Actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has opened up about how she earned her first N1 million in 1999 after landing her breakout role as Bisi in the classic TV series I Need to Know.
In a video shared on her Instagram page on Saturday, Akindele reflected on her early days in Nollywood, revealing that she began her career in 1996, playing small “waka pass” roles and facing countless rejections before her big break.
“I made that around 1999. I started my career from like 1996, playing waka pass roles, 1997 going for auditions, getting a lot of nos,” she recalled.
The filmmaker said perseverance eventually paid off when she got her first major opportunity.
“Then I got one big yes with I Need to Know and that is how I got my first N1 million,” she said.
Akindele also shared how she nearly lost the role due to feedback from the production team, who felt she was “overacting” during the pilot episode.
“I almost lost the role ‘Bisi’ in I Need to Know. I shot the pilot of I Need to Know first and I acted so well, and I was waiting for this callback. The callback didn’t come on time. I’m like, ah, okay.
“Then he just called me into the office. I’m like, okay, you’re a fantastic actress, you’re doing so well, but you’re overacting. They told me to go home and read my script, understand the character very well,” she said.
Determined not to lose the role, she practised at home with help from her younger sister, who advised her on how to sound like a teenager.
She added, “I was so worried. I said how am I going to do it now? Then I got home, and I was so moody, and my younger sister was like sister, what’s wrong?
“I said, I Need to Know. They said I’m not talking like a teenager.
“She said ah because I was not a teenager when I was filming I Need to Know. She said ah, let me see the script and she held the script. She started reading.
“So I heard mama speak like a teenager, and immediately, you know, I took in the character and I started speaking like mama and that was how I got the role.”
She revealed that her earnings from the show shocked her, describing it as a turning point in her life.
“So that was how I made my first one million naira. We were paid for an episode, but I will not tell you how much, but all together, ah, I was shocked. I was like me that always jump for bike.”
Akindele said the first thing she did after receiving the money was to show it to her mother, who advised her to pay her tithe before spending it.
“What did I do with one million naira? First, I showed it to my mom. Of course, she knows about it, and then mommy advised and said I have to pay my tithe first,” she said.
After that, the actress said she went to Yaba market to upgrade her wardrobe, which at the time lacked proper shoes and clothes.
“I paid my tithe, then I entered Yaba because I didn’t have shoes. I didn’t have maybe two or three I had there. I didn’t have good clothes.
“I changed my wardrobe, shoes, bags, everything. The girl that had no shoes yesterday has today.”
