Dakore Egbuson - a consummate actress, singer, TV presenter, and an amateur photographer

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Dakore Omobola Egboson, an Ijaw from Bayelsa. “My growing up was great,” says Dakore. “And I mean it, in the full sense of the word. I was very well taken care of. Sometimes people say I’m spoilt.” From Corona Primary School in Gbagada, Lagos to Federal Government College Bauchi, and to A-Z international, Ajao Estate, Lagos, she carried her musical, athletic, and acting skills. At presently she has a Diploma in Mass communication, majoring in PR and Advertising.

Light and lovely Dakore, is in her mid-twenties, and she is a consummate actress, singer, TV presenter, and an amateur photographer. She is the first child of her family and she’s got four younger ones: three boys and a girl. She lives with her mum in Lagos, while her father resides in New York, USA.

In this Saturday Sun Style expose, Dakore, (her native way of saying a child who takes after her father) talks about her person and her persona; her fans and her future; plus, her smarts and her style.

A Dakore day
Like the sticker on her Benz 190, ‘everyday is a plus’ for Dakore. The first thing she does every break of the day is “pray. I don’t talk to anyone, but I talk to my creator because I believe for everyday you wake up you have to give thanks.” After giving thanks, she takes tea with mummy, “I have green tea; my mum drinks coffee.

We chat; talk about what we are going to do that day and all that. But I won’t say I have any typical day, because, sometimes, if I am on set, I just have to go off to work. But if some days like now when I am just chilling, I could just have a lazy day, and enjoy it. I try and catch up with friends, do other stuffs, and maybe check my emails.”

What I write on autographs
“I haven’t being to the market in a long time, the last time I went, that was January, at Tejuosho Market, I got mobbed. I enjoyed it, but I was a bit scared. So my mum was like, ‘don’t worry, I go to the market; you cook.’” This tells how difficult it is for Dakore, no matter how hard she tires, to go 30minutes outside her house without one or two persons pumping into her, ‘Hi, I love the way you act, could you please write something here?’

So what does she write on autographs? “I just write whatever I feel from the fan who wants the autograph. But generally I write ‘Thank you for your love and support. Peace.’ ‘You mean a lot to me; all the best’ ‘You’re wonderful;’ ‘You’re great…’ Just whatever vibe I get from the fan, then I write something special.

I don’t think fans will like something you just write for everyone, you know. If I were to get an autograph, and I’ve gotten some autographs from some really cool people and they wrote something individual to me, and I appreciated that more than if you just wrote at random, ‘Thanks a lot,’ or something. I try and do a little extra for them. They are the ones that watch the movies; they’re the ones that make me have the career because they like what I do. I don’t take them for granted – not for one minute. I don’t but I have a fan club yet, though I’ve had offers from my fans to do a fan club for me but because I want to have my website up first; I’m constructing it right now. When it’s ready, I’ll have a special segment for fans.”

Negative and positive vibes
You don’t expect everybody to like Dakore, do you? She shares a negative experience: “I only had such experience once. It was a group of girls, they were like, ‘you ain’t s**t.’ I thought to myself, ‘They have to be really bitter to tell me that.’ But I just said, ‘its okay, you’re entitled to your own opinion.’ It helped me because that was when I knew everyone couldn’t like me and I just shrugged it off. But I get more positive feedback than negative. For every negative feedback, I get a hundred positive. I would be lying if I say I don’t get any negative. What I do is, I don’t let it get to me.”

African yet modern
“I love African stuff, you know, even if it’s not print, but it has to have that African thing. It’s my persona; it’s where I am mentally. I have emancipated myself from the mental slavery that comes with the western way of doing things. I’m an amalgamation of those two. Seeing that I’m contemporary – young, and I am African inside. My ear rings are cowries, the top has cowries: it’s contemporary but with an African edge. I’m kind of the meeting point between the two. We are all products of the colonial mentality but you can also make your own twist on it. Living in London made me realize who I was more than when I was here. Because when you are away; when you see yourself in a sea of white people, you become more aware of whom you are.

