Nollywood actor Jide Awobona has raised concerns about the health risks actors may face during kissing scenes in movies, saying he sometimes worries about contracting an illness from close physical contact with co-stars.
Awobona spoke about his experience during an interview with Yanga FM, where he revealed that he had once been required to kiss an actress who, according to him, had bad breath.
The actor said the experience made him more cautious about kissing scenes and raised questions about the health checks carried out on actors before they engage in intimate scenes.
Asked whether he kisses in movies, Awobona said he had done so but would avoid it if his co-star had an unpleasant mouth odour.
“Yes, I have done it. But if you get that kind funny odour, I go japa oo. I no fit kiss you,” he said in Pidgin English.
The interviewer then asked whether he had ever acted with someone who had mouth odour.
Awobona confirmed that he had experienced such a situation and said he had to find a place to wash his mouth after the scene.
“Yes, I don act with somebody wey get mouth odour. And I go one place go wash my mouth. And the person con see me,” he said.
He added that the experience left him worried about his health.
“I just dey pray make person no go contact something because I don tire,” the actor said.
Awobona’s comments have drawn attention to the challenges actors face when performing scenes that involve close physical contact.
Kissing scenes have become common in some Nollywood productions, particularly in romantic dramas and films that explore relationships between characters.
For actors, such scenes are part of the demands of the job and are generally performed as part of a script. However, the scenes can also raise questions about personal boundaries, consent, hygiene and health.
While Awobona did not identify the actress involved or claim that he contracted any illness from the experience, his comments reflect concerns that can arise when actors are required to engage in intimate scenes.
Bad breath, medically known as halitosis, can have several possible causes, including poor oral hygiene, gum problems, tooth decay, dry mouth and some other health conditions.
It is also possible for unpleasant breath to occur temporarily after eating certain foods or drinks.
However, bad breath itself does not necessarily mean that a person has an infectious disease.
The issue of disease transmission during kissing is broader and depends on the specific infection involved.
Some infections can spread through saliva or close contact, while others are not easily transmitted through ordinary kissing.
The risk can also vary depending on the health status of the individuals involved and whether either person has an active infection or sores around the mouth.
Awobona’s concern therefore highlights a wider issue in the entertainment industry: how much attention should be given to health and safety when actors are required to perform scenes involving close physical contact.
In many film productions, actors are expected to follow the script and work closely with directors and other members of the production team.
However, intimate scenes can require additional planning to ensure that actors are comfortable with what they are being asked to do.
In some film industries outside Nigeria, productions have increasingly adopted intimacy coordinators to help manage scenes involving kissing, sexual content and other forms of close physical contact.
Intimacy coordinators help actors and production teams agree on boundaries, understand what a scene requires and ensure that performers are comfortable with the planned actions.
The practice is not yet a standard feature of most Nollywood productions.
As the Nigerian film industry continues to grow, issues involving actors’ welfare, working conditions and safety have become part of wider conversations about professional standards in the sector.
Nollywood is one of the world’s largest film industries by volume and has grown significantly over the years, producing films and television content for audiences in Nigeria and around the world.
The industry has also changed considerably in its approach to production, with streaming platforms helping Nigerian films reach larger international audiences.
With the expansion of the industry, there have been increasing calls for better working conditions and stronger protections for actors and other film workers.
Awobona’s comments add another issue to that discussion, particularly regarding scenes that require physical contact.
Actors may sometimes be expected to perform scenes repeatedly to achieve the desired camera angles or direction.
This can mean that a kissing scene, for example, may be performed several times before the director is satisfied with the final footage.
Such situations can make personal hygiene and clear communication between cast members important.
However, Awobona’s account does not establish that he was exposed to any specific disease during the kissing scene.
His statement that he was praying not to “contract something” reflects his personal fear following the experience rather than confirmation of an infection.
The actor did not disclose that he had undergone medical testing or been diagnosed with any illness after the incident.
His remarks have nevertheless sparked a conversation about the need for actors to feel able to raise concerns when they are uncomfortable with certain scenes.
The issue also touches on the importance of consent in filmmaking.
Actors are professionals, but agreeing to play a role does not necessarily mean that they should be denied the opportunity to discuss how intimate scenes will be performed.
Clear communication between actors, directors and producers can help reduce misunderstandings and ensure that everyone involved understands the requirements of a scene.
For audiences, kissing scenes are often simply part of a movie’s storyline.
For the actors involved, however, they can involve physical, emotional and professional considerations that are not always visible on screen.
Awobona’s experience has therefore provided an opportunity to look beyond what audiences see in finished movies and consider some of the practical challenges actors face while bringing fictional stories to life.
The actor’s comments may also encourage film producers to pay greater attention to hygiene, health and the comfort of performers during intimate scenes.
For now, Awobona has not identified the actress involved in the incident and did not say that she had any disease.
His main concern, as expressed during the interview, was the possibility of health risks associated with close physical contact during movie production.