Out Of Africa: Constance Olatunde Talks … Dust To Dreams

Constance Olatunde, professionally known as Konstance, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and actress. 

She is known for her singles, Melo and For You, (2023), and her debut EP In The Beginning (2024).
Olatunde makes her acting debut in Dust To Dreams, a short film written and directed by acclaimed British actor Idris Elba. Within a runtime of twenty minutes, this ambitious production captures the tenderness of fleeting moments, the weight of familial bonds, and the redemptive power of music.

Olatunde plays ‘Bisola‘, a shy young woman who inherits her mother’s struggling Lagos nightclub, leading to an unexpected reunion with her estranged father. Through collaborative live performances, they bridge their past and work to save the venue’s legacy.

Produced by Nigerian filmmaker Mo Abudu for EbonyLife Films, Dust To Dreams also stars Nse Ikpe-Etim, Atlanta Bridget Johnson, Eku Edewor, and award-winning recording artist Seal. 

Olatunde speaks to us about making the most of her debut role, holding her own alongside acting veterans, drawing from personal experiences, and future aspirations.  

Please introduce yourself …
My name is Constance Olatunde and I am a Taurean. I am Nigerian. I hail from Ekiti State but I grew up in Lagos, so I’ve got a bit of both in me. I am a singer and just started my acting career.

Describe your life in one word or a sentence.
I would say my life has been intriguing.

Why are we here? 
I’m here because I play Bisola in the movie Dust to Dreams.

Tell us what this film is about in your own words.
Dust to Dreams is about family, love, and legacy. It talks about a mother, her daughter, and the secrets that tie them together through music. It’s really about finding your voice and holding on to your dreams, no matter what life throws at you. 

Introduce your character? 
Bisola can be sassy on one hand but she is also shy. She is a teenager who loves music with hopes of becoming a successful recording artist, but is too afraid to chase her own dreams. Through the story she was able to discover her voice, and also her strength. Bisola represents hope, and the validity of individual dreams.

Why’d you say yes?
I said yes to this role because I connect deeply with Bisola and her story felt real to me, especially how music becomes her way of expressing and healing herself. I wanted to bring that emotion to life.

Your process preparing for this role?
It wasn’t so easy preparing for this role. I’d say I put so much pressure on myself, seeing as it was my first time acting and I wanted to deliver really well. So, I just kept on reading the script over and over again.

What you loved about getting to know your character?
What I loved most about Bisola was how close she was to her mother. You could really feel that deep love and connection between them. Their relationship was so genuine. I also loved her outfits; they were in my comfort zone, and that made me feel confident and free while acting. I connected to her sassiness as well; she knew what she wanted and carried herself with so much attitude and grace.

Favourite line your character says?
My favorite line is “You don’t expect me to call him daddy do you?” This is something I used to say to my real-life mother and we’d laugh about it, so it felt natural to me when I saw it on the script.

Most important scene for you? 
The most important scene for me was the one where everyone was outside washing the car and playing with water. It was such a hearty moment and I loved it because I haven’t really experienced that kind of scene in real life, so getting to live it through Bisola felt special. It reminded me what a simple connection can look like.

Your character Bisola serves as the emotional bridge between generations in this story. How did you approach playing the daughter caught between her ailing mother and absent father?
Playing Bisola as the bridge between her mother and father was quite emotional, because she’s about to lose a deepest connection and then be with someone she barely knows. So, I had to approach that from a real place, the feeling of love and confusion, trying to open up to someone new while trying to let go of her safe space.

What was your experience working with music in this film? How did you prepare for those musical moments, and what was it like showcasing your mellifluous vocals in the duet with Seal?
Music has always been a big part of my life, so stepping into a character who expresses herself through it felt really natural already. For the musical moments, I connected emotionally first because I didn’t just want to sing, I wanted people to feel what Bisola was feeling. 
Singing the duet with Seal was such a beautiful experience and opportunity. His presence, his voice, everything just brought out a new level of confidence in me. It felt like two generations connecting through one song, which matched the story perfectly. It’s a moment I’ll never forget. 

Your scenes opposite Seal involve a father-daughter dynamic where he’s trying to make up for lost time. What was your approach to building that tentative relationship on screen?
That part of Bisola’s story really spoke to me because it’s something a lot of people, even I can relate to, So when I was playing Bisola, I pulled from that emotion; a mix of forgiveness, curiosity, and love . It made the scenes with Seal feel real because I understood that quiet tension between love and disappointment.

What was it like working under Idris Elba’s direction? Did he bring a particular approach or vision to the project that influenced your performance?
Working with Idris Elba was honestly such a beautiful experience. He’s very intentional with his direction. He doesn’t just tell you what to do, he helps you actually feel the moment. He creates a safe space where you can explore your emotions and really live inside the scene.For me, his vision made everything feel grounded and human. He pushed me to trust my instincts more and not overthink especially in the emotional scenes.