And her hair…
“I guess that also influenced my hairstyle, you know. I just got tired of perming my hair and I got all locked up. It’s four years this April that I have been wearing the dreads. It’s not the easiest hairstyles to maintain but it’s less stressful. because I don’t have to go to the Saloon all the time, sit under a drier all the time; it’s basically something I just have to wash once a week, get it twisted once in two months, at a professional saloon. It’s quite easy and it’s natural. And it’s so long. I’ve never had my hair grow this long while I was perming it. So I think something is to be said for being natural.”

My nails
“Most of them are my nails the ones that are not my nails are those I fix to make it even. I keep long nails for work, basically. Left to me, I wouldn’t keep them long because when I was in London, I had to wash, I had to do everything, but here, because I’m the oldest I have younger ones, they’re ready to do anything I want. Its only when I’m cooking that’s when I put my hand in water or wash some of my clothes For work, it makes you look well groomed. Not to say if you have the normal nails, you don’t look well groomed. It’s just that it makes you look more elegant too, yeah.”

Making up
A closer look at Dakore gives away an innate beauty. With a bias on her face alone, three out of guys can’t resist the shape of her nose, four confess her oval lips are her most inviting facial feature, and three say her eyes are what they wish their girlfriends had.

For Dakore, good looks are not all make ups. “I am not a make-up freak, but I love to play with make-ups. Ever since I was a kid, when my mum would be doing her make-up, I’ll just look and say ‘I can’t wait for the day when I can do my own.’ And, because I wear make-up a lot when I’m working, I’ve been able to perfect it. People always say, ‘your make up is really nice you do it for yourself?’ I like make ups, but I’m not crazy about it. I’m a bit edgy with it but not too much. I don’t like wearing too much make ups. I like looking very natural.

Age at first love
“Eighteen. I finished secondary school when I was fifteen, so my Dad said, ‘you want to tell me you want to go to the university now? You must be joking.’ So I was doing JAMB lesson then, and he (first love) was in the same lesson with me and that’s it. (What was your first kiss like?) It was very nice. That’s all I’m going to say. It was too long ago anyway. And it was with my first love. (Where he is now?) Happily married to a wonderful woman, they just had a kid, and I saw them and I was very happy. (And you still talk?) We talk…we talk, no hard feelings at all.”

My Wedding day, how I want it to be
“What is most important to me for my wedding day is that I would be marrying the right man, because at the end of the day, a wedding day could be fantastic, but the actual wedding could be crap. So I’m more concerned about having a blissful marriage. I actually prefer a low-key wedding. I don’t know if I’ll get my wish because my mum would definitely want everybody that is somebody to be there. Left to me, I’ll want it to be low-keyed. I just want it to be a day where all my friends and all my family and his family just merge, because there would be that close knit feel rather than a carnival. God ultimately knows what it’ll be like, but I know it would be beautiful, I don’t know how; I don’t even have a colour scheme on mind or anything like that. I’ve not thought of it to that point, but I just want everything to be beautiful, and with the right person.”

Who’s the ‘rightperson?’
“I can’t tell you his name, I can’t tell you what he does except, well I can say is his a very warm person, very supportive of my work, and I just happy we met. We met somewhere in Lagos. We just started seeing each other. He is Nigerian. That’s what I’m going to say, but he is not from Bayelsa State. In three years time, I would hopefully be at the top of my game professionally, you know, and in every aspect. Settled, happily married with children. I would like to have just three kids – boys and girls. I don’t mind two boys and a girl, or girls and a boy, as far as I get both sexes.”

How photogenic is she?
Kelechi Amadi-Obi, one of Nigeria’s prime proficient photographers, who Dakore described as ‘a professional that pays attention to details’ responds: “She is extremely photogenic. She’s one of the extremely photogenic actresses we have around. When she is in front of the camera, you just snap away. She’s almost like the top professional models we have around.”

I'm reading: Dakore Egbuson - a consummate actress, singer, TV presenter, and an amateur photographer

Carol Ekanem - From Modelling to Nollywood

Caroline Uduak Abasi Ekanem is a princess from the royal family of Ekanem in Eket, Cross River State. She went into acting not only for the fame and glamour, but to use her talent to impact on her society. Born to a British father and a Nigerian mother, Caroline is from a God-fearing and disciplined family. This undergraduate of the University of Calabar loves singing, but has acting as her first love.
She has featured in Deadly Kiss, A Second Time, Missing Angel 2 &3, Foreign Affairs, The Twist, Angel and the Beast, Real Love Part 2 and a Yoruba movie.

