Nollywood actress and filmmaker Angela Eguavoen has revealed how she managed the attention surrounding her appearance when she was still establishing herself in the entertainment industry.
Speaking with The PUNCH, Eguavoen reflected on the relationship between physical attractiveness, sex appeal and talent. She acknowledged that an entertainer’s appearance can sometimes attract significant attention, but maintained that talent and strong performances are ultimately important for achieving longevity in the industry.
The actress revealed that she was very conscious of her curvy physique during the early years of her career. Rather than allowing her body to become the centre of attention, she often wore clothes that covered her figure more extensively.
She explained that she did not intend to hide her body forever. Instead, her main objective was to make sure audiences noticed her for her professional abilities. When she appeared in films, she wanted viewers to discuss the characters she portrayed and her performances rather than focus primarily on her physical features.
Eguavoen said she wanted to build a reputation as a professional actress whose talent would speak for itself. For that reason, she preferred her work to generate conversations about her acting skills instead of her appearance.
The filmmaker also observed that the entertainment industry is very different from when she first started. According to her, entertainers now have various attributes that can help them gain visibility and create career opportunities.
She explained that beauty, talent, personality or any other useful quality can serve as an entertainer’s advantage when it is used appropriately. She maintained that there is nothing wrong with making positive use of a personal attribute that can contribute to professional advancement.
Despite this, Eguavoen noted that sex appeal can sometimes overshadow talent. She explained that while a performer’s appearance may initially draw an audience, talent and ability are necessary to keep people interested in their work.
She said, “Sometimes, sex appeal can become a distraction from talent, but people really do not care as much anymore.
“When I was coming up, I did not really want people to focus on my curvy body. I was usually covering up because I did not want people looking at me for the wrong reasons. Anytime I got a role, I wanted people to talk about my performance rather than my looks.
“But times have changed. I feel that whatever your ‘arsenal’ is, whether it is your beauty or talent, if it works to your advantage, use it.”
The actress’s remarks demonstrate how her attitude toward appearance has changed throughout her career. Although she previously took deliberate measures to reduce attention to her body, she now believes entertainers can utilise their individual strengths while continuing to make their talent an important part of their professional image.
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