By Patricia Uyeh,

Bolatito Sowunmi, who played the role of Miss Pepeye in the popular comedy series “Papa Ajasco” for over 8 years, has revealed why she left.

In a chat with City People, the actress talked about her experience, why she left the role and more.

Speaking on her experience so far as Miss Pepeye, she said:

“It was awesome and I appreciate every journey by playing the role of Miss Pepeye because it actually brought me to limelight. I didn’t know I have that much of a talent until I started playing Miss Pepeye because I had played some roles in my secondary school drama club and all but as at then.

“I was studying law so I didn’t see myself as a real actor. Though I know I had something inside of me but when I started playing Miss Pepeye, I discovered that oh, I am a package and I have so much to give the world so Miss Pepeye role actually opened my eyes to see a lot of things I have inside of me. It was really a wonderful time there.”

On why she left the role as Miss Pepeye in the sitcom, she said:

“There is no time ending, no stipulated time you can play the role so it is not as if I was in a contract that has a duration. As long as I am available to play the role, I play it on other interviews that I have granted I said that was the reason I had to leave, I think I played the role for over 8 years.

“It is more about me, I didn’t have any problem with the people, I just woke up one day and I was like I think you are in your comfort zone Bola, you need to move forward as long you are here and you know that you already have a fixed role.

“I was not moving forward, I was not challenging myself, the role does not even challenge me any more. I can play Pepeye even in my sleep, so I needed something that will really really challenge me and I needed to go into the Nollywood industry.

“It was not as if I had a contract stopping me from going into the industry fully while I am playing Pepeye but it is more about me.

“I noticed playing the role kind of did not push me forward to do other things so I told myself okay the only way you can move is to leave the good in your hand so as to get the best.

“So I decided to drop it besides let me give another person the opportunity to pay the role. I have been playing it for a long time now and if you remove 8 years from my age. I think I have put in a lot in it.

“There is somebody out there too that needs the chance so I should not go and be the godmother of Miss Pepeye for ever now (laughs) so that is basically what actually happened.

“When I decided, I called my boss and explained to him, apart from that I was travelling a lot at that time so I was like it will be very incompetent when the call me for location and I am not available and I didn’t want to be like that.

“I explained to him and he was happy about it and okay with it, I don’t know about happy but I know he was okay with it and there was a consensus and I left.”

Photo credit : lindaIkejiBlog