Reality of Being Nollywood Actress Over 40 - Ireti Doyle

There is a narrative that we hear a lot from so many industry people both in Nigeria and internationally. It is this narrative of ageism, that once a person is over a certain age - over 40 or over 50, that the industry starts sidelining them and their careers begin to dwindle. It was a conversation that happened this year again at the Oscars.

During a new interview, Nollywood actress, Ireti Doyle was asked if she herself has experienced this and what she makes of it. Here's what Ireti Doyle had to say.

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During her interview, Ireti Doyle was asked "This year at the Oscars, there was a conversation around women and age gaps, that it's like once you turn 40, your career dwindles. It was a conversation in the newsroom and even outside and it generated so much controversy because the world began to ask where did this notion come from? I don't know if you heard about it but knowing that the conversation even exists in some circles that once you're 40, you might as well take a backseat. What would you respond to that?" Ireti Doyle responded saying:

IRETI DOYLE: The conversations might be out there but I think that's some sort of gaslighting and it only applies if you suck it in. If anything, life begins at 40 because at that age, hopefully you've pretty much come into yourself. And you realize that you owe very few people an explanation. So no, I think that's a false narrative just put out there to gaslight people into not living their full potential. Personally, I just keep going. I'm going to be doing this forever and ever till I can't anymore. In fact the reason why I am very interested in producing is so that I can continue to do this for even longer, more and more on my own terms - you get to pick the stories, you get to influence the direction which it goes, you have more control. And then beyond having more control, you get to also provide other people with opportunities and vehicles to become household names.

What do you think about what Ireti Doyle had to say, and also about the conversation of women's careers dwindling once they cross 40? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment either below or on my Jide Okonjo Facebook post.

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