Hear her - " I was into modelling for three years before I went into acting. I had always wanted to act, but something told me that the time was not ripe for me to go into it. I started acting through a friend called Mrs Dominic. She was the one who took me to Chico Ejiro and he featured me in the movie entitled Deadly Kiss. Although the movie was my debut, I played a lead role and people said that I performed so brilliantly"

Please meet Carol Ekanem.

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Bisi Ibidapo-Obe - Nice, Decent and Friendly Actress

Bisi Ibidapo-Obe could easily pass for one of the most beautiful girls in the movie industry. However, when it comes to fashion she is in the class of those who know how to do it well. She’s always well-dressed and knows what suits her sultry shape. She lives in Ketu area of Lagos where she also owns a home video shop. Her choice car is Toyota Corolla.

Read along the interview she granted in 2005.

What would you say prepared you for the acting profession?

Right from my secondary school days, I've always liked acting. I have always been inspired by people like Yinka Quadry, Abey Lanre and Ogogo. These are the people that trained me for what I'm doing now, through rehearsals.

That means you didn't have a formal training In acting?

No, but I'm preparing to go to school soon.

How long have you been acting?

About 10 years now.

Why haven't you had formal training all these years?

I have always been busy with rehearsals for all the films that I have taken part in. You know, these films that people watch under two hours sometimes take months to produce. And for me to give my best in anything I'm doing, I like to do one thing at a time. Besides, I want to make a name in the industry.

Could you remind me of the films you have taken part in?
I have taken part in a lot of films but most people know me for such Yoruba films as Olabisi omo logba logba, Oko opo, Ibadi laiye wa, GSM lomo and many other films.

Among all these films, which one took you the longest time to prepare for?
It was Olabisi Omo logba logba. For one thing, it bears my' first name and I had to play the major role of a prostitute which wasn't easy to prepare for, because I wanted to make it look real. Eventually, it was the role I played in that film that made me popular.

Would you say the role you played in that film had certain things to do your real life character?
No, that's not possible. In that film I played the role of a prostitute who went to bed with many men. But in real life, I'm not that kind of person. If I'm dating someone, I concentrate on that person only until that relationship is no more.

How then would you describe yourself!
A nice and decent girl. I'm friendly with people.

Are your parents supportive of what you are doing as an actress?

You know it's rare to see parents who would want their children to go into acting. When I started acting, my parents fought tooth and nail to pull me out of it. But they later succumbed when they realised that it was what I wanted to do. Now, when they see my films, they are always happy that I'm their child.

Has acting been lucrative?
Well, I'm comfortable. At least I'm not begging to eat.


Has there been any role you regretted playing?
You know, before you play any role, those who invite you to play the role would have given you a script. So if you don't like it, you won't play it. So it's difficult to regret playing any role.

You have always acted In Yoruba films, is there any reason why you have not acted in English speaking films?
The truth is that I have never been invited to play in any English speaking film. But I intend to do one this year.
Don't you think the fact that you don't have a formal training In acting would constitute a barrier to your acting in English films?
Not at all. That can't be a barrier at all.

Have you ever acted with anyone you later nursed romantic feelings for?

None

Is there any particular reason you are not married?
(laughter) No. You know marriage is a delicate thing and one needs to prepare very well before getting into it so that one does not rush in and rush out. I'm only taking my time to prepare for marriage so that when I get married, it will work.

Does that mean you are into a relationship right now?
Yes, I have a man.

Let's talk about him.
No, that's my personal life.

Are you still friendly with Bukky Wright?
Bukky Wright is not my friend, she's my big sister. And we're still friendly.

Why did your relationship turn sour in the past?
You know there was this rumour that I dated Bolaji Basia. But those who are closer to me, those who are closer to Bolaji and those who are closer to Bukky would know that that kind of thing is not possible. Anyway, we have settled the matter.

Are you saying you never dated BolaJi?
I didn't date him. Bolaji is like a big brother to me. He was even the one that settled the quarrel between Bukky and I. And they are back together.
What happened to your romantic relationship with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall?
That's a forgotten issue. I don't want to talk about it.

Would you quit acting for something else some day?
I don't intend to quit acting for anything. I may be doing something by the side, but it would not disturb my acting career. I'm into acting for life. I do not intend to go and do "yes sir, yes ma" for anybody.

