Yoruba Nollywood actress and producer Funmi Bank-Anthony has recounted an unusual and emotional experience she encountered while traveling abroad, where her on-screen roles influenced how she was perceived in real life.
Speaking during an interview on Oyinmomo TV, the actress explained how a stranger’s reaction to her film characters led to a deeply uncomfortable situation. She recalled repeatedly noticing a woman avoiding her in public, initially dismissing the behavior as coincidental. However, the situation became more apparent when both individuals arrived at a payment counter. Upon seeing the actress in the queue, the woman abruptly left, raising concerns.
Determined to understand the reason behind the repeated avoidance, Bank-Anthony approached the woman and asked if they knew each other. The woman responded that they did not, prompting the actress to question why she kept running away. The response she received was unexpected and unsettling.
According to Bank-Anthony, the woman admitted she was afraid of her because of the roles she portrays in Nollywood films, particularly those involving witchcraft. Having watched several of her movies, the woman had come to believe that the actress embodied those characters in real life.
The encounter left the actress deeply saddened. She explained that she made efforts to clarify the distinction between fiction and reality, emphasizing that her roles were purely scripted performances. She also reassured the woman of her personal beliefs, stating that she is a Christian and does not engage in any form of witchcraft. Despite her explanations, the woman remained unconvinced and continued to express fear.
Reflecting on the experience, Bank-Anthony highlighted the broader challenge actors sometimes face when audiences struggle to separate fictional characters from real individuals. She noted that this misunderstanding can be particularly strong among international viewers who may interpret Nollywood storylines more literally.
In her words: “When I travelled abroad, I noticed a woman was running away from me. At first, I didn’t think much of it. But when we went to make payment at the counter, she saw me on the queue and immediately left. So I went to ask her if she knew me, and she said she did not. Then I asked what I had done to make her keep running away from me. She said she was scared of me because I usually play the role of a witch in the movies she had seen. As a result, she believe I’m a witch in real life. At that moment, I felt sad. I tried to explain to her that I am a Christian too. I told her that everything she saw me do in the movies was only make-believe, not real. I even explained that all the incantations were just scripted.”