Veteran Nollywood actor, Yemi Solade, has once again sparked conversation in the film industry with his bold take on the earnings of actors, particularly actresses. According to him, no actress in Nollywood can genuinely claim to have bought a luxury G-Wagon solely from acting income.
Speaking on the Honest Bunch podcast, Solade stressed that while acting commands prestige and visibility, the pay from movie roles is nowhere near enough to afford such high-end cars.
“No actress will say the G-Wagon she has, she bought with the money from acting,” he said. “It’s possible from producing but from acting, how much do they want to pay you, 50M?”
He explained that film production might generate bigger returns, but most actresses likely rely on ventures outside acting to fund such luxury lifestyles.
“They may have side hustle, I don’t know those hustles,” he noted, adding that not all cars are self-purchased. “Then again, some are gifts, I want to believe so. Yes now, dem fit gift person G-wagon.”
When asked why male actors rarely receive such gifts, the actor replied with humor:
“Those gifters maybe we should go on a voyage to seek them out.”
This is not the first time Solade has stirred debate with his views on Nollywood. Recently, he claimed he began acting before industry legend Pete Edochie and emphasized the role of the Yoruba film industry in shaping Nollywood. He credited Yoruba filmmakers not just with sustaining the industry but also with producing Nigeria’s very first home-made video, a fact he said should never be forgotten.
Solade’s latest remarks have reignited discussions around Nollywood’s financial realities, the pressures of celebrity lifestyles, and the mix of production earnings, side hustles, and gifts that often shape the luxury image of many stars.