Funke Akindele says she cries behind closed doors, puts mental health first

Funke Akindele has said the cheerful face Nigerians see on screen does not tell the whole story. In an interview with CNN's Larry Madowo, the actress and filmmaker said there are times she shuts herself in her room and weeps when things get too heavy.

She said she lets the tears come, then gathers herself and carries on. "I cry. I lock myself in the room, cry, break down, hit the bed. But I just pick up myself and come back to life," she said.

Akindele, a mother of two, also spoke about living under constant public gaze. She said people keep discussing her marriages and breakups, and that the talk sometimes makes her doubt her own decisions and fear how she will be judged.

She described the inner argument that follows: telling herself she may have slipped again, asking whether she should care about what people say, and deciding to square up to the problem and keep moving.

Putting herself and family first

The filmmaker said she has come to see that her career is not everything. She now treats her mental health as a priority and makes room for the people close to her, reasoning that work will always be there but family remains.

She also said she pays more attention to how she looks these days. In the past, she said, she could walk into the office in cornrows, a face cap and slippers, focused only on the job. Now, she said, she dresses well and takes time over her appearance.

Her words will land with many Nigerians who follow celebrity news closely. Public figures here often face harsh commentary online about their homes and relationships, and the pressure is rarely discussed openly.

Akindele has not said what prompted the interview or whether she is working on anything new. The full conversation with Madowo is expected to give more detail on the points she raised.