Actors Who Believe They Must Always Play Lead Roles Are Delusional – Veteran Actress, Tina Mba

Tina Mba, the veteran Nollywood actress, has remarked that actors who think they must always land lead roles to stay relevant are narrow-minded.

Speaking on Lights, Camera, It’s Your Turn, a show hosted by fellow actress Tope Olowoniyan, the veteran described such line of thoughts as a sign of ignorance.

The thespian challenged the notion that playing supporting roles is a downgrade.

She said, “Sometimes an actor believes that because they have played lead, they must continue to play lead in every film. That is delusional.

“There are characters and roles for everyone. That one plays a supporting actor does not make one less. It is an uneducated actor that thinks playing lead is the ultimate.”

Mba, revered for her depth and versatility, stressed that every role contributes meaningfully to storytelling. She referenced the iconic Hollywood film Pretty Woman as an example of how even minor characters can have major impact.



“My favourite character in that film is the street urchin who opened and closed the film. I can forgive the public if they see the lead as everything, but for us as actors, it’s a role,” she said.

Reacting to actors who insist on always being in the spotlight, she added, “If they have that luck, I wish them well. Personally, I believe there are no small roles but small actors.”