Award-winning actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has opened up about how she made her first ₦1 million in 1999, following her breakout role as Bisi in the popular TV series I Need to Know.
In a video shared online, the Nollywood star reflected on her early acting journey, from facing rejections and minor roles to finally landing the part that changed her life.
Akindele revealed that her acting career began in 1996, taking small “waka pass” roles and attending several auditions before finally securing 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
Then I got one big yes with ‘I need to know’ and that is how I got my first N1 million,” she said.
Funke Akindele Shares How She Almost Lost the Role
The actress recounted how she nearly missed out on playing Bisi after being told she was “overacting” during the pilot shoot.
“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 call back. The call back 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 over acting. They told me to go home and read my script, understand the character very well.
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 and that was how I got the role.
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.”
How She Spent Her First ₦1 Million
Akindele shared that she showed the money to her mother, who encouraged her to pay her tithe before spending it. She later treated herself to new clothes and shoes from Yaba Market.
“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.
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…”
Her story has since inspired fans, many of whom praised her resilience and humility through her rise to stardom.