Nigerian actor, Damilola Ogunsi, commonly known as Gold Fish, has opened up about his own struggles with being an albino in the movie industry.
Ogunsi disclosed that he has experienced prejudice from a director who questioned his decision to pursue acting because of his albinism in a recent interview with Deutsche Welle (DW).
“I had a director who actually looked me in the face and said, ‘Why do you want to be in the industry, do you see any Albino in the industry? Why do you want to be an actor? Can you see anybody with albinism? It is not something you should do.’ But it has always been my dream, something I have always wanted to do since I was a little boy,” Ogunsi recounted.
Despite these difficulties, Damilola Ogunsi said he thinks that being an albino has given him a distinct place in the cutthroat Nollywood industry.
“My uniqueness as an albino is what makes me special, so if there is no one in the industry like that, that means that is a niche,” Ogunsi expressed.
He speaks on understanding the importance of representation and inclusion in storytelling through acting.
“Every time I appear in a film, there is a way my presence colours the film. So now we begin to understand the necessity for inclusion. The fact that this guy is in a film, tells the story in a particular way,” Ogunsi emphasized.
Damilola Ogunsi shares hope to inspire others with albinism who aspire to pursue a career in acting, encouraging them to follow their dreams and defy stereotypes.
“Albinos come to me and say they want to be actors, and I tell them, ‘Go for it. Make it happen. Go and do it,” he stated.
