Stella Damasus Laments African Quota In Hollywood

Stella Damasus revealed that African actors face pressure in Hollywood to drop their natural accents and are boxed into narrow, stereotypical roles.

Actress and singer Stella Damasus has spoken openly about the struggles African actors go through in the Hollywood film industry.

During an appearance on the show “In Conversation with Adama Amahiri”, the 47-year-old shared her experiences and concerns about how African talent is treated abroad.

She explained that African actors are often pushed to hide their real accents and identities just to fit into the image that Hollywood wants.

“They force our people to put on a particular accent,” she said, describing it as a form of “accent policing” that limits the real expression of African characters.

Now living in the United States, Stella said working in global film spaces has been difficult. Although Hollywood promotes the idea of diversity, she believes that African actors still face silent forms of discrimination. These include the pressure to erase parts of their culture to get roles.

“This issue goes beyond mere pronunciation, it affects the emotional truth of a performance,” she said, adding that this leads to “watered-down portrayals” of African stories.

The Nollywood star, who has been in the industry for more than 20 years, also mentioned what she called an “African quota” in Hollywood. She believes there is an unspoken limit to how many African actors can be given big roles.

“Sometimes, you feel like there’s a box we’re all forced into,” she said. “Africans are often stereotyped into specific character types such as refugees, house helps, or war victims.”

Despite her success back home, Stella explained that many African actors must start their careers all over again when they move abroad. Their past achievements are often ignored because they don’t fit the usual expectations Hollywood has.

“Instead of being embraced as global collaborators, they are treated as cultural outsiders needing ‘retraining,’” she said.

She is now using her platform to advocate for African actors to be seen for who they are—talented, intelligent, and capable of playing any kind of role. She called on casting directors and producers to move away from stereotypes.

“African actors should be allowed to play lawyers, doctors, CEOs, and superheroes—roles that reflect the real-life diversity of African people, both on the continent and in the diaspora,” she said.

Although the road hasn’t been easy, Stella expressed hope for the future. She pointed to platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime that have started giving space to real African stories.

To young African creatives trying to find success abroad, she gave this advice:
“Don’t lose yourself trying to fit in. Your story, your voice, your identity — that’s your power,” she said.

Stella Damasus became a household name in the early 2000s with hit movies like Behind Closed Doors and Games Women Play. Since moving to the U.S., she has continued working in acting, media, and public speaking.
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