We had Nigerian actor, Demi Banwo on the show with the hosts today and he discussed what prompted him to go into acting.
Trained at The Arts Education Schools, London (ArtsEd London), Demi is a versatile actor with a background in TV, stage and musical theatre productions.
He has been cast in several productions in Nigeria. He played the character of Yemi, a recurring primary character in Ndani’s TV show Gidi Up, which aired on AfricaMagic Entertainment as well as on Youtube and on OHTV in the UK and will be reprising that character in Season 3.
He was also cast as the character of JoGo on AfricaMagic’s Hotel Majestic and was a cast member of Wakaa The Musical during its inaugural international run in London as well as the Johannesburg run of Kakadu the Musical.
Recently, he produced and starred in 2 seasons of RedTV’s Inspector K comedy series, served as a Co-Creative Director and Stage Manager for Adekunle Gold’s first headlining concert in Nigeria (One Night Stand with Adekunle Gold) and held roles in Lowladee’s You Me Maybe (an irokoTV movie), M-Net’s Battleground, Lara and the Beat (an upcoming movie from Biola Alabi Media) and is currently a recurring cast member of M-Net’s telenovela series, Forbidden.
According to Demin in 2015, he left radio to go and study acting because he wanted to be a good actor anywhere not just a Nigerian actor.
Why did you decide to come back from Nigeria?
I came back to renew a visa and I am still here. A two weeks trip that turned into one year.
Should an actor be as versatile?
Yes, I think the greatest actors are versatile. Think of someone like Sir Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis, I have no idea what he actually looks like if he’s n to play a character.
I am a very firm believer in range and versatility. For example, at Officer Gambi I actually had to learn pidgin for that role but right now i “fit change am for you”.
What makes it fulfilling for you?
I tell people all the time that in real life I am a soft guy but when I get a script, I think what excites, me is the work I have to put in to become that character.
For example, I spent the next seven-month training to be a boxer because in the next film, I am going into I am playing a boxer and this is for someone taht doesn’t fight.
Name one iconic person you will really like to play in a movie.
I will like to play hushpuppy and davido. There was a time people were convinced that I was either davido or his brother.
See the video below for more!
