“My husband would beat me for refusing to abandon acting,” Lanre Hassan (Iya Awero) has revealed.
In an emotional interview, the 74-year-old Yoruba actress shared how her marriage turned violent due to her career.
She said her husband once beat her when she returned from a movie set against his wishes.
According to her, the abuse never happened during courtship. In fact, he used to attend her rehearsals and applauded her talent. But everything changed after marriage.
He suddenly demanded she quit acting, even though it was her passion. When she refused, the beatings started.
Lanre Hassan said the marriage ended not because of the violence, but because her husband died young.
Still, the experience left a lasting impact. She never remarried, fearing the unknown and possible repeat of trauma.
Despite the hardships, Iya Awero became a celebrated name in Nigerian cinema. Her story sheds light on the battles many women face behind the spotlight.
It’s a tale of talent, pain, and strength of a woman who refused to let abuse silence her dream.
