Sharon Rotimi is building her craft through long-form television three years into her career. The actress, who recently joined Wura, approaches the format as a space to develop character depth over time, a process she says continues to shape how she works.
After a few technical delays, we finally connect on a Friday evening. Rotimi’s voice is calm and assured as she settles into the conversation.
“I’ve always loved film,” she says, with a soft laugh that carries through the call. That interest has since grown into a career she hopes will expand beyond acting into production and writing.
Within a short time, Rotimi has appeared across films, short projects, and television. She featured in Son of the Soil, and in 2024 appeared in Artefact, directed by Tolu Lordtanner Awobiyi. Her credits also include Finding Me, associated with Funke Akindele, as well as Africa Magic’s The Yard. Most recently, she joined Wura, where she now plays Tumininu ‘Tumi’ Kuti.
In this conversation with The Nollywood Reporter, Rotimi reflects on her journey so far, her preference for long-form series, and how the format continues to shape her approach to performance.
Long-form series remain central to how she understands her craft. For Rotimi, time is the defining factor.
“It takes place over a long period of time. The thing about acting is that it gets better with time because you spend enough time with the material,” she explains.
She recalls being told early on that every actor should experience long-form storytelling. From her perspective, the structure demands focus and encourages growth. “It just does something for you as an actor. It’s really busy, so you’re not doing much else. You can focus your energy on understanding the character better.”
While she acknowledges the appeal of films and box office success, she finds herself drawn more to the demands of series work. At the same time, she is aware of the risks that come with it, particularly the possibility of becoming too familiar with a character or losing emotional freshness.
“I do get overwhelmed and overstimulated a lot,” she says. “I’ve had to find ways to ground myself, being at home, being around my sister, talking to my friends, listening to music, and sleeping.”
These routines, though simple, help her maintain balance. “It’s something actors need to be careful about being overfamiliar with the story and the environment. I don’t think I have it unlocked yet. It’s still something I’m learning.”
That learning process is especially relevant in a series like Wura, where the story stretches across multiple episodes. Rotimi approaches her role as Tumi with an awareness of both the character’s past and its current direction.
“For me, it’s easier because of the recast. I’m approaching this with new eyes,” she says. “I joined at a point where the character is experiencing a major change.”
Tumi, she explains, is no longer the same person audiences met in earlier seasons. “She’s moving from being a sweet, naive girl to someone more self-righteous. She thinks it’s justice, but from the journey she’s on, you can see she’s out for blood.”
Coming into a role previously played by another actor required a deliberate approach. Rotimi avoided studying earlier performances too closely, choosing instead to build her own interpretation.
“There’s a tendency to want to mirror the previous actor,” she says. “But I had to ask myself, who does Sharon think Tumi is? What choices do I want to make with her?”
For Rotimi, that decision was necessary to maintaining authenticity. “It wouldn’t be fair to the character if I’m just copying someone else. I needed to have my own process with Tumi.”
Maintaining consistency in a long-form series also comes with structural challenges. Scripts are not always available in full, which affects how actors prepare.
“We don’t have all the episodes at once,” she explains. “It bothered me at first because I didn’t have the full picture. But it also has its advantages. If I knew everything, it might affect how I play the character.”
Instead, she works with what is available, approaching each development as it comes. “It’s like real life. I don’t know what tomorrow looks like, and it’s the same for Tumi.”
Some of the most demanding moments have come from emotionally intense scenes. “Highly emotional scenes are my least favorite and my favorite at the same time,” she says. “They require a lot, but that’s the work.”
Much of her growth, she notes, has come from working within the Africa Magic system, particularly on long-form projects.
“It’s been very helpful because, beyond formal training, you learn a lot on the job,” she says. “The more you work, the better you get.”
Her experience on The Yard, which ran for over 100 episodes, stands out. Playing a drug addict over an extended period required sustained engagement with the character.
“I had a lot of time with that character. It almost felt like someone I knew,” she recalls.
For Rotimi, this is where long-form storytelling proves valuable. It gives both writers and actors room to develop.
“You have writers’ rooms where stories are stretched and developed properly,” she says. “You’re growing with the material because you’re working on it almost every day.”
That same discipline shapes how she approaches her work. She wants audiences to notice the intention behind her performances.
“I take it very seriously,” she says, acknowledging that stepping into an existing role comes with audience expectations. “People are attached to the previous actor, and that’s fine. My job is to earn their trust.”
Her focus remains on sincerity rather than comparison. “I’m not trying to be like anybody else. I’m just playing Tumi the way she presents herself to me. I’m the vessel.”
Looking back, Rotimi says her biggest growth has come from understanding the business side of acting.
“There’s a tendency to just want to do the work and ignore the business,” she says. “But whether you like it or not, it is a business.”
That awareness has shaped how she approaches her career, from choosing projects to understanding the value she brings to them.
Looking ahead, she hopes to expand into producing while continuing to develop her craft. For now, her focus remains on doing the work and improving with each role.