I Am Not A One-Sided Actor” — Stella Damasus Refutes Limited Perceptions Of Her Craft

Veteran Nollywood actress Stella Damasus has addressed long-standing public perceptions regarding her acting range, asserting that her past roles have barely scratched the surface of her artistic capabilities.

Speaking during a recent appearance on the Tea With Tay podcast, the screen icon noted that many fans categorise her as a specific type of performer without realising the depth of her training and versatility. “People always think I am a one-sided kind of actor. They don’t know the half of me. That’s why I am back,” she stated, signalling a renewed focus on her acting career.

Damasus also took a trip down memory lane, revealing that her entry into the film industry was entirely accidental. Arriving in Lagos at the age of 15, her heart was set on music. She recounted her early days as a singer at Jazzville in Yaba and a staff member at Klinx Studios, where she specialised in jingles and background vocals for industry giants.

“Acting came by chance,” she explained, recalling how she was persuaded by a friend to attend an audition in Ikeja while she was living in Surulere. “I thought [music] was who I was going to be.”

Beyond her professional life, the actress expressed deep gratitude for her children, whom she credited as her “support system” through various life trials. “God gave them to me knowing everything that I will go through in my life,” she said. “I would need children who are sane, who love me unconditionally, and who will be strong enough to stand with me.”