LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Nollywood actor Lateef Adedimeji has revealed how his emotional roles on screen became his trademark, explaining that his decision to embrace crying characters helped him create a unique identity in the film industry.
The actor explained that when he joined Nollywood, he was often compared to veteran actor Odunlade Adekola because of their similar appearance.
However, Adedimeji said he wanted an identity that was his alone and become known for a specific talent, which led him to embrace emotional performances.
“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.
According to him, his ability to cry convincingly in movies eventually became his signature, earning him the nickname “crying machine” among viewers who did not know his real name but knew him for his roles.
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“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,” he revealed.
The actor also spoke about his popular “Iya Peju” character, revealing that the role was created during the COVID-19 lockdown and initially started as something he did casually.
Adedimeji further explained that he only realized the character’s popularity after audiences 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,” he added.
Reflecting on his career journey after receiving multiple awards, the actor stated that his goal from the beginning was to explore creativity and create a lasting name for himself.
Adedimeji noted that his journey has taken him from admiring established figures in the industry to becoming an inspiration for others.
