“She Told Me To Smile”- Funke Akindele Shares Heartwarming Experience With Wumi Toriola

Nollywood filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele has recounted an interesting experience she had with colleague Wumi Toriola while filming her latest movie, The Four.

Speaking during the movie’s premiere on Thursday, October 29, 2026, Akindele shared how one of the night’s filming sessions became particularly challenging for the cast, especially Toriola, who was already exhausted and feeling unwell.

According to the actress, the crew had spent considerable time shooting a party-crashing scene when Toriola could no longer hide her exhaustion.

Recalling the moment, Akindele said, “Wumi Toriola was so tired, sick, and she was like, ‘Auntie, I am tired.’”

However, Akindele disclosed that she was also dealing with personal frustrations that evening and was not in a good mood. She revealed that she eventually opened up to Toriola in Yoruba, explaining that something was bothering her.

The filmmaker further shared that what happened the following morning left an impression on her. Despite her own exhaustion from the previous night’s work, Toriola noticed that Akindele was not cheerful and approached her to find out what was wrong. She also encouraged her to smile.

Meanwhile, Toriola used the occasion to tease fans about her character in The Four, promising that the movie would expose a different side of her acting abilities.

She urged viewers not to limit her to the familiar ‘razz girl’ roles they associate with her, insisting that she was ready to showcase other dimensions of her talent.

“A lot of you will be like, oh, that razz girl. You must say nothing. I’m about to unfold other sides of me,” she said.

The actress also appreciated FilmOne Cinema and movie lovers for their continued support.