I want to play a big role in Hollywood movie —Ricky Adelayitar

Ricky Adelayitar is a celebrated Ghanaian actor with over 35 years of experience in film, television, and theatre. In this interview with SEGUN ADEBAYO, he discusses his role as Atta Oko in the upcoming movie ‘The Fisherman’ and other notable works that earned him recognition across Africa.

What was your initial reaction when you read the script and discovered a story centred around a fisherman and a talking fish?

When I initially read the script, I laughed. All my life as an actor for over 4 decades, I have always told myself, I have to leave a legacy and this was my opportunity to do so. A film about a fisherman and a talking fish was weird and so funny and very relatable.

Atta Oko is a retired fisherman with a simple dream. What drew you to this character, and how did you connect with his journey?

The connection I had with the character was the age factor and the fact that he still had dreams he wanted to pursue and did. Age is just a number. Here I am still pursuing my dream of still being an actor at my age.

The film blends realism with fantasy—how did you ground your performance to make Atta Oko feel authentic despite the unusual elements?                                                                                                                      

I love fantasy and I’m a realist at the same time. Our culture is ever present and we are not new to fantasies. We have always had stories like Kweku Ananse the spider who’s always up to his tricks in the animal kingdom in our folklores so it wasn’t difficult to do, and besides, we had the real fish on set and someone moving the mouth and saying the lines, which helped immensely.

The story touches on ambition, tradition, and change. Which of these themes resonated most with you personally, and why?

I am ambitious and I’m still going after my dreams, just like the fisherman. I still have the dream of playing a lead role in a big Hollywood movie. What about you?

Your character forms an unexpected partnership with a talking fish. How did you approach building that dynamic in your performance?

My experience in acting for so long helped. Making believe that you’re talking to an invisible character is something we sometimes do as actors when we go for auditions and based off the script, the lines of the fish made it easy. They were funny, insulting but filled with wisdom and as they were read out loud during the scenes, I was able to connect and perform to my best capability.

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What was the most memorable or unexpected moment for you while filming in Ghana?

There were quite a few memorable moments and it’s difficult to pick just one but I think I will go for the scene at the beach at night with the old boat chief (Fred Amugi) when we were playing like kids. In fact it was really fun and nostalgic.

What aspects of playing Atta Oko challenged you the most, and how did you overcome them?                                                

The time I got on the boat, went on the water and I fell into the ocean. I don’t like water. Not out of fear but anytime I go near the beach, the water suddenly becomes rough because of my presence. But I’m glad we were able to get through the scene successfully. The real fishermen on the coast performed a special prayer before I got on the boat and went out to the ocean. That was how I got through that day.

Why do you believe Nigerian audiences will connect with Atta Oko’s story when The Fisherman hits cinemas?

We did a litmus test at AFFRIF in 2025 and we were blown away by the Nigerian audience that turned up to see the film. We had an overflow of audiences there and 2 additional cinema halls had to be opened to take in the extras and they absolutely loved the film. This film talks about culture, tradition, family, ambition and dreams and Nigerians will relate to that. It’s a comedy which we know they love to have a good laugh and they will but it has deeper themes that they will relate to in their personal lives.

The film balances comedy with emotional depth, how did you navigate that balance in your performance?

Though I’m an actor, I am a son, brother, husband, father and friend. Life has its ups and downs. Sometimes there are happy moments and sometimes there are sad moments. Depending on the role you are given, you sometimes have to tap into real-life experiences to bring out the character you are given.

What do you hope audiences take away from Atta Oko’s journey by the end of the film?

The audience will go home feeling good. They will laugh, cry and clap during the screening of the film. It will start conversations and inspire them. I am also hoping they will see the film more than once because I know they will thoroughly enjoy it.