Who would you say is your mentor?
It was the late Ireti. In those days when I watched her films, I enjoyed her act a lot. And she was the one that made me to like acting.

In all these years that you have been in the acting profession, what has been your most embarrassing moment?
There was this day that I was in a taxi, and despite disguising myself, because I didn't want people to recognise me, about 20 "Area Boys" came and insisted I must give them money. Could you believe that when I told them I didn't have any money to give them they started destroying the wiper of the taxi? Eventually, I had to give money to the driver to buy another wiper. You can't believe that so many people had already gathered at the scene and it was really embarrassing.

Did you settle the "Area Boys"?
Of course, I had to settle them because they laid in front of the taxi and said if the taxi killed them, they would know it was Olabisi that killed them. So I had to give them some money before they allowed me to pass.

How do you feel when people refer to actresses as prostitutes?
I have heard that many times. People have told me that before. But what I always tell such people is that if you call actresses prostitutes, definitely it is those prostitutes that make you happy. For one thing, there have been many sad homes which actresses and actors have turned to happy homes through their acts. Many couples who may have quarelled in the past have had to end their quarrel after watching a film. We're not just playing, although people call it play, we do serious work when we produce our films. Just like those who work in the banks do serious work, so do we when we are on set. For me, I don't even bother if anybody calls me a prostitute because I know that I'm not one and those who are close to me know that I'm not a prostitute.
What kind of man would you want to get married to?
I would love to marry a man that would understand me and trust me. I can't marry a man that would be wondering where I am at any time. I don't like a man who would not trust me. I can't marry a man who after watching my film would be asking whether anything goes on behind the scene. I can only marry a man who would not doubt me and who is cool headed. I don't want to marry a man who would be thinking that I'm with somebody else when I'm on location.

So when do you hope to get married?
Very soon God's time is the best.

I'm reading: Bisi Ibidapo-Obe - Nice, Decent and Friendly Actress

What you must know about Chidi GQ Mokeme

Chidiebere Geoffrey Azubuike Mokeme was born in Ogidi, Anambra State close to 34 years ago to a now retired insurance executive a retired teacher.

He’s a born artiste. But his parents wanted him to go for the sciences and he obeyed them. After his secondary education at the Federal Government College, Minna, he settled for computer science.

Pharmacy was actually his first choice, but no thanks to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) which played its usual frustrating and discouraging role, he attended the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu.

That was merely to satisfy his parents’ wish. Chidi Mokeme was art-inclined but couldn’t oppose them as they knew better and called the shots then. Today, Chidi is an actor, model, fashion designer, Reality show presenter, businessman and a complete gentleman.

He has acted in many nollywood movies and also successfully presented Nigeria’s First Reality TV show, the Gulder Ultimate Search.

When asked recently how is life after the ‘ultimate’ experience, which visibly launched him into greater heights? Hear him.
“It’s been good. To some extent, you can say that it took me to more places and increased my fan base, being a programme that ran daily on national television, as well as a on cable station. So my fan base went wider than it used to be.”
I’m back to the locations. I still design but for selected people since I rarely have time. I’ve been busy making so many movies. What saves the situation is that I make their clothes in bulk so it sustains them for a while before they request for new ones.”

The Nigerian Nollywood Photoblog hereby presents to you Chidi Mokeme.

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Darling Darlene Benson of Nollywood

Remember her? She is the talented actress Darlene Benson Cobham, she had starred in Brides Apart, Honeymoon Hotel, Engagement Night etc. Apart from acting, she is also into singing, making jingles and compere at occasions. Watch out for this delectable actress in any of films she featured in Nollywood.

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Getting to know Desmond Elliot of Nollywood

Background
I was born to a Yoruba father and an Ibo mother. I grew up in the Northern part of the country and I am married to an Akwa-Ibom woman. I had my primary education at Air Force Primary school in Jos from where I went to St John’s College also in Jos. I studied Economics at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos and graduated in 2003.

Marriage
Although people say I got married late but the truth is that I dated my wife for about eight years before we finally got married. My kind of job may have exposed me to the opposite sex but the truth is that my wife means the whole world to me. I appreciate my wife and I married her basically for love and nothing else. She is so understanding and caring. These are the two vital attributes I find lacking in most women of today.

