Actress and producer Mo Bimpe has recently expressed heartfelt gratitude toward veteran actress Bimbo Akintola, who played the role of Lisabi’s mother in Bimpe’s film Lisabi. Mo Bimpe shared her appreciation on social media, recounting how Akintola’s timely intervention saved the film after an unexpected casting crisis.
In an Instagram post, Mo Bimpe detailed how the original actress slated to portray Lisabi’s mother canceled at the last moment, leaving the production team in a tight spot. Bimpe explained, “The role was originally for someone very dear to me but at the last minute, she cancelled on me. I was devastated. This wasn’t just any role. For me, it was the most crucial part of the film and I had personally casted my fav for this role.”
The sudden cancellation left Bimpe feeling overwhelmed, as she struggled with the challenge of finding another suitable actress with such short notice. She recalled the emotional toll it took, saying, “How do I get another perfect actor in such a short time? An A-list actor who will bring our vision to life in some hours felt impossible. At that moment, I just went somewhere, broke down, and cried my eyes out!”
However, Bimpe’s husband remained determined to solve the problem. He quickly made a call to Bimbo Akintola, who was already scheduled to travel abroad the following day. Upon hearing the situation, Akintola agreed to take on the role. Bimpe shared, “She wasn’t available, she was to travel out of the country the next day! But when she heard the story and how tight we were, she said YES!”
In an impressive display of professionalism and dedication, Akintola traveled to Oyo, where the film was being shot, despite her looming international flight. She participated in a brief training session and completed her scenes in just 12 hours. “She made a trip down to Oyo, had her training, and took her scenes all under 12 hours so she could make it back to Lagos to catch her flight to the US,” Bimpe explained.
Mo Bimpe praised Akintola for her commitment and quick turnaround, acknowledging the challenges the cast and crew faced due to the tight schedule. She wrote, “I’ve seen some reviews that we didn’t dive deep into Lisabi’s mother, but you all didn’t realize how tough it was. We even had to cut out some intended scenes. It was literally one of the most hectic days on set for all of us!”
Despite these hurdles, Akintola’s performance exceeded expectations, and Bimpe was quick to highlight the actress’s skill and generosity. “Thankfully, Mama didn’t just deliver, she gave everything, a special delivery! Truly flawless! As you all can see,” Bimpe added, emphasizing how Akintola’s professionalism elevated the film.
In her post, Bimpe took the opportunity to personally thank Akintola, acknowledging the impact she had on the project. “Here’s me saying thank you my woman @bimboakintola for making this film even more special!” Bimpe expressed. She went on to note that Akintola’s support had come at a particularly low point for the production team. “You will call one and ten will answer. We are truly grateful! May God bring you helpers from where you least expect because you came through for us at our lowest!”
Bimpe also shared a heartfelt sentiment about her admiration for Akintola, who has been a role model for her since childhood. “I have been your fan since I was a child and glad to finally work with you on my own project Ma,” she concluded, showing deep respect and gratitude for the actress’s contributions.
