At just 13 years old, Simisola Gbadamosi has made history as the youngest Nigerian nominated for an Emmy, thanks to her breakout voice role as Tola in Disney’s futuristic animated series Iwájú. In this exclusive interview with Deeds Magazine, Simisola reflects on her Emmy journey with warmth, humor, and honesty. Captured in a striking photo session by Debra Orols, this feature celebrates the grace, ambition, and bright future of one of Nigeria’s rising stars. SIMISOLA GBADAMOSI: Hello, my name is Simisola Gbadamosi and I am here with Deeds Mag.
DEEDS MAGAZINE: How did it feel to attend the Emmy Awards and represent Iwájú on a global stage? What was your most memorable moment from the Emmys—was there a special interaction/person you got to meet during the event?
SIMISOLA GBADAMOSI: It felt amazing to attend the Emmy’s on behalf of Nigeria and Africa. At first, I didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of it, but when it hit me, I wasn’t sure what to say—I was just really happy to be part of the project. The most memorable moment was meeting Leah Sava Jeffries from Percy Jackson and The Olympians. I would have said hi to the others, but I got nervous [laughs]. At one point, it was just Leah, but later, when I went to get ice cream, the rest of them were standing behind me, and I thought, Yeah, no, I can’t do this right now.
DM: Was there any experience that stood out to you?
SG: Just the entire ceremony really, it was very cool to be there.
DM: How did it feel to walk the red carpet?
SG: It was nice, short, sharp and fun. Interestingly, my dress matched the carpet, which was not intentional, that was fun.
DM: You said you were nervous going into the show, looking back if you could tell yourself anything before the show what would it be?
SG: Even if you don’t win, you’re gonna live, okay? And you’re still going to Disneyland, so there’s that!
DM: What went into choosing your look for the event?
SG: Yeside Laguda in Lagos, Nigeria made my Iwájú premiere dress, so we were like we might as well just go back because I loved it. So, my dress was designed by Yeside Laguda, it had an aso-oke bodice with beading, we all agreed on going for an African Disney princess look. It was a gift which I am very grateful for! And my bag was also a gift, custom made by Aaboux also located in Lagos, Nigeria, very nice of them.
DM: Were you intentional about picking your look?
SG: Yes! I was [intentional] because I can be quite particular about how I look, and I wanted it all to be Naija (Nigeria) to the world!
DM: Are there any other experiences you look forward to having in your career?
SG: I hope to do more acting and voice acting, now that I have experienced it, I want to do more. I want to jump into the pool after dipping my toes in. Hehe.
DM: Do you want to explore more voice acting, live-action roles, or even other creative fields?
SG: Definitely! I want to do more voice acting, and live action, and I also really love design, so yeah.
DM: Balancing school and acting must be a big task. How do you plan to navigate your career now that you’ve achieved such a huge milestone at a young age?
SG: You have to manage your time, number one. You have to focus on your focus, you have to focus on school. For example, next week there are exams so all Emmy’s whatever is going to be in a storeroom for a bit, and I need to grind, grind, grind. I don’t like seeing anomalies on my report card, thank you.
DM: Love it! Now that you're back in Nigeria, how has your family, friends, and community reacted to your Emmy experience?
SG: Before we left America, my friends sent me some nice messages and some really funny ones as well. My family has always told me that they are proud of me and I am glad that I get to make them proud again.
DM: If you could give advice to other young Nigerian actors or creatives dreaming of global success, what would you tell them based on your Emmy journey?
SG: Never give up. At the Emmy’s I met someone who had finally won after not winning for 30. Years. So don’t give up people, don’t give up. Thank you, Deeds Magazine, for being a part of my journey, and for this interview. Bye!