A true Nigerian
I understand the three major Nigerian languages but I speak more of Hausa because that is the language I grew up with.

Relaxation
I basically relax with my wife whenever the opportunity comes, especially if I am in town and not involved in a tedious job. I have a special form of relaxation, I just choose a suitable time and free myself from every form of stress.

Turn off
I don’t like people flashing me. I mean if you want to give a call, go ahead and do so, it is of no use flashing me.
Why I run from women
Women chase me because I am an actor and if they don’t do that it simply means that I am not yet an actor. In fact, being chased is not the issue, what matters is that whenever I perceive that I am about to be chased, I run. I run because I have an ambition, which I don’t want women to ruin for me. I run from them if they want to go beyond the level of being my fans to another level.

I'm reading: Getting to know Desmond Elliot of Nollywood

Femi Branch - From MTN Advert to Nollywood

Femi Branch on the marble

My first big step in acting was when Professor Ola Rotimi took me under his wings and told me ‘young man I think you have a future in this thing’. He made me into a project along with some other people like Jude Orhoha and others. He took interest in us and mentored us and that really gave me the footing, the strength that I have in what I do. Since then it’s been fun," he laughed, with a mien that suggested he was battling with nostalgia.

"I would like to think it takes less acting skills to do commercials, but it is acting all the same because its like you playing a part, trying to be someone that you are not; trying to convince people that okay I use this product, or that I have spent so much time testing the product and I’m recommending it to the audience."
"Stage is not financially gratifying as screen but it is something that most of us who are passionate about still take every time out to do and, most of the time when we do we don’t consider the financial side of it.

"We do it because we love doing it and we want to keep it alive. And I’m hoping, before the end of the year, to still be involved with at least two stage productions and to be able to commit more time and resources to stage later in my stage productions, because I write stage plays and produce,"

"I think Femi is worlds apart from Oscar Lord Williams. When it comes to romance, actually you should ask whoever has been a victim of the romantic side of the real me, my wife – Ibitola - being a good example. I’m more attuned, more sensitive and more romantic; more loving than Oscar Lord Williams though they share some similarities.

"Oscar and Femi share the same dedication to their job, commitment to vision. So, it’s not all negatives about the young man called Oscar, there are some good sides to him though his perceptions are sometimes a little weird,"

I'm reading: Femi Branch - From MTN Advert to Nollywood

Fortunes Changed Liz Benson Fortunes

Her appearance in the television serial, Fortunes, in 1993 changed the course of her life. The TV soap brought her fame and fortune. At about the time of her spectacular rise to stardom, the Home Video as a medium of entertainment had become popular. Coming to movie prominence with Glamour Girls in 1994, Liz Benson has appeared in so many home videos that her face is better known than that of any other actress. Some of the movies where she played the leading role include True Confessions, Shame, Yesterday, Evil Men 1 and 2, Trial, Pureman, Scores to Settle, Izaga, Chain Reaction, Sunset in Africa, Stolen Child, Burden and many more.
A resolute and courageous lady, Liz lost her husband (Samuel Gabriel Etim) when she was in her mid-20 and unlike some women whose world would crash after the demise of their husband, she has faced life struggles and successfully raised the three children all alone as a single mother. She has made a huge name for herself in acting.

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Bimbo Akintola Journey into Movies

I went into the movies because it’s an area I felt I had great talents for. Right from childhood, I had felt for the arts. It was very difficult for me to do other things. Even though my father didn’t trust I could live and survive, put food on my table with theatre arts, I was very much interested in it and it was not until I couldn’t do anything else that my father allowed me to go for a diploma at the University of Ibadan before I then went on for a Bachelors of Arts degree in the same area of study.

First movie

I had found myself doing several movies even though I tried to restrict myself or I would be seen doing everything without rest. I love my holiday very much and would take out time to rest. Theatre is a whole lot of mental work, so one must be very careful. The first movie I did was Owo Blow directed by Tade Ogidan. One of my old school mates at the University of Ibadan, Bassey Okon Esanetok had taken me to Lola Fani-Kayode who was then preparing me for Family Ties and I got a role in the soaps. It was after that that I got a call from one of those who featured in Family Ties that Tade was doing Owo Blow and I met with him.

