You’re no actor if you can’t kiss on set, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett tells Nollywood stars

Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, the ace actress, says actors who shy away from kissing roles are not genuine talents.

In an interview with TVC, the 82-year-old actress said acting is about truly believing in the character, not just pretending.

She said personal preferences should never interfere when portraying a role.

The veteran challenged those who resist on-screen kisses.

She stated that genuine actors immerse themselves in roles without “moralising”.

“Acting is believing, we are projecting life,” said Ajai-Lycett.

“There is a difference between play-acting and wanting to show how other people feel. And that is what I do.

“I read for instance in Nigerian papers where people who marry an actor who has been kissed.

“And somebody says, ‘All my years in acting I have never been kissed, I do not allow anybody to kiss me.’

“Well, you are not an actor. You do not bring your personal preferences into play.

ADVERTISEMENT

“You can do that when you are play-acting, but when you are acting, you are that person.

“So to start moralising about acting means you are not an actor, you are play-acting.”

In 1966, Ajai-Lycett made her acting debut in Wole Soyinka’s ‘The Lion and the Jewel’ at the Royal Court Theatre in London.

She returned to Nigeria in 1971 and has since featured in several notable Nollywood films.

The movie star has also received several awards and honours for her contributions to Nollywood.