Teniola Aladese has shared the story behind her unexpected move into acting, revealing that her original dream was to become a lawyer. In a recent episode of the WithChude podcast, the movie star reflected on how a book by Christopher Darden, one of the prosecutors in the infamous O.J. Simpson case, led her to reconsider her career path.
Teniola explained that her passion for law began early, but after reading Darden’s account of the high-profile trial, she quickly realized that it wasn’t the right fit for her. “I finished this book and said, ‘I am not cut out to be a lawyer,’” she admitted. “I didn’t think I could handle the pressure of losing a case and the emotional toll it took on the lawyers involved.”
Faced with a shift in direction, Teniola turned to her backup plan: acting. Growing up, she was inspired by Nigerian film legends like Genevieve Nnaji and Regina Askia, which sparked an interest in the film industry. However, it wasn’t until her SS2 (Senior Secondary 2) year that she fully embraced the idea of acting as a career. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to school to study acting just in case it didn’t work out for me,” she explained. “So, I thought maybe I should study Mass Communication, and if acting didn’t work out, I could become a news anchor.”
Her parents were supportive of her decision, encouraging her to follow her passion. “They said if I wanted to study Theater Arts, I should go for it,” she shared. However, Teniola chose to study Mass Communication as a safety net while pursuing her acting dream on the side.
Teniola’s acting career took off after she started working as a movie production manager before transitioning into full-time acting. She rose to fame with her role in the African Magic drama series Jemeji and went on to win the Trailblazer Award at the 2022 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), solidifying her place in the Nigerian film industry.