Other movies

After Owo Blow, I went ahead to do Out of Bounds with RMD; Back to life, The Gardener, Diamond Ring with Tade again. I was also in other Yoruba movies like Ibu Ika, Iwa Eda, Ogede Didun and so on.

It is difficult to count the number of movies I have done. I could say I have been extremely lucky because it is only God that gives favours. I did The Mourning After with Jimi Odumosu. This was very tasking because I played a widow and was really traumatised. I had to cut my hair to do that movie. I was in Dangerous Twins with Tade Ogidan again.

Excerpts from Vanguard Newspaper 2006


Journey into the movies

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Presenting another Nollywood Actor - Nonso Diobi

Nonso Diobi was born July 17th, in Enugu to the Diobi’s family. Nonso Diobi grew up in Anambra state, Nigeria. He grew up with a family of 5, 2 girls and 3 guys. As the last child of the family, Nonso Diobi always saw himself in the limelight and as an independent individual. He began his own mini business at a tender age, selling clothes to his fellow individual at his high school. His parents exposed him to explore his God given talents by doing stage plays at his local church when he was 15years old. He became one of the best in his church drama group.
In the fall of 2001, He decided to take his acting skills to another level by entering into the now famous Nollywood. He featured in his first movie “Border line” which was shot by top director “Adim William”. His first breakthrough movie “Hatred” came right after he did Border line”
Nonso Diobi never looked back, as Nollywood keeps calling on this young, handsome, dynamic, and multi-talented star with over twenty movies to his credits. As the first Nigerian actor to be signed unto Jton Productions in New York, Nonso Diobi is using his opportunities to explore other God talents which he plans to unleash within the next few years. His greatest joy and soul satisfaction is to continue to entertain his fans as they are his number one priority. He finds joy when his fans admire and watches him on screen. One of his goals is to own a studio and enter deep into movie making and Animations. Nonso Diobi’s hobbies are listening to music, dancing, singing, long tennis, playing soccer in his PS2.
Culled from his website.

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Merging blogs

I intend to merge the following blogs together to enable me monitor and updates them from time to time. The blogs are - Winners and losers, Hazardous and of course Nigeria Nollywood photo blog. Henceforth, Hazardous and winners and losers blog will featured in Pause to ponder, so this makes the link of nollywood photo blog now changed to www.allwinnersandlosers.blogspot.com.
Sorry for this mix up.


I hope this clarifications is very clear.

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Ebube Nwagbo - Not just Another nollywood Actress

Ebube Nwagbo is one of the fast rising actress in Nollywood. The eldest in the a family of six, Nwagbo, 24, grew up in Warri, Delta State. She attended Federal Polytechnic, Oko and later Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka both in Anambra state where she got a degree in Mass Communication. Today this blog celebrate this fast delectable actress. Come along and see collage of her pictures. Thereafter after the pics, was the interview she granted This day in June this year.

(Open Picture in new tab and click to enlarge)

(Open Picture in new tab and click to enlarge)

Your rise in the industry is quite fast, what would you attribute this to?

I think it's God and luck. I knew what I wanted. I was given the opportunity and I made good use of it. I worked very hard and that got me to where I am today.

Did you ever think you were going to get to this level soon?
I did not. I am surprised about the way it turned out. You know the industry is so large now and for one to still be there and make impact it's something else. I met so many people that started acting before me and I know where they are today. I remember the day I went for the auditioning, I met those who started acting before me but today they are still where they are and I wouldn't compare myself with them. But I believe if you know what you want and work hard for it, you will get it.

When actually did you start acting?
I started acting in 2003 while I was still in school.

Why acting and not something else?
I enjoy watching movies as a kid and this helped to shape my interest in school. I like most actors I see and one day I just said I should do it for the fun of it. But I ended up taking it as a career.
I have a friend who was in the movies and so when I made up my mind to start acting, I went up to him and asked him how to go about it. He later told me about an auditioning taking place somewhere. I went for the audition and got a very good role. That was how it all began in 2003.

What was the first movie you starred in?
The first movie I starred in was Arrested By Love.

