Veteran Ghanaian actor Fred Amugi has opened up about a difficult period in his career when he says he was repeatedly overlooked for movie roles because some people in the industry considered him too old.
In an interview, the veteran actor said he was sometimes contacted for roles only for others to allegedly influence directors to cast younger actors instead.
“People said I was too old and my time had already passed. When someone called me for a job, some people would conspire, talk behind my back to directors, and they would choose another person,” he said.
Amugi said that during this period, comedian and actor Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as LilWin, was often cast to portray elderly characters.
“At some point, Kwadwo Nkansah was playing old men in movies. He’s one of the few people that wherever you put him, he fits in. I’m not trying to say anything bad about him, but he can act like an old man with his natural features,” he explained.
The veteran actor noted that David Dontoh was also among the performers who naturally suited older roles before relocating to the United States.
Amugi, however, questioned the effectiveness of relying on younger actors to portray elderly characters, particularly when makeup does not fully transform their appearance.
He said makeup artists should pay attention to details such as the skin on an actor’s hands so that the physical appearance matches the age of the character being portrayed.
“LilWin can change his voice and imitate an old man, but when you look at his hands, the skin is very smooth. Makeup should correct that so it matches the age he’s playing,” he said.
According to Amugi, filmmakers should give greater consideration to actors whose real ages and appearances are suitable for the characters they are portraying.
“We should use the required age group and stop imitating because it doesn’t always match the character well. That is why Nigerians are currently leading us,” he added.
His comments have renewed discussion
