.

Damasus questioned this limited view of African identity. She said, “Africa has many countries, with different cultures, accents, and languages. We can’t all look or speak the same.”

Her message is clear—Hollywood needs to open its mind and accept the rich variety in Africa, rather than forcing one image on everyone.