How was it like acting for the very first time?
It wasn't funny at all. It was my first movie and I played a prominent role. It was challenging too. But it was interesting at the same time because I was acting alongside those I've heard about and never met. I was doing something extra-ordinary and had to be a very good girl. But with the help of my director and few friends who believed I could do it, even though I didn't believe in myself, it came out well.
How would you describe the role you played?
I played the role of a young, innocent born again christian. I played alongside Jim Iyke. He was a bad boy who fell in love with me and I told him to go get born again before we could do anything. So, he was arrested by my love. He became a changed person and his parents were really surprised that someone could actually change their son. We wanted to get married at the end but we couldn't because something happened between our parents in the past and that worked against our coming together. I liked the movie and I still cherish it.

Do you think this happens in real life?
It happens because I think no man would want a wild girl for a wife or a girlfriend. Every man should be attracted to a calm girl. You also find so many people getting born again in the process of chasing a girl and following her to the church. So, I would say it happens in real life.

What was it like acting alongside those stars you've always admired?
I felt it was a privilege and wanted to make use of the good opportunity very well. It's something I still can't forget.

How many movies have you starred in so far?
It's between 30 to 40. Some of the recent ones I've done are African Soldier (yet to be released), Cadet, Stronger Than Pain, Zenith of Evil, Red Card.

Which would you say is the most challenging?
Every movie comes with its own challenges. I say that all the time, but I still can't forget Arrested By Love because it was my first movie. You know, normally in the industry, you start from the scratch but I started with a prominent role which was not easy at all. I would say it was the most challenging.

Would you describe any as your best?
I don't have my best. But I love African Soldier because it was a movie I was doing that I felt it was the real me. I think I really put in my best in the movie.

What has acting brought you?
Acting has brought a whole lot of things to me-the good, the bad and the ugly. The good because the money is coming and it's okay but could be better, the fame, it opens doors and people love you. The bad side of it, is that you tend to live your life for people, you are no longer like the normal girl out there. The ugly side of it is that you don't have any secret to yourself anymore, whatever you are doing is for the public.

How do you manage your fans?
I have learnt to smile all the time even when I don't want to smile.

Have you ever experienced situation that you wished you were not an actress?
There was this particular day I was coming back from a foreign trip. I met some guys at the airport and one of them walked up to me and asked If I am Oge and I said no. I know very well the guy knows me but I didn't have time for too much talks. He took his time and went back to his friends and they told him that I am the one and when he came back he was saying all sorts of things. He started insulting me and I felt so bad that day. It wasn't funny and everyone was just staring at me.

Who are your role models?
Liz Benson and Joke Sylva in Nigerian film industry. Then outside Nigeria, I've always liked Julia Roberts. I like the personality and acting of Liz Benson. Even now that people don't see her much on screen they still talk about her. That is who I want to be like. Then for Joke Sylva, I like her carriage and acting too.

If you have opportunity to change anything in Nollywood what would it be?
That there should be a limit to the number of movies produced. They should actually cut it down. But, I think the industry is growing by the day and I am impressed. Many people have come to accept and identify with what we are doing.

What is your next major work?
I would be working on a couple of movies but no titles yet.

How would you describe yourself?
I am a down to earth person. I am very jovial and fun loving.

How do you relax?
My work is really tedious but when I have the time, I hang out with my friends. I love watching movies so I visit the cinema.

If you are not acting how is your typical day like?
I love sleeping and could sleep the whole day. I read too because I love reading.

Is there anything you hate about yourself?
I think I am too soft. I want to be harder than what I am now. When you are too soft, people take you for granted and when you are too hard, they run from you so I want to be in between.

What challenges did you encounter when you started?
The first challenge I went through was during my auditioning because I had to go to Onitsha, Anambra State. Many people didn't believe that I could make it because of my background but I had to break that jinx. It took a lot of hard work and commitment to overcome this. So, my major challenge then was that no one believed in me but I thank God that I was able to scale through.

What else in life are you passionate about?
I like watching movies a lot because it was from movies I developed the interest to act. I like my phone so much. I also love listening to music.

Apart from acting what else are you into?
Once in a while, I model and sing but for commercial purpose. It's not like I have an album but someone featured me in his music because of my face. But what I prefer is stage performance.

Is sexual harassment a myth or reality?
I have heard about it but never experienced it. Even if you have to sleep with every Tom, Dick and Harry and you are not good, you won't get roles but when you are good and they know this and you refuse to sleep with them and they know you have the qualities they are looking for, they will definitely come for you. I don't believe in sexual harassment. If you are hardworking and have what it takes, you will get to the top.

