My size should not be a barrier to roles I can paly – Yaw Dabo

Kumawood actor, Yaw Dabo, is worried he has been limited to playing ‘child’ roles in movies due to his diminutive size.

According to him, he sees no reason why his stature should hinder his chances of playing diverse roles in movies, but that notwithstanding, he says he is very picky with roles he accepts to play.

“I can play any role given to me by any director, but I am very choosy when it comes to accepting roles. There are certain roles I refuse for personal reasons. But the fact of the matter is that I can play any role any tall person can play.

“We make movies to educate and entertain, so I am very cautious about the kind of roles I play. Imagine me accepting certain roles which won’t go down well with children who are watching” he told Graphic Showbiz.

Dabo, who has been in the movie industry for nine years, said the decision to go into acting was one he took on his own.

“I took my own decision to go into the industry. I didn’t allow my size to discourage me, neither did I allow anyone to discourage me. Even my mum discouraged me when I decided to go into movies, but I was not perturbed,” he disclosed.

Sharing his thoughts on what it takes to survive in the movie industry, Dabo said: “Always tell yourself that you are unique in whatever field you find yourself in, it’s a learning process but you need to be humble. I had to take very meagre artiste fees at the beginning of my career but I didn’t give up and rather polished my talent.”

Dabo also spoke on the seeming dwindling fortunes of the movie industry, saying people were more fixated on English language movies than those from Kumawood.

“In that case, who will speak for those of us in Kumawood? The government should build a cinema for us in Kumasi like the National Theatre in Accra where producers can show their movies and reap from their toils; that will help the industry.

“The TV stations are not helping at all, they show a lot of foreign content at peak times. If the government should put in place a policy for them to show only Ghanaian movies, it will go a long way to help.

“Social distancing will not make it possible for us to shoot now because of the nature of our work. We usually act in close proximity to one another, hug, visit, … So I guess the industry will have to be on hold for now till the coronavirus pandemic is over,” he said.

Delving into relationships, Dabo revealed that he was single at the moment.

“I used to date in the past, but I am not at the moment because I am into ministry now doing kingdom business. That doesn’t allow me to do certain things.”