Presenting little known Nollywood actress Maureen DaSilva

I'm reading: Presenting little known Nollywood actress Maureen DaSilva

Queen Nwokoye - Nollywood Actress

How would you describe awards events being done in Nigeria?

I think awards events in Nigeria are beautiful, because we have put a lot of hard work and they are ways to recognize our hard in the industry.

Do they really reward merit?

Umm, yes, I think so.

What is your definition of fashion?

Fashion is just you; it is what makes you very comfortable and what you are comfortable in. It is what makes you feel special when you are

in the midst of people. That is what fashion means to mean.

What informs what you wear?

Umm, well, I have always grown up feeling like a princess, that has in a way, shaped my fashion sense. Like I am now, looking like a princess (she makes a slow and steady spin).

But they can’t see you (laughs)?

That is for your eyes only (laughs).

What is your favourite food?

Oh, I love breadfruit, it is my best food.

Why?

Because it is not common, and also, the time spent in making it, anything you take your time to do, always come out good.

Where is your favourite hang-out?

I rarely hang-out (laughs).

What do you do with your leisure time?

I listen to good music, and I watch movies at home. I do sometimes unwind with friends, but that is not what I do with most of my leisure time.

How does it feel winning Fresh and Scandal Free actress award at the Best of Nollywood Awards?

(Laughs) I don’t know, honestly, I even think it is even putting me into a lot of troubles, because a lot people are having high expectations from me, which I don’t like. But I feel very happy and joyful, but I hope they would continue to allow me to stay fresh and scandal free (laughs).

What was your reaction when you first heard that you were nominated in that category?

I was like what! I have never heard of it before (laughs), I thought I was hearing the wrong thing. But I just took it that way, especially when the industry has been tagged a scandal-filled industry. So, I thought that if they feel like honouring those who have managed to stay scandal free in a scandalous industry, like they try to portray us, which we are not, then I should be glad that some people feel there are still some good people in the industry.

And when you were announced the winner, what was running through your mind?

I wasn’t really expecting it, I had a lot of my friends in that category, it wasn’t like a competition to me, but honestly, I was shocked. Well, I still thank God and I feel happy.

Now that you have won this award, what are your expectations?

Well, I will continue to live my life the way I have been doing. Like I said, it has never been a big problem living the quiet life I have been living before now; I just hope the press will let me be (laughs). But I really want to thank the press for not reporting things I didn’t do. I think they actually helped me get this award. For some reasons, I think my lifestyle appeals to them. Even before I received the nomination, I started seeing it in the media (online and print), I started asking myself where it was coming from. To my expectation, I will continue to be who I am and setting good example to young ladies out there. All eyes will be on me now, if I bring out my right foot, they will write that I brought out my left one, which is now my fear (laughs). Well, we are in the world, things come, things go, whatever that comes, I will take.

Now, how will you manage it, when bad stories about you start coming?

I will not do anything because obviously, it comes with the job. Now I know it might come. But oh God, help me, I know when that bridge comes, I am going to cross it. But I will still live my normal life, unless they are going to start making up stories about me, but if that doesn’t happen, I don’t think I always live a clean, plain and quiet life. If they write anything thing negative about me, just know that it is false or just writing script about me (laughs).

What is the secret being you being a scandal free actress?

Honestly, I don’t know, sometimes, I think it is because of my upbringing, maybe the way I am. I don’t just know, I just leave my life. I grew up as with a vice principal as my mother, you know what being in that kind of house would do to you. My grandparents were village headmasters. Maybe along the line, I took one or two things from the. All in all, I have always lived a normal life, even while in school.

What is that thing you can never be caught with?

Hmm, to a great extent, lying, I don’t like telling lies. I don’t think I can ever be caught lying. I always believe that when you say the truth, in 10 years time, you don’t have to think before saying what you said 10 years ago, when asked same thing again. My mum used to tell me then that, “it is better for you to be anything else other than a liar, because a liar can do anything.” She made us to believe that we won’t get punished for saying the truth, instead, we would get corrected if we did something the wrong way. So, I grew up with that. .

Any words to your fans?

My fans, I have the best fans in the whole world, I am telling you the truth. I love them, and everything I have ever done and achieved is for them. I want to say thank you to all of them. Thank you for standing by me through rough times. I want to tell them that I truly love them with all my heart. This award Fresh and Scandal Free Actress is dedicated to them.

Congratulations.

I'm reading: Queen Nwokoye - Nollywood Actress

Presenting Nollywood Actress Empress Njamah

We learn you are now a make-up artiste. How did you find yourself in this field?

I've been doing this for a long time. I don't have an office yet because I do a lot of things, so I really want to be sure of what I want to open an office for. The bridal make-up comes up almost every weekend. From one job, I get another job and I get another job from that one. Bridal make-up has been very okay.

You are into interior décor as well,

I do that as well. I just finished working on a hotel in Calabar. It took me almost three months to complete the job.

