A third-class degree could have made Deyemi Okanlawon dream smaller. It did not. Before acting became his full-time career, he studied engineering, worked in sales and marketing, moved into film distribution and built his own marketing company.

Today, he is known for playing men who are charming, powerful and sometimes flawed. But Okanlawon is no longer interested in being seen only as an actor. He wants to produce stories, build lasting structures and create opportunities for next generation of African creatives.

Speaking exclusively with Guardian Life, Okanlawon talks about the roles that have forced him to confront uncomfortable parts of himself. He also shares what marriage, fatherhood and faith have taught him, why talent alone cannot sustain a career and why he hopes to be remembered as a man who used his platform to build, not just shine.

You’ve built a career on playing complex, charismatic characters. What role has challenged you the most, and why?

Every role stretches you differently, but the ones that stay with me are the characters who force me to confront uncomfortable truths about myself. Playing emotionally layered men, carrying power, pain, vulnerability and contradiction at the same time, has probably been the greatest challenge. As actors, we’re constantly borrowing from our own humanity. Sometimes that means revisiting parts of yourself you’d rather leave alone. Those are usually the performances that teach me the most.

Before acting became your full-time career, you worked in the corporate world. Looking back, how did that experience prepare you for life in entertainment?

More than people realise. I studied engineering, worked in sales and marketing, film distribution and even ran my own marketing company before becoming an actor full-time. Those experiences taught me discipline, strategy, negotiation, relationship building, and the business side of filmmaking. Entertainment is still a business. Talent opens the door, but professionalism, consistency and understanding value creation are what sustain a career. I’ve never seen myself as just an actor. I’ve always seen myself as someone building an enterprise around storytelling. A creative entrepreneur.

Was there a defining moment when you knew acting wasn’t just a passion but your life’s calling?

It wasn’t one dramatic moment. It was a series of confirmations. Every time I stepped onto a stage or in front of a camera, I felt completely alive. Then I began to see the impact stories had on people. That’s when I realised acting wasn’t simply about performance. It was about connection, influence and transformation. That’s when purpose started to become clearer than passion.

What is the biggest misconception people have about your profession?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that talent is all you need to get into the industry and stay there. Talent is essential, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Building a lasting career requires discipline, professionalism, resilience, continuous learning and an understanding of the business of entertainment. Every role is another opportunity to prove yourself, so success isn’t just about getting noticed. It’s about consistently delivering, growing and earning the trust of the people you work with.

What has your wife taught you about love and partnership?

She’s taught me that love is as intentional as it is emotional. Feelings come and go, but partnership is built through daily choices, mutual respect, honest conversations and extending grace to each other. Marriage has also taught me humility. That it’s not always about being right. Sometimes it’s about choosing unity over ego.

Fatherhood changes many men. How has it changed you?

Fatherhood has made me more patient, more intentional and much more aware of the example I set. My children are watching far more than they’re listening. They learn from how I treat people, how I handle pressure, how I love their mother and how I respond to success and failure. Becoming a father shifted my thinking from simply achieving success to building a legacy.

Faith appears to play an important role in your life. How has your relationship with God influenced your decisions?

Faith is the foundation of my life. It shapes how I define success, how I treat people and how I make decisions. It reminds me that my gifts are entrusted to me for a purpose beyond personal achievement. Whenever I’ve tried to rely solely on my own strength, I’ve usually learned difficult lessons. Trusting God has taught me obedience, patience and perspective.

What principles guide you when choosing the stories you tell?

I’m drawn to stories that reveal something true about the human experience. Entertainment matters, but I also want stories that spark conversations, challenge assumptions or inspire hope. Increasingly, I’m interested in projects that leave people thinking long after the credits roll and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Africans and African storytelling.

As a Nigerian man navigating fame, family and business, what does authentic masculinity mean to you today?

For me, masculinity isn’t about dominance or pretending to have all the answers. It’s about responsibility. It’s having the courage to lead, the humility to keep learning and the strength to be emotionally present for the people who depend on you. Real strength includes kindness, integrity, accountability and the willingness to grow.

What does purpose mean to you beyond acting?

Purpose is about creating opportunities for other people. That’s why I’m passionate about initiatives like “I Want To Act” and investing in the next generation of creatives. If my career ends with just the films I’ve acted in, I’ll be grateful. But if it also opens doors for hundreds, thousands or millions of Nigerian and African youth, then I believe I’ve fulfilled something much bigger than myself.

What excites you most about this current season of your life?

I’m excited that I’m no longer thinking only about individual projects. I’m thinking about systems, institutions and long-term impact. Whether it’s producing films, creating platforms for emerging talent, building partnerships across Africa or exploring global collaborations, it feels like everything I’ve experienced so far has been preparing me for this season.

What do you hope people remember about Deyemi Okanlawon long after the lights and cameras are gone?

I hope people remember that I used my platform to build, not just to shine. That I helped elevate Nigerian and African storytelling, created opportunities for others and lived with integrity. I hope to leave a legacy measured by the lives I’ve impacted.

What is one lesson life has taught you that no classroom ever could?

That your circumstances do not have the final say and should never limit the size of your dreams. I graduated with a third-class degree, but that never defined the possibilities ahead of me. Life has taught me that character, continuous learning, resilience and faith often matter far more than where