In a candid interview with Channels TV, renowned Nollywood actress Adunni Ade shed light on the challenges she has faced in the industry due to her skin tone. Ade, who is of mixed heritage with a Nigerian father and Irish mother, expressed her frustration at the lack of roles written for individuals with her complexion.

The actress highlighted the stark reality that scripts in Nigeria are predominantly tailored for individuals of darker skin tones, leading to limited opportunities for those with lighter complexions like hers. Despite the surge in skin lightening practices within Nollywood, she emphasized the distinction between aspiring to be light-skinned and being inherently of a lighter complexion due to ancestry.

"Script are not written for people who look like me because, typically here in Nigeria, we are all black," Ade stated, addressing the prevailing industry norms that favor darker-skinned actors and actresses.

Ade further elaborated on the nuances of skin tone bias, noting that while some individuals may alter their appearance to appear lighter, true representation for those of mixed heritage or lighter complexion remains scarce. She pointed out that even within the realm of skin lightening, there exists a disparity between individuals who can pass for lighter-skinned and those who are unmistakably of a lighter complexion.

Acknowledging the challenges she faced, Ade revealed that her struggles in securing desired acting roles ultimately motivated her to venture into filmmaking. Despite experiencing a three-year period of being seemingly blacklisted from Nollywood, she remained resilient and proactive in pursuing her passion for storytelling.

Her dedication to inclusivity and diversity is evident in her approach as a producer, as seen in her work on the 2021 film "Soole." Ade emphasized her commitment to casting based on talent and character interpretation rather than superficial attributes like skin tone.

"I will never cast someone based on their color. Everybody, anybody, as long as you're human, you will always have a chance on my set,"

Ade affirmed, highlighting her determination to create a more inclusive and equitable environment within the Nigerian film industry.

Adunni Ade's courageous stance against skin tone bias in Nollywood serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing need for diversity and representation across all facets of the entertainment industry. Her advocacy for inclusivity and talent-based casting sets a positive example for future generations of filmmakers and actors striving for genuine equality and opportunities based on merit.