Fred Amugi has opened up about one of the more difficult experiences of his long acting career, revealing that his age once became a reason for some filmmakers to overlook him for roles.
The veteran Ghanaian actor said he was sometimes contacted about appearing in movies, only to discover that his chances of being cast had been undermined by people who persuaded directors to consider other actors.
“People said I was too old and my time had already passed. When someone called me for a job, some people would conspire, talk behind my back to directors, and they would choose another person,” he said.
According to Fred Amugi, the situation reflected a wider tendency within the industry to give younger performers roles that required them to portray much older characters.
He recalled a period when comedian and actor Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as LilWin, was regularly selected for elderly roles.
“At some point, Kwadwo Nkansah was playing old men in movies. He’s one of the few people that wherever you put him, he fits in. I’m not trying to say anything bad about him, but he can act like an old man with his natural features,” Fred Amugi stated.
While acknowledging LilWin’s ability to adapt to different characters, Fred Amugi argued that physical appearance should also be taken into consideration when casting actors for specific age groups.
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He mentioned David Dontoh as an example of an actor whose natural appearance made him suitable for older characters. However, Fred Amugi noted that Dontoh’s relocation to the United States meant Ghana’s film industry lost another performer who could convincingly take on such roles.
The veteran actor also raised concerns about the quality of makeup used to age younger actors for particular characters. In his view, a convincing transformation should go beyond the face and hairstyle.
“LilWin can change his voice and imitate an old man, but when you look at his hands, the skin is very smooth. Makeup should correct that so it matches the age he’s playing,” he said.
Fred Amugi believes casting should be driven by the demands of the character rather than simply choosing a younger actor and relying on performance and makeup to create the impression of age.
“We should use the required age group and stop imitating because it doesn’t always match the character well. That is why Nigerians are currently leading us,” the veteran actor further stated.
