The idea of women helping women is not new, according to actress Enado Odigie, as women have always provided for themselves.
Odigie, who continues to receive praise for her performance as Dolapo in the Showmax original series “Flawsome,” said to Saturday Beats, “Women supporting women is a brilliant thing that has been happening from time immemorial. It’s not a new concept. It has always been there, and it will always be there. I don’t know if it’s the society that chooses to tell us that ‘women supporting women’ is probably a new idea but I know it’s not a novel concept.
I come from a background of strong women, supporting other strong women and pulling one another up. It is the life I have always known. They say if one wants to go fast, one should go alone. But, if one wants to go far, one should go with others. Building communities to support one another is very important, and there is room for more of it. I am a woman who supports the women in my life, and think that everybody should support women.”
When asked to identify the most challenging aspect of playing Dolapo, Odigie responded, “It was putting on the arrogance that Dolapo seemed to have, then realising all the other things that layered under her. Being able to carry that air of arrogance, and still come across as someone who has more to them. Also, when one plays a character, one literally shares their experiences; so much that it becomes so real to one. One wears the character’s personality, feels their pain and disappointments. It was hard.”
On how she ‘got into’ the role, the actress said, “The first thing that helps me with whatever character I am playing is the connection I make with the character. The moment one is able to connect with the character, it becomes so much easier.
“For the character, I have a couple of strong women in my life, so it was easy to pick things from here and there. Having a great director also helped in interpreting the role.”
