Teniola Aladese: How I Dumped Law for Mass Communication Before Acting

Popular Nigerian actress Teniola Aladese has revealed that she initially aspired to become a lawyer before eventually venturing into acting.

Speaking in a recent episode of the WithChude podcast, Teniola shared how a book by Christopher Darden, one of the prosecutors in the infamous OJ Simpson trial, changed her perspective on pursuing a legal career.

The Turning Point
According to Teniola, she had a strong desire to become a lawyer while growing up. However, everything changed after reading Darden’s book, which chronicled the high-profile OJ Simpson case.

“I wanted to be a lawyer at first, and then I read this book by Christopher Darden, who was one of the prosecutors on the OJ Simpson case. He detailed the entire case, and after finishing the book, I realized that I was not cut out for law,” she explained.

She admitted that she found it difficult to accept the emotional toll of losing a case, stating:

“I don’t know what I would do if I lost a case for a client. I saw the perspectives of both lawyers and how they felt about losing the case, and I just knew it wasn’t for me.”

Choosing Mass Communication as a Backup Plan
After abandoning law, Teniola sought alternative career options. She had a passion for acting but wasn’t entirely sure about pursuing it professionally.

“I used to love watching films, especially those featuring Genevieve Nnaji and Regina Askia. But I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to school to study acting, just in case it didn’t work out for me.”

To keep her options open, she decided to study Mass Communication, with the intention of becoming a news anchor if acting didn’t work out.

“My parents were supportive and told me I could study Theater Arts if I wanted. But I thought, just in case, let me study Mass Communication while trying acting on the side.”

A Flourishing Acting Career
Despite her initial hesitation, Teniola has gone on to establish herself as a successful actress in Nollywood. She is now recognized for her remarkable performances in movies and TV series, proving that following her passion was the right decision.