Tireni Oyenusi is a gifted actor who is laying the groundwork to live up to his name, and what a name. Tireni is short for Tirenioluwa, which means “he is yours, God”; his surname, Oyenusi means “the crown of full worth”. The origin of his name is Yoruba, an ethnic group from the country of Nigeria, Africa.  

His heartbreaking portrayal of Donte, a young male forced to confess to a crime he did not commit in the short film A True Crime (dir. Marques Green), Tireni proves his skill in moving into the heart or the “full worth” of a character. He is intuitive. He is smart. He is focused. Want to know more about Tireni Oyenusi? Read The Interview.

What prompted you to decide on acting as a profession?

I started acting because I love the feeling of taking the audience on an emotional roller coaster. I already enjoyed playing pretend at home like any kid does. So to do that as a profession, where people can enjoy and be inspired by my work, I couldn’t resist.

When did you start?

At 5 years old. I was cast in church plays. It was just honestly complete fun for me.

What do you like about the process of acting? 

I love how I can completely, like, put aside my persona and take on the identity of a totally different person in each character I play. There is something freeing about that. It can almost be therapeutic at times.

I want to entertain people, make them laugh, make them think, make them just become more sound minded people in general.

~ Tireni

It can get personal, close to you, yes?

Yes. I put a little bit of myself into each character, and, each time I prepare for a role, I discover more and more of myself. It is like a whole big serious game of make believe. I get to act out a person’s fears, ambitions, hopes, dreams, downfalls, and insecurities.

You’re in a business wherein every actor has to navigate rejection. What keeps you motivated when that happens?

I have experienced a lot of rejection. I’m not gonna lie. There are times I wonder if I should really be pursuing acting especially when I see many other kids being cast left and right. Then, I draw on a very personal reason why I decided to act in the first place. It wasn’t for jobs or fame. It was to glorify God, to have fun, and to put on a great show.

How do you approach an audition?

I think of auditions as mini shows I get to put on for like 2 or 3 people. If they’re the only 2 or 3 people who see my performance, well, I just pray and hope they got something good out of it.

In Tireni’s quest to tell stories through acting, I want him to be successful in keeping and growing in his faith. I encourage him to remain authentic and not compromise his beliefs as he works to make a positive impact through entertainment.

~ Adetola Oyenusi, mother

as Donte in A True Crime

In what ways do you navigate working in a highly competitive business?

I just try to focus on myself and my craft. I constantly remind myself why I got into this business in the first place. Everybody is on a different path, and I think it is my job to do the best I can on mine. Of course, I always try to learn from my colleagues and teachers cuz they are crazy talented!

How do you self-care?

Hmmmm. Well … I definitely pray a lot. Prayer is essential, and honestly? It calms me down. I try to read at least a chapter of the Bible every day. I haven’t been faithful all the time so I definitely need to get better at it. I love a good movie, and watching one is always a nice break. I like to eat too.

What are your ultimate goals?

My ultimate goals are to book a lot more roles because acting is the way I have chosen to make a positive impact on the audience. I want to entertain people, make them laugh, make them think, make them just become more sound minded people in general. In all, though, I want to glorify God through the talent I have been given and allow his grace to move through me and inspire people.

Tirenioluwa Oyenusi

He Is yours, God

The Crown of Full Worth

Nigeria Yoruba …

Tireni

Watch for in-depth Film • Television • & More reviews & commentary.