She almost said no. Now she’s the lead of one of Nollywood’s boldest crime thrillers yet.
There’s a certain kind of quiet power Folu Storms brings into a room. It’s not loud, or tries too hard. But it’s there — in the way she speaks, the precision of her words, and the conviction she carries into her work. When she says yes to a role, she means it.
Her latest “yes” is “Red Circle”, the highly anticipated Nigerian crime thriller premiering on 6 June 2025. In it, Folu plays Fikayo Holloway, an investigative journalist who digs deep into Lagos’ underworld and uncovers a dangerous web of secrets linked to a powerful crime syndicate. As Fikayo inches closer to the truth, the stakes skyrocket, putting her life and that of her loved ones on the line.
“It’s a quintessential Nigerian summer flick,” Folu says with a smile that’s both excited and proud. “You sit down to watch it and just go, ‘Uh-uh, what is going on?!’ in the best way.”
Getting to “Yes”
The journey to “Red Circle” began with an unexpected meeting. Folu and executive producer Nora Awolowo crossed paths on the set of “Baby Farm.”
“She was one of the crew members,” she recalls. “She just came up to me and said, ‘Do you have representation? Can I get your details?’ I love people like that. Direct. No long talk.”
The script followed. And Folu read it — but it wasn’t convincing.
“It was an early draft, and I couldn’t fully connect to the character. As an actor, I need to get my character. I need to understand what drives her — why she makes certain choices.”
That absence of clarity almost meant walking away. However, a conversation changed her mind.
“One of the people in the writers’ room, told me Nora had a hand in the writing, and they were open to feedback. That kind of openness? That was everything. It made me feel like I could trust the team.”
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Becoming Fikayo Holloway
Fikayo is far from your average screen heroine. Stylish, privileged, and unafraid to wield her ambition, she’s the kind of character audiences might love to hate — at first. But Folu wasn’t interested in playing a one dimensional character. She needed to understand what made Fikayo tick, what she feared, and what she masked.
“She’s not automatically likeable, but she’s real. She’s complex. And I love that. Nora told me early on, ‘People are going to love to hate her a bit.’ And I said—good. I’m in.”
Folu spent months preparing, scribbling notes across every page of the script. She built out Fikayo’s backstory, dissected every line of dialogue, and treated the role like a dissertation, like she typically does with her roles. She also brought a surprising reference to the table: “Legally Blonde.”
“Sounds wild, I know,” she laughs. “But think about it — Elle’s rich, underestimated, and has to prove herself in a space that doesn’t quite accept her. She’s clever, determined, and slightly annoying. That’s Fikayo too.”
However, not all of her research came from film. Some of it came from life.
“I thought about the women I went to school with — sharp, privileged, underestimated. That Lagos energy. You don’t like it at first, but you respect it. That was part of Fikayo’s DNA.”
Even on set, the work didn’t stop. “We — Nora, the writers, everyone — were constantly refining her. There were voice notes, late-night conversations, and little tweaks. I loved that we all believed in what we were making.”
The scene that broke her
There’s one scene that Folu can’t get over. It came at the tail end of a 24-hour shoot. She was drained. The night was slipping away. The stakes were high, and the emotional weight even higher.
“I don’t think people realise how physical that kind of performance is,” she says, her tone softening. “It demanded grief, raw grief and real tears. Those things live in your body, and they drain you. ”
After doing a couple of takes, the director, Akay Mason, gently pushed for one more. “He came over and described what he saw in his mind. He helped me see it, too. I was right at the edge, but I gave it everything.”
Later, watching the rough cut of “Red Circle”, she found herself in tears. “I performed that scene and still sobbed watching it. Because it reminded me — grief doesn’t have a look. You never know what someone’s carrying,” she said.
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Trusting the team in front and behind the camera
Directed by Akay Mason and produced by Nora Awolowo and Abdul Tijani-Ahmed under Rixel Studios, the movie also stars Omowunmi Dada, Bukky Wright, Tobi Bakre, Timini Egbuson, Lateef Adedimeji, and Femi Branch. But it wasn’t just the ensemble cast that made the experience memorable for Folu — it was the care behind the scenes.
“This was a community film. Everyone showed up. From the costume team to set design, it was clear everyone was all in. And when people show up like that? You want to match their energy,” she stated.
Part of showing up meant being physically prepared. Folu trained with a fitness coach before shooting began.
“My trainer trained me like a police officer,” she laughs. “ Circumstances threw Fikayo into situations she’s not ready for. But she has to adapt. She survives.”
Even with the action, Folu never lost sight of what mattered most: safety. “I don’t believe in reckless sets because you can’t pour yourself into a character if you don’t feel safe.” She pauses, then adds, “There’s nothing glamorous about danger without preparation.”
She’s quick to credit the Rixel Studios team. She says, “They are incredible from wardrobe to set design, to how they look out for you on set. They respected our lives. That’s not always the case in this industry.”
A thriller with teeth (and heart)
When I ask Folu what makes “Red Circle” different, she doesn’t hesitate, “It’s a proper thriller. Suspense, plot twists, action — it’s a full meal. But it’s also grounded in emotion. It’s not just about what happens. It’s about what it costs.”
But don’t expect something safe or predictable. “It’s mature. It’s gritty. And it’s not for the little ones,” she laughs. “But for everyone else? It’s a ride. Twist after twist — you think you know what’s coming, but you don’t. I think we’ve made one that Nollywood hasn’t quite seen before. Bring your friends. Bring snacks. And don’t blink.”
Looking back on making “Red Circle”, Folu is grateful. “I’m proud of what we made. I’m proud I said yes. This film reminded me why I love what I do. And when audiences sit in that cinema, I hope they feel that,” she says.
What’s next for Folu Storms?
She’s got a packed calendar — more films, and more production. Her work behind the scenes at Nigeria Info FM continues, alongside consulting and advocacy. There’s a new openness in how she handles it all.
“I used to keep everything quiet — just focus on doing the work. Now, I’m learning it’s okay to speak about it. Not to brag. Just to own it.”
When I ask if there’s a dream role she hasn’t played yet, she smiles. “I want to do more physical work. More stunts. More grit. Women don’t get enough of those roles in Nigerian cinema, but I want to. And I will.”
