The World Apart of Ini Edo of Nollywood

Ini Edo, second from a family of 4 (three girls and a boy) hailed from Akwa Ibom State from a mother who is a teacher and a father who is an elder in the church. She graduated from University of Calabar after a secondary school education at New Era International Nursery School. World Apart (which is the title of the movie she felt is really challenging to her) aptly described this pictorial glance of this talented actress as this blog feature your darling INIEBONG EDOEBONG of Nollywood. Come along!!!

Here is a recent interview she granted Punch Newspaper in January this year. Please read on.

Akwa Ibom State-born Ini Edo started her acting in 2000 while studying for a diploma in Theatre Arts at the University of Uyo. The Nollywood actress tells ADAEZE AMOS about her real self Do you wear those skimpy dresses you wear in your movies in real life?

I don’t wear skimpy dresses when I’m going out, even if it’s a party. I prefer trousers. I can’t remember the last time I wore a skimpy skirt to a party. I would rather wear a pair of jeans trousers. I’m not very good at wearing short skirts and being conscious of the way I sit, I prefer to wear something that I would feel comfortable in. Yes I wear skimpy skirts in movies, but it’s only because of the characters that I play. I hardly wear skimpy skirts in real life.

Who do you want to be like in the movie world?

I see myself as Ini Edo. Everyone can only be themselves. I intend to create my own pattern and be myself.

Was the ban placed on some top actresses responsible for your quick rise in the industry?

Before the ban, I was already shooting movies. In fact, I had the opportunity of working with most of the banned actresses. And during the ban, I had already started doing movies. People were already calling me to do movies for them. When you stay where you are and people start looking for you to come and do movies for them, that means that you have been accepted. What I’m saying is that Ini Edo had already started making her name before the ban.

You are dating Mike Ezuruonye...

No, I’m not dating Mike Ezuruonye. I think the rumour came about because Mike and I were doing too many movies together at some point. How can I be dating him when I have a relationship already? It’s absurd.

What does your dream man look like?

My dream man must be comfortable and God fearing.

How did you discover your acting talent?

As a child, I always knew I had this talent in me. This was why I always grabbed the opportunity to act in church drama. While in school, someone invited me for an audition. I went there, performed well and later got the role. But my parents did not really like it. They insisted I complete my education before going into acting. I had to beg and convince them before they allowed me to feature in my first movie called Thick Madam in 2003.

What determines the roles you play?

This depends on a lot of things – the story, remuneration and the people I am going to work with. I do not act for the fun of it, but because I love it and I enjoy it. The storyline must be very strong. It must not be just any kind of story. I do not like everyday stories with flat characters.

Who inspires you?

I get inspired when I watch young girls like me making it in the industry. If I have a good story to work on, it gives me a lot of inspiration. God and my love for acting also inspire me.

What was it like on your first time out?

I was not nervous because I started with stage performance. It was not really a new thing to me. At first, I felt a little bit intimidated by the presence of known stars, but, as time went on, I got used to it.

Who and who contributed to your growth in the industry?

A lot of people contributed to my growth in the industry. Ikenna Igwe encouraged me to take up a career in acting. There was a movie they produced sometime ago. My course mates invited him over, and he gave me a role.

Which is your most challenging role so far?

The most challenging role for me so far was played in a movie entitled Worlds Apart. That was the first time I was given such a lead role. I really had to come out of my own character to learn a new language, putting up an attitude that was out of my own lifestyle.

Have you been sexually harassed for roles before?

I have not been harassed by anybody, though people talk about harassment. I have never experienced it. It might be because I never came into the industry through the back door. I have overheard people talking about sexual harassment but, truly speaking, I have never experienced it. Besides, I believe that anything that you don’t get through the right source can never last for you. I worked hard to get to where I am today.

How do you feel when you act roles where you are kissed and fondled?

If you decide to take it, then you must act it. There are certain scenes that you may not like, but because it is your job, you have to do them. But honestly, no personal feelings are attached to the job. It is just pure professionalism.

How has acting affected your life?

Acting has affected my life positively and negatively. The negative aspect is that it does not give me room to attend to my family and friends. It takes a lot of my time. The positive aspect is the fame I have.

Will it hinder you from getting married at when due?

Acting will never be a hindrance to me. I will get married the moment I am ready for it. I am a woman and when I find the right man, I will marry him.

What do you think of Nollywood?

In Nollywood, there is too much of envy, but I guess it is everywhere in the showbiz world.

What is your educational background?

I graduated last year from University of Uyo. I now have a degree in Theatre Arts.

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Toyin Aimaku of Nollywood

Toyin Aimaku is one Nollywood actress rising gradually to the top of the movie industry, especially in the Yoruba genre. This blog present the pictorial glance at Toyin Aimaku. Please enjoy.



Here is an interview she granted Daily Independent last year, which was culled from Naijarules.com. Please read on.

You seem to have made a significant impact within a short time in the industry, how come?
This is probably my time; you will get to where God planned for you when the time comes. Actually, I wanted to be a psychotherapist, I never loved acting, but I met someone who introduced me to Bukky Wright and she brought me into limelight. This is what God wants me to do.

How was it like with Bukky Wright?
I was with her for a year, but now I’m on my own. I came into the industry through her and I went practically everywhere with her.

