Nollywood Actor Emeka Okoye Says He’s Been Denied Roles Over His Body Size

Nigerian actor Emeka Okoye has revealed that his physical appearance has cost him several roles in Nollywood, accusing some producers of bias based on his body size.

Speaking on Nollywood On Radio with Seun Oloketuyi, Okoye shared how he’s faced repeated rejections throughout his career — whether slim or chubby — because filmmakers claimed he didn’t “fit” certain character profiles.

“I’ve been told that I’m fat, and I’ve lost movie roles because of that,” Okoye said. “Some say I won’t fit a character because I have a stomach or I’m not fine enough.”

The actor explained that the issue isn’t new. Even at the start of his career, when he was much slimmer, he said producers often sidelined him despite praising his talent.

“When I was slim, they used me to audition others and said I was good, but they didn’t have a role that suited me because I was too slim. It happened many times,” he added. “Bukky Thomas can testify to that.”

Okoye noted that his weight gain has now typecast him into certain roles, such as landlords, uncles, or married men, with many producers reluctant to cast him as a “bad boy” or youthful character.

“Some assume I can’t pull off those roles, but they’ll be shocked when they see my upcoming movies,” he said confidently.

The actor’s comments have reignited conversations about body shaming and stereotyping in Nollywood, where physical appearance often influences casting decisions more than skill or versatility.