The film features several Nollywood stars in cameo roles, including veteran actress Nse Ikpe Etim, who plays your mother. What was the atmosphere like on set with this ensemble, and what did you learn from working alongside her?
Nse made me feel so safe and comfortable, like I could just breathe and be present in every scene. Acting alongside her felt so easy and blissful, nothing ever felt forced. We’d run our lines together off camera, share laughs, and just connect naturally. That made it so easy to build that real mother–daughter bond you see on screen. She has this calm, powerful energy that teaches you without her even trying. I really learned a lot from her. Being surrounded by so many Nollywood stars, instead of feeling intimidated, I felt really welcomed. The energy on set was so warm. Everyone was kind, playful, and professional. It was honestly the perfect environment to have my first film experience.

The film deals with illness, family estrangement, legacy, and the fear of loss. Which of these themes resonated most with you personally?
Definitely the fear of loss. I think everyone has that one person they can’t imagine losing, and for me, that feeling really hit home while playing Bisola. Her love for her mother was so deep, and watching her face the idea of losing her was emotional for me as I could relate to that fear.

As an actor, how did you approach conveying Bisola’s story within a 20-minute runtime, and what did you find most effective about telling such a powerful story in a short film format?
I think the runtime worked really well because every scene carried so much weight. It didn’t feel rushed, it felt intentional. Part of me wished we had more time to dive deeper into Bisola’s world and her bond with her mum. There was just so much emotion there. Still, I love that it leaves you wanting more that’s when you know the story hit right. I just focused on being really present in every moment. With a short film, you don’t have time to build slowly, so every line and every look has to carry emotion and meaning. For me, it was about making sure people felt Bisola and how she carries the story even in the quiet sequences.

Given your vocal abilities highlighted in the film, would you be interested in pursuing more music-driven roles?
Definitely. Music has always been a big part of who I am, so I’d love to do more roles that allow me to blend both acting and music. There’s something powerful about telling a story through a song and it just hits differently. Of course, I’m definitely open to more music-driven roles, anything that lets me express both sides of my creativity. 

What kind of roles or stories are you hoping to explore next, and how do you think working with Mo Abudu as producer and Idris Elba as director might influence your career going forward?
Working with Ms. Mo Abudu and Idris Elba honestly feels like such a blessing. They’re both powerhouses in the industry, and being part of a project they believed in gave me a lot of confidence. I hope this film opens more doors for me, not just in acting but also in storytelling and music. I want people to see my passion and range through Dust to Dreams. I’m drawn to roles that feel real, with exciting characters who have depth, attitude, or even a bit of chaos. I love stories that make you feel something, whether they’re emotional, funny, or dramatic, and I just want to keep growing, trying new things, and having fun while doing it.

As a short film, Dust to Dreams has ambitious goals. What was the most rewarding part of playing Bisola, and what do you hope audiences take away from her story?
The most rewarding part of playing Bisola was how emotional and real her journey felt. I loved showing her growth from being scared and unsure to finding her strength and voice. It was such a beautiful transformation. I hope audiences get that no matter what you’ve been through  loss, pain, or confusion you can still find yourself again. There’s always light at the end, you just have to keep believing in your own voice.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU…

If not this, then what? Honestly If I weren’t doing this, I’d probably be dancing or making lots of fashion content.

What film or TV series are you watching?
I have been getting into Black Clover, it’s an Anime.

What book(s) are you reading?
I am still studying and a lot of my focus recently has been on my school work. But I have been exploring Wattpad and my current read is More Coffee by Marah Lynn, which I am really enjoying at the moment.

The last film you watched?
 The last film I watched was The Net.

The last live music event? The last live music event would be the listening party for Mavo’s Kilometer II EP.

What’s currently on your playlist? The songs currently on my playlist are “Hold Me Tight” by Manana, “Talk To Me” by Montell Fish, lots of Rema of course, Gabzy and Amaarae. Just the vibe I’ve been feeling recently.

What’s on your bucket list?
Some things on my bucket list are-going to Japan with my sister, making music with my favorite artists, and having a stronger connection with God.

Where’s your happy place? My happy place is just being alone, listening to sweet music, getting lost in my thoughts, eating lots of food, and discovering even more music I love.

Celebrate someone else. I am specially celebrating my family, my good friends and fans; I love them so much.

Celebrate yourself. I’m proud of how far I’ve come in my creative journey, acting and music and how I keep pushing myself to grow and create.

What’s next for your career? I’m focused on developing my craft even further, exploring new opportunities in acting and music, and creating work I’m proud of.

Where can we find you? (socials) You can find me on all socials @Konstance001.

Where can we watch you at workYou can watch me via my socials.

Dust To Dreams screened at the recently-concluded BFI London Film Festival.