Lanre Hassan Reveals She Was Beaten by Her Husband for Refusing to Quit Acting
Veteran Nollywood actress Lanre Hassan, popularly known as Iya Awero, has opened up about the painful experiences she faced in her marriage due to her passion for acting. In a revealing interview, the 74-year-old actress shared how her late husband became violent toward her after she refused to give up her acting career.
According to the seasoned Yoruba movie star, her husband had supported her passion for acting during their courtship. He would attend her rehearsals and show excitement for her work in the theatre. However, everything changed after they got married. She revealed that the same man who once cheered her on later became controlling and abusive.
“He was happy while we were dating. He even came to see me rehearse. But after marriage, he didn’t want me to act anymore,” she recalled. “Sometimes, when I came back from acting, he would beat me. He’d say, ‘Didn’t I tell you not to act again?’”
Lanre Hassan said the pressure to leave her career behind became a constant battle in their marriage. Despite his disapproval and physical abuse, she refused to abandon her calling in the film industry, choosing instead to stay committed to her craft.
Sadly, their marriage didn’t last long. She explained that her husband passed away at a young age, bringing an early end to their troubled union. Despite the difficult marriage and her young age at the time of his death, Lanre Hassan never remarried.
She explained that her decision not to enter into another relationship was based on her fear of the unknown and the trauma she had already faced. “After he died, I didn’t remarry. I didn’t want to face the unknown with someone else,” she said.
Her story sheds light on the often unseen challenges faced by women in the entertainment industry—especially those who dare to pursue their passion in the face of societal expectations and domestic pressure.
Today, Lanre Hassan is celebrated as one of Nigeria’s most respected veteran actresses. Her courage to stay true to her career despite early hardship stands as an inspiration to many young women in the industry.
