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Actress, Mercy Johnson has become a household name today but many may not know the screen diva faced rejection in the movie industry at some point in her career.

In a chat with Saturday Beats, she revealed that some movie producers did not give her slots in their production because of her dark complexion.

She said that when she started out in the Nigerian movie industry, most movie directors and producers always preferred to cast fair-skinned ladies at the expense of talented but dark-skinned ones.

“It is very true that when I was starting out in the movie industry, it was difficult to get roles because of my complexion. I faced that a lot and I tell people that my success is just grace. Somebody once told me that I am too dark but that is where the grace and favour of God comes in. Regardless of everything, most of the dark-skinned actresses that are my contemporaries made it,” she said.

The actress who has featured in scores of movies told Saturday Beats that it would be unfair of anyone to say she features in any movie without any consideration.

“It is not true that I pick just any movie role. People are different and what appeals to one person might not appeal to the other. One of my most popular movies is ‘Dumebi Goes to School’ and I know how many actresses rejected that script before I accepted to do it. That movie has been one of the highest selling movies in Nollywood till date. I think it is not fair for anyone to say I just jump on any movie production. As human beings, our strength is in our diversity and differences; this means that what you call trash might not be trash to someone else. I select my scripts and I work with all of my heart because acting is my passion. When I read a script and it appeals to me, I have fun while I do it,” the actress said.

– Punch

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156 COMMENTS

  12. Pls Mercy my earnest advise to u is dis, ur black & beautiful dnt mind if ur being denied roles dnt forget your talented, common be urslf ur yet to Xcel de more in due course, in fact u,ll be struggled for pls dnt fall prey like Micheal Jackson of course u( knw wat I mean) let me nt go further pls maintain ur chocolate colour lol.

  23. Bleaching isnt a problem
    the problem is when you start looking like a roasted plantain + Moroco flag with about 3 colours..
    Black is beautiful
    even the white qirls admire our colour

  28. So your darkness has degraded you for not being yourself, well you are one of those who are not proud of their colour. Ask your type to advice you on how they change to semi white,best of luck

  30. So somebody cannot come on social media to air their issue without pple twisting talks,judging n commenting hate. Na wa o! I thot d problem Nigeria is facing is enough already…

  37. Ehe! Now i see, thats why ladies of nowdays are desperate to change colour. I dont blame them. In such a situation one can try all possible best to fulfill all the requirements to achieve one’s heart desire. It is indeed a painful discrimination.

  43. Don’t mind dem, u are d best with ur complexion,ur own food will not pass u and don’t go and bleach bcos of DAT,I know an era is still coming DAT will need dark in complexion pple very well.Baby u are d best with ur complexion and u will be d best forever dat without u in a movie dey will not be comfortable IJN.

  44. My African queen of nollywood movie, just remain the way you are. Mercy, you look very natural and there has never been any pretence in your person. Please, I am begging you in the name of God to leave your complexion, I love it and don’t bleach it

  48. worldwide,producers and directors offer more roles to actresses in exchange for sex, i remembered an indian actress who was critisized for changing her clothes in front of the guest during award presentation,in her respond,she said most of the organizers and majority of the guests already have seen her naked and therefore,no need to hide anything,film and photo studios are sex temples

  56. Yes mercy I remember when I went for a seminar a popular actor among the host that came to tell us more about nollywood and to encourage us then told us about u ,how u were rejected by director s and producers back then but u never gave up and how they will laugh at your thick pimples and ur very dark skin but u never allowed that to weigh u down …look at u now u a re a wife and a mother and u still have your career congratulations to you mercy thank God for u mercy

  58. (It’s sad that some people don’t read the contents of posts!!! Just the caption)Anyway I love u Mercy Johnsonu are my best Female Actress, dark or light skinned , u are a talented actress that interprets any role given to u wellaand the best part of it all, u are a wonderful wife and mother

  64. So u wan go bleach my sweet heart….pls dnt try it ooo,cus I Luv ur colour like mad..dark or purple ure still Nigeria’s best female actress cus u can act as anytin and can even act as a man…ure d best mercy johnson.

  91. Hmmm most people comment like children. Did mercy tell that to any of you? We talk as if we do not have idea of how the media will make headlines to attract people. Mercy did not say she regrets being dark pls.

  101. It does not matter.what matters most is you re enjoying where you re and what you re doing.remember a lot of people wish if they can be you.Black is pure ad original.mrs Mercy forget that thing…..your grammar in dumebi.

  112. Mercy Johnson what you said are true a lot of people today are celebrating you now because they see you have arrived and made it this same people celebrating you today are the same people rejecting you when you were newly acting they were saying den that you are too dark, your nose is Plat where did the movie industry bring this village girl from that did not wash this her dark sick before coming into movie industry as at then you where not their role model but today you have become their role model not only that their celebrity mother this and that they didn’t know that that your dark color is what carries your success of Grace you talked about and it is that your dark color was what appeals to the movie industry and that is why you are where you are today every man has one great thing God deposited in his or her life to make he or she become great. Mercy your dark color is the great thing God deposited in your live that made you great today and for ever. You where never denied it was only delaying now look at you today are you looking like whose destine was denied of course NO so we thank our God Almighty for His Grace and miracles in your live Amen.

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