Sunshine Rosman reveals she studied Lagos sex workers to portray Amanda Sparkles in To Kill a Monkey, citing upbringing and passion for screen acting.
Sunshine Rosman has revealed that she studied the behaviour of high-end Lagos sex workers to prepare for her breakout performance as Amanda Sparkles in the critically acclaimed series To Kill a Monkey.
The Canadian-Nigerian actress, who grew up in Surulere, Magodo and Ijesha, Lagos, described her upbringing as instrumental to her creative foundation.
“My parents always encouraged me,” she said. “My sisters and I would put together plays and record songs for our dad, even after long days at work. He always clapped for us.”
Rosman said her love for screen performance was also sparked by watching Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe. “It wasn’t just about beauty,” she noted. “Marilyn lit up rooms with her expressions. I wanted that same presence.”
Her opportunity to join To Kill a Monkey came unexpectedly. Originally turned down after auditions, she was later recalled just as she was preparing for semester exams.
“It was tough,” she admitted. “Do I defer and take the role or stay in school? I had already prophesied that I’d work with Kemi Adetiba someday. By God’s grace, everything aligned.”
Speaking on Amanda Sparkles, her controversial yet compelling character, Rosman shared that she spent time observing the mannerisms of Lagos runs girls in clubs.
“Sparkles is a blend of my own experience and the women I studied. Observing them brought the character to life. But above all, I leaned on God’s grace.”
Rosman described the plot of To Kill a Monkey as a layered story with moral undertones. “Nobody’s perfect in that show. Everyone’s flawed. From Amanda’s view, it was about not staying down when life hits — flip the script instead.”
Addressing speculation about her ability to speak French, Rosman clarified that she only took beginner’s lessons at Alliance Française. “I stretched the truth,” she laughed. “I can pick up a few words when spoken slowly, but I’m open to learning if a role demands it.”
She also opened up about how her biracial appearance can create casting dilemmas. “I’m not fully Nigerian-looking, but I don’t look completely foreign either. Sometimes producers have to adjust who plays my parents so it makes sense visually.”
Rosman, who praised actor Bucci Franklin as “a gifted talent and good-hearted person,” highlighted her family’s devotion to charity. Her mother runs an orphanage in Abia State — a legacy inspired by Rosman’s late father.
With her unique mix of honesty, humility and raw talent, Sunshine Rosman is undeniably one of Nollywood’s rising forces — bold enough to take risks, grounded enough to own her truth.