Are you married?
No. But hope to very soon. God will have the final say.

Is your man in the industry?
I don't want to say whether or not he is in the industry. But all I can say, is that he is somewhere around.

What do you look for in an ideal man?
First and foremost, he has to respect me and has to understand what I do because if he doesn't there are likely to be problems. He has to be God fearing too. Some people talk about love but love without respect is something else.

Do you believe in love?
That word love is really big. Like I said, the most important thing is respect forget about love.

Have you had a bitter experience?
I had a very terrible experience and it's something I don't want to talk about because it's personal. Love might exist in some other people's home but to an extent, I don't think it exist.

What do you like about celebrity?
People are always looking out for you. You are like a role model to many people out there and I like being looked up to.

Have you ever been insulted for acting a bad role?
It happened after I acted my second movie Midnight Love. There was a particular love scene I did that people were not comfortable about. But I tell them that it's just movie and that it's make believe. It made me feel bad then because I was new and was getting to understand the industry but if it's now I can handle it.

What's your advice to those aspiring to be like you?
That they should be very careful and patient. They have to be hardworking and believe in themselves to succeed. If you know what it takes to be a good actor, just be patient and pray to God, you will definitely make it.

culled from Thisday of 16th June, 2007

I'm reading: Ebube Nwagbo - Not just Another nollywood Actress

Taking a Pictorial glance at Emeka Onyiocha

The pictures of Emeka Onyiocha is featured today on this blog. Onyiocha is a fast rising Actor who has create a niche for himself in nollywood film industry. His face adorn the nollywood as one of the best actor that interpretes roles very well. He has featured in so many flicks and taken on quite a number of roles such as romantic, action and comedy. Come on board and let us celebrate this talented actor.

I'm reading: Taking a Pictorial glance at Emeka Onyiocha

A little more about Nkiru Sylvanus

Do you know that fast rising Nollywood star actress, Nkiru Sylvanus, has a very strong relationship with her dad? Her closeness to her father is so solid that, according to her, you will think he is her husband. Nkiru, who has had a long time romance with acting since her secondary school days, disclosed that “my relationship with my father is so intimate that you will think he is my husband. He is my number one critic. I’m not as close to my mum as I am to my dad.”

Since she is very close to her father, how does he react to her acting career, especially if she was to act an intimate role with an actor, the stunning star of “Divided Heart” responded that “initially my dad did not want me to go into acting. You know, he likes to protect me. But when he realised that acting is what I have chosen to do, he had to accept it. But I think he is likely to feel jealous if he watched my movie and saw someone kissing me. I know he wouldn’t like that at all. But then, it’s part of the job”

Nkiru, who as at May 2006 still studying Mass Communication at Enugu State University of Science and Technology, has a strong phobia for snakes. Of course, not many people can really stand the reptile, but the “Act of fate” star actress has a valid reason to be scared of snake. Hear her: “I was bitten by a snake when I was in JSS3. It was so bad that I thought I was going to die. It was an experience I don’t like to recall. But since then, I’ve been very scared of snakes.”
Culled from NIGERIAN PUNCH NEWSPAPER, Saturday May 13, 2006

With the above paragraph, the Nigerian Nollywood Photoblog celebrate the crying expert actress, Nkiru Sylvanus. Come along and see a collage of her several pictures.

I'm reading: A little more about Nkiru Sylvanus

Celebrating Emeka Ike Part 1

Today, this blog unleash some pictures of Emeka Ike, the one and only husband of Rero. Please come along and feed your eyes.

First here is a collage of the pictures at a glance. .

I'm reading: Celebrating Emeka Ike Part 1

Welcome to Nollywood Photo blog

Welcome to Nollywood photo blog. This blog is started to promote Nigerian Film Industry by blogging the pictures of our actors and actress.

This blogger will commence reeling out the pictures of nollywood actors and actresses catching them in action instead of the known ones which they pose very well in front of still cameras. This blogger will make available photos that really caught them offguard.
Let me commence this blog with one of my favourite Nollywood actress Georgina Onuoha who actually got married recently.

I'm reading: Welcome to Nollywood Photo blog