Are you a star now?
I am and I’ll always be in Jesus name.

In what way has acting paid off for you?
Am I not looking good? I’m looking good, I’ve got money to buy a small car and do whatever I want to do for myself.

If you were not an actress what would you have been?
I’d probably have been a lawyer or psychotherapist.

I thought you read marketing in school?
I read marketing because I knew I was going to be an actress. I used to be in the University of Ibadan, but I later went to Ogun State University (OOU), and then Osun State Polytechnic where I read marketing.

How come you kept changing schools?
I read marketing at Osun State Polytechnic and philosophy at OOU. I couldn’t cope at the University of Ibadan because I was studying medicine. So I changed school and went to OOU to study philosophy but before then, I had gone back to Osun State Polytechnic where I obtained my OND, before doing my HND. So I have two degrees.

How has life been as an actress?
It has been fun but there is nothing that is easy in life. Let me just say I thank God because it has been fun, encouraging and profitable. I just thank God for my life.

What did you learn from Bukky Wright?
She is a wonderful person, she taught me not to do all movies that I must learn to pick my scripts. And she taught me to be expensive and that I should not run after people because of money and production management. I learnt a lot from her.

What are the movies you did recently?
I did Morayo and some other ones whose titles I can’t remember.

So how expensive are you?
What I meant was not just accepting all movies because of money. So that is what I mean by saying Bukky taught me to be expensive.

Is it true actresses sleep their way to the top?
It’s a lie; let me tell you sexual harassment happens everywhere, even in the bank. And if a man is wooing you, it does not mean that he is harassing you. He might just like you. I have fellow actors and marketers who like me. If I’m not being ‘toasted’ (wooed) I will feel like I’m not beautiful. I like it when guys walk up to me to ask me out, that means I’m beautiful and well created.

How many of your admirers in the industry have you said ‘yes’ to?
I don’t have a boyfriend in the industry. I’ve never dated anybody and I will not date anybody in the industry because I have somebody I’ve been dating for years or do you want to teach me how to double date.

If you’ve not dated them, then how many of them have you slept with?
I’ve never slept with anyone and I’ll not sleep with anyone because I have what it takes to be an actress. You can ask them.

How far do you think you can hold on with this resolution, because I know some principled people that have fallen in the face of pressure?
If I want to do something there is nobody that can tell me not to do it and if I don’t want to do something there is nobody that can tell me to do it. That is what I want to do and I’ve always told myself that I’ll not sleep with or date anybody where I work, that is because I respect myself and I want people to respect me.

Who is the guy you are dating?
I don’t want to talk about him.

Is it true that you said you can give up acting for him?
Yes, because he is my husband. I can give up acting for anyone that loves me, provided I love him. If he wants me to quit acting, I will because there is no woman who doesn’t want to have a husband and raise a family. And thank God, he stays in London at present.

How come you actresses are always dating people in diaspora?
Maybe they appreciate us more.

So we are not appreciative enough because we stay here?
I’m not saying that but I think they appreciate us better.

For how long have you been dating?
It would be about six years.

Where did you meet?
I met him at Ibadan.

How is he feeling now that you are an actress?
He loves it, he is proud of me.

You once said acting makes you live fake lifestyles, can you shed more light on that?
What I meant by that is, I like to play a lot, but right now you can’t just expect me to do that anymore because a lot of people are looking up to me.

So what has that cost you?
It hasn’t cost me so much.

So you’ve also joined the league of movie producers?
I just have to produce to make money.

How much have you made from the movie?
That is a secret I can’t tell you.

What was your first movie?
Dugbe Dubge Nbo

What do you think the future holds for you?
The future is the starting point. I see myself in the likes of Joke Silva, Angelina Jolie, Bukky Ajayi.

But you guys are doing things that those people you mentioned don’t do?
It is because they have gotten to the stage where they can’t do it anymore. I still have youthful exuberance, fine I’m going to get married soon, but that does not mean I’ll not do those things because I’m still young, so you can’t compare the kind of life I’ll live to that of my elder colleagues. If you look back to when they were still young, they did some things like what we are doing now.

So how old are you?
I can’t tell you my age.

How soon will you get married?
I think this year.

Why the rush?
I’m not rushing because I’ve been dating the guy for six years. It is time for us to settle down.

How did you maintain a relationship for six years?
We had a misunderstanding along the line and we broke up but we later made up. And during that period of break up, I dated about two other guys. Right now we love each other and there is no more fight and we are getting married soon.

What does sex mean to you?
It doesn’t mean anything; please don’t ask me about sex.

What was your impression of sex when you were growing up?
For me, I can’t have sex with someone I don’t love. To have sex with you I must really love you because it is something that must be enjoyed by the two parties.

Why do you like attracting attention with your dresses?
I’m an actress, I’m into showbiz so I need to ‘show’. It is show business, so we need to show others what we’ve got. That is my mode of dressing. You have to dress for people to notice you.

But anytime you dress like that it makes some men get eager to have a piece of what you flaunt?
I am sorry for them, it is only meant for one person and that person is my love.

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Pictorial Glance at Peju Omobolanle of Nollywood

Peju Omobolanle nee Ogunmola is a Nollywood actress in Yoruba Genre, and she is the wife of Sunday Omobolanle, popularly known as Aluwe. Here is a pictorial glance of this talented actress.

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