The award-winning actress in this interview with Sunday Sun speaks on why the Yoruba film industry has better strength in epic storytelling, and how she avoids social media drama, amongst other issues.
You studied law, would you at any point decide to take it up and defend cases in the courtroom?
Never say never you know, but for now, I like my job because it’s like being paid for your hobby. It can be stressful but it gives me joy though Law gives me joy too. I will stick to acting for now. Maybe later in the future, at a particular age, I might return to law as an academician to teach but not appear in court.
How did your parents feel when you left Law and ventured into full-time acting?
My mum didn’t like it, my dad would have loved it but he was late. So, I had to assure my mum that this won’t in any way affect my studies and it won’t affect anything about my person. Afterwards, I went for my second degree just to prove a point to my mum that the fact that I am into acting does not mean I won’t pursue my academic career either.
At what point did you realize acting was the way for you?
I didn’t realize it was the way, I only switched careers. I joined the movie industry fully in 2008 and I told myself that I was going into acting because, then, I was in my final year and the school said we should go for one vocational course or the other, so I went for it. Before I went into acting, I met with Taiwo Ibikunle when he came to my school with Yemi Akintokun and the like. They came with a script and they did a stage performance then (Moremi), they auditioned for us and I came out as the lead character. So, it was a big deal to me and he (Taiwo Ibikunle) told me that acting could become my meal ticket, and I just smiled it off. That was before I went to join J15 and that was how it all started
So, personally, what has significantly changed about you since you began acting?
I am wiser. I learned a lot in the past, I am still learning in the course of my career. I have learned and still learning from the media, you guys have taught me a lot. I learn from friends, family, and colleagues. It’s a journey into oneself, it’s a discovery of yourself because you are actually on your own. You don’t get to attend family functions as expected, you don’t get to visit friends often and if you are not careful, you will get lost. And you have to also cut down on the job you do.
A lot! In 2010 I almost lost it, I was always trekking to locations, there was no money, I was very broke, so I was tired and depressed. But my boss, Femi Adebayo, kept saying, you will get there; when you get there it will look like a dream. My family members were all talking, and wondering why I dropped my certificate for acting and I had still not made money for it.
Will it be right to say, your acting strength is in epic movies?
Most actors within my age grade try to run away from epic movie production because of the incantations and the likes. I am a strong believer in standing up to challenges. I have done well in other movies I have done but honestly, I derive so much joy in promoting our cultural values that you can only see and appreciate more in epic movies.
As a thespian in the industry, what are some of the things you look out for in a script?
I look out for how challenging the role is and then I look out for the storyline generally. If it’s something I want to be a part of, will it challenge me? Or am I going there because they are going to pay me a lot of money? Also, I love to be a part of a good production and the spice has to be a good script.
Over the years you have grown but we do not see any social media drama from you. How do you keep it sane?
I’m a Yoruba girl, I’m from Ibadan. We have a saying that it’s what we hide that is treasured. My mom is a retired principal and she was in the academics. You do some things and my mom will use a cane to reset your brain. Honestly, I do everything to avoid anything that my children will read in future and say my mom was bad.
A lot of young actors do not see things that way, they believe that controversy will sell them. What is your stand on this?
Publicity is good for everybody; the good, bad and ugly. I think a clean slate is also good. If you have a clean board, whatever you write on it will be seen. Once you start writing a lot of jargon and you clean and write again it won’t be too clear.
What new projects are you working on?
I’m working on Crossroads.
People have said this is a great time for Yoruba movies. How does that make you feel?
It makes me feel good because sincerely, I believe we own the industry. I feel good because we have strength in storytelling. We tell the stories and we have them and we have been a bit under the radar and now we are here to stay.
