'Five years in Hollywood have paid me more than 30 years in Nollywood' – Omotola Jalade

Nigerian actress Omotola Jalade has revealed that her five-year experience working in Hollywood has earned her more financial returns than her three decades in Nollywood, highlighting the difference in the two industries’ royalty and residual payment systems.

Speaking on the Afropolitan podcast about her journey in the film industry, Omotola said she recently returned from Los Angeles to find a pile of residual payment envelopes waiting for her, despite spending only a few years working in Hollywood.

“The fact that I’ve only worked how many jobs in LA right now and I just came out from LA yesterday and my envelopes, like, there’s a pile of residuals waiting for me,” she said.

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The actress explained that she was unable to open the envelopes because her trip was brief and she had to return quickly, but noted that the payments would still be waiting for her when she goes back.

Comparing the experience to her 30 years in Nollywood, Omotola said she has never received similar royalty payments from her work in the Nigerian film industry.

“I’ve only put in five years in LA, in Hollywood. I put in 30 years here; I’ve never received an envelope,” she stated.

She added that unlike Hollywood, where systems exist to track and pay actors residuals, Nollywood’s structure has not provided her with such benefits.

“The post doesn’t know your address. They don’t have my address; you don’t know where I’m living. My post will leave; it’s not happening,” she said.

“I’ve only worked for five years in Hollywood, yet I constantly receive envelopes containing my residuals and royalties. I’ve put in 30 years in Nollywood and I’ve never received a single envelope.” — Actress Omotola Jalade pic.twitter.com/cUMJ3uZH4y

— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) September 7, 2026