In the sizzling new drama ‘Red Circle’, Folu Storms brings Fikayo Holloway to life with a fire that leaps off the screen. Fikayo is bold, impulsive, and unafraid to chase what she wants, sometimes to her own detriment. But for Storms, stepping into Fikayo’s stilettos was more than just another role; it was a journey that echoed parts of her own life.
Speaking in a recent interview, Storms, whose real name includes a first name she prefers to keep off-screen for clarity and cultural ease, shared that her choice to go by “Folu” and adopt “Storms” as a professional identity was about maintaining boundaries. As a practising lawyer and performer, the separation allows her to navigate both worlds on her own terms.
Storms’ duality isn’t just about names. It’s woven into her career, which spans law, media, and now, a compelling turn as Fikayo Holloway in ‘Red Circle’. And it’s in that role where her personal story of choosing passion over convention finds its most resonant echo.
“Becoming Fikayo was a very interesting process,” she says with a smile. “It was pretty seamless because I’m kind of a geek at heart. So if you give me a task, I will take it very seriously.”
Folu Storms praises director Akay Mason and producer Nora Awolowo for shaping a collaborative creative space where Fikayo could emerge not just as a scripted character but as a layered human being. “There were a lot of conversations about who she is, her background, what she likes, and what she doesn’t like. “All of that helps flesh out a character,” she explains. “As an actor, you’re portraying a person who does things, not just someone in your head.”
That attention to detail, coupled with undeniable chemistry between cast members (especially with co-star Tobi Bakre), made Red Circle crackle on screen. Fans watching early screenings didn’t hold back, with one joking that “all of a sudden the cinema was hot.” Storms agrees with the enthusiasm, though she’s quick to shift focus back to the process, emphasising how deep character exploration shaped every scene.
In one pivotal moment in the film, Fikayo tells her father that she isn’t interested in the family business, a line that hit close to home for Storms. “I do resonate with people wanting to cut you in one direction,” she says. “The world does that. You hear: she’s a woman, so she must like this, must do that… But people are so much more than a box or a title.”
For Storms, the parallels are undeniable. Her decision to express herself through the arts, even while trained in law, once required her to stand her ground. “Where there’s a legacy involved or a family path, parents who mean the best can sometimes ignore the reality of who their child is in favour of serving this larger purpose of ambition.”
It’s a dilemma many young people, especially in African societies, face. But as Storms points out, “Children who want to strike their own path… you can run as far as you want, but eventually, some way, somehow, this thing may find you.” Her words, layered and intriguing, hint at plot twists yet to come when the show premieres on June 6th.
Despite the emotional overlap, Folu Storms is quick to distance herself from some of her character’s more questionable choices. “Fikayo made too many poor choices,” she laughs. “She was the most impulsive. I’m watching, like, ‘what’s wrong with you? Leave that place, Fikayo!” In contrast, Storms describes herself as more calculated and risk-averse. “I’m a lot more concerned about consequences to actions. And I don’t think Fikayo has ever really bothered about consequences.”
There is something inspiring about Fikayo’s relentless drive. “People like Fikayo are go-getters. Whatever they want, they go after it—and expect the world to mould around them. There’s something to learn from that.”
As the conversation draws to a close, Storms beams with gratitude for the support that has carried her through her journey. “To my inner circle—I love you. I’m grateful for you,” she says, visibly emotional. “The amount of being upheld, the graciousness of my friends and my family… I’m truly indebted.”
Folu Storms is no stranger to playing multiple roles: actor, advocate, media personality, and lawyer. And now, with Red Circle, she adds “icon-in-the-making” to the list. In Fikayo Holloway, she’s found a character as complex, captivating, and unapologetically ambitious as she is.
