“I intentionally built image of crying in movies” — Actor Lateef Adedimeji

• Lateef Adedimeji, a renowned actor known for his versatility, has achieved stardom through his ability to seamlessly transition between emotional roles, comedic characters, and action-packed performances.

• The actor revealed in an interview with Saturday Beats that his initial strategy was to become known for his emotional reactions in movies.

Renowned actor Lateef Adedimeji has established a strong reputation for his adaptability, effortlessly moving between deeply emotional roles, comedic parts, and dynamic action sequences. Nevertheless, his ascent to fame was far from coincidental.

In a conversation with Saturday Beats, the actor revealed that his initial approach was to become recognized for his ability to cry on screen.

He said, “When I set out to carve a niche for myself, I started with crying—I would cry like an idiot. If I was asked to cry for one minute, I would go for two. So, I was intentional. At one point, when people couldn’t remember my name, they would refer to me as the guy who cries in movies. When I realised that was becoming too overwhelming, I switched things up by introducing my Igbo-Yoruba character. I was strategic at every stage.

“Then ‘Ayinla’ came, and people saw a musical side of me they hadn’t seen before. ‘Jagun Jagun’ followed, and they discovered my strength in action roles. At every turn, I made sure to reinvent myself strategically.”

When asked about his feelings regarding ‘Lisabi’ being among the films that topped Google Search in 2024, he expressed, “I am thrilled. The joy lies in creating something that resonates with a wide audience. There is nothing more fulfilling than that.”

Regarding the significance of filmmakers sharing indigenous narratives, he emphasized, “If we can embrace the heroes of other countries, what happens to our own heroes? There are people that fought for our own liberation, so why can’t we tell their stories and appreciate them as well?”