Modupe Adeyeye: Rising UK Actress and Good Role Model

TV STAR: Modupe Adeyeye

MODUPE ADEYEYE'S parents had one hope for their eldest daughter, for her to pursue a career in medicine - preferably as a doctor.

So one can only imagine how the conversation went down in her Nigerian household when the 21-year-old announced she would instead take up, in the first instance, fashion and then acting.

She laughs at the recollection: “My dad always wanted me to become a doctor, but I knew from a very long time ago that wasn't going to happen. I just don't have the patience and I can't deal with people or bodies or that sort of stuff.

“As a child, I was always stubborn and stuck in my ways. It was one of those things my parents just had to come to terms with. For my mum it was a lot easier for her to do than it was for my dad.”

But her father was given a slight reprieve when the actress landed a role on BBCseries Doctors, where he could at least see his beloved child in a role - or at least environment - he had always imagined.

“Oh yes!” she exclaims. “Now my dad is excited all the time, he believes in me and my talent. I just think there's this really big gap between reality and imagination as far as that generation is concerned. They don't always think things like this can happen and it scares them sometimes, but in the main they are very supportive.”

However, he may have a harder time getting to grips with her most recent role onChannel 4 soap Hollyoaks.

Modupe is the latest addition to the long-running series and takes on the role of Blessing, an outspoken, unapologetic, money-hungry former barmaid (in three weeks the audience have seen her fired from three different posts), who brings the fierceness of a tiger to the popular series.

“I'm nothing like Blessing,” Modupe is quick to point out.

“She's feisty, but she's a misunderstood person. She's actually genuine and lovely, but because people struggle to be straight up these days, her bluntness isn't appreciated.”

Blessing's backstory is sketchy. She comes to Hollyoaks to start a new life, giving herself a new name and seemingly new identity, but as Modupe lets slip, “all is not what it seems.”

“I had to research [for this character],” she says, “because even though her name is Blessing, she's not actually African, she's Caribbean, Jamaican.”

Modupe is the second black character to arrive in the fictional Chester village in the last six months. In December, actor Aaron Fontaine was cast as Sonny Valentine.

Is she happy about Hollyoaks’ effort to increase diversity?

“I think it's amazing because TV is meant to represent real life. If you watch a show and you don't see anything else apart from one background, it won't be believable.”

She explains: “If an area is full of black people, you're still going to find white and Asian people somewhere.”
And how does she find being the only black woman on set?

“Do you know what I like about Hollyoaks? They are very inclusive. They actually asked me what makeup I used instead of trying to predict. I actually went shopping with them to buy products - I really appreciated that.
“I also do my own hair on the show. I was given the choice and I like that.”

“The thing is,” she continues, “people allow colour to get in the way. We all understand there's an issue in the industry, but what are you going to do about it? I feel people waste so much time complaining, they miss opportunities and fail to find solutions. People will say things like, 'you know it's difficult for our people,' but how many people say, 'I know it's hard, but you can do it!' I don't surround myself with negativity, I'm focused on solutions.”

For Modupe, an avid Christian, it's important to stand as a role model for the younger generation, especially her 17-year-old sister who “watches everything I do, both good and bad.

“It makes me want to be a better example, knowing that someone younger is watching everything I do. I'm my sister's role model, I take that seriously.”

It's that defiant attitude that has seen Modupe's steady rise in TV and film. Later this year, audiences will see the actress star in UK feature film Honeytrap alongside her former E20 co-star Tosin Cole, Lucien Laviscount and singer Javine Hylton.

Leading one to ask whether Hollywood is the next step for this rising star?

“You know that American thing?” she starts.

“Everybody is running to America, but what's happening here? There's nothing wrong with going to America, but I feel we should make a Hollywood here first. I feel there's a platform being built here that is being taken away because everyone is running to America.

“If I get to go to America, that would be a great thing, but I would definitely want to make my mark here first.”

The UK actress on joining the Channel 4 soap, rising about prejudice and the importance of being a good role model