But how did you come into this line? We thought acting was your love?

I don't like being idle; I'm always up and doing. I like to venture into a lot of things. I like to do new things. Acting is obviously in me. Acting is beautiful; it pays. But I just like to venture into a lot of things. But I love everything I do.

But don't you feel bad that you are no longer acting in movies like most of your contemporaries?

I really don't have a problem with that. Acting is not what you can retire from. Acting is always there for any good actor. I just finished a job, which would be premiered in the US and Canada. I would rather be into one beautiful big project, where you can demonstrate your talent. I don't want to continue doing this home video thing; I want to do movies. I'm not a square peg in a round hole. Most people who know me also know I'm good, I'm okay. I've three scripts right now. Each time I get scripts, my brothers and I talk about them.

Some people might say you went off the screen because the scripts weren't coming any longer.

Not at all! It is not true. I was in Germany for about five months. I was also in the UK for some period of time doing some things I don't want to talk about right now. I've been okay with what I've been doing. I shot a movie late last year. I was in Owerri. Mike Ezuruonye was also in the movie. I did the movie because it was so challenging. We rehearsed with real guns in the movie. It is not the usual kind of movie we are used to everyday.

Tell us what it is like being in a family of actors.

It is just like asking me how it is being in a family of doctors. There is nothing wrong with acting or engineering. It is fun and interesting. It is something we can all sit down and talk about. It helps to have a brother who does the same thing that you do. We learn from each other.

Timaya said one of his greatest regrets was having you as his girlfriend. Did you hurt him that much for him to have said that?

Ah! Empress! Seriously, I told myself that I wasn't going to talk about this in the papers because I've learnt a lot. I've learnt that being good is not really a good thing in this country. Trying to help people is not a good thing too. Whatever you do, people will try to criticise you. I've always been a good person. Apart from the fact that people are not blind, apart from the fact that people are not dumb to know the truth, I don't have to go to the papers to justify what happened in that relationship. But I've been in the spotlight before he ever thought of getting there. People have always known me for being nice. I hate proud people; so, I will not boast about things I did for people. It is so glaring who should really go to the papers and say the relationship was a mistake. I don't want to criticise anybody. I don't want to talk about it. I still give God the glory. Without events, there won't be history. It has made me not to trust people or live my life for them.

We learnt you wanted to sue him.

We had a case recently and people said I sued Timaya for an X amount of money. Obviously, money is not my problem. I started making money long before Timaya ever thought of seeing millions. I just did what I had to do. Let me give you a hint. We had some issues and I basically avoided this same person for close to two years. I had my reasons. He was somebody I was close to for a period of time and I know what he can or can't do. So, I avoided him. I will just say that Timaya was obsessed with me. He saw me driving at a particular time, he overtook me, stopped in front of me, pulled me off my car and beat me up. I did what I had to do. I had to go to the police and report the case with the pictures of my face swollen and all of that. I took the case very far. I had two lawyers. But for the love of Christ, I had to let the case go. I've been in this business for a long time. If I go to the papers, people might say Empress wants attention. How can I crave attention when I've had it for so long? He went to the papers and he got talking and talking and I was reading and laughing. I didn't say a word all through that period. The fear of God and maturity had to come in. Many journalists called me to get my comments. I always told them I didn't want to comment on the issue.

But would you, like him, say you regret the relationship?

It is obvious. I would have used that period of time to better other people's lives or concentrate on my job or my family. But I was living my life for people who didn't deserve it. If I had listened to one of his new tracks before I dropped that case, I don't think I would have dropped the case. I may preach about Christ and love, but I'm human. There are things that you should just let go. Can you imagine the arrogance? Music is not meant for you to come out and brag about what you don't have. I respect Tuface a lot. He sings songs that make meaning. He is not bragging about what he is not and you can learn through his music. His music is inspiring. If you have a problem with someone, face the problem. Do you have to sing about it? Why not do something that people can embrace, something that can go farther than this country? Why would you waste your time and go to the studio only to come out singing about an actress? Empress was something he regretted yet he sang with my name. Empress was somebody you regretted, yet you used my brothers' names in your song. E dey pepper you for bodi so much. It is because I'm or I was so important in his life. You regret Empress yet you gave me a ring? Please! It is high time we stopped talking trash. I might have said I don't want to talk about this but right now, I don't think I would mind having one on one debate with him. But then, I'm too much for such. It is obvious who should regret the relationship. It is obvious who should be thankful. In life, when you achieve something you never believed you will achieve, it is like a blow to them.

How did you feel when he beat you up?

How else would a battered woman feel? You will feel angry and frustrated. At that point, a lot of things will go through your mind. This is not what I want to talk about in the papers. It is not a good thing for any female. I'm going to do a movie on people who hit women. It is not something I want to rush into. I want to do it right.

How come your brothers kept quiet if you said he beat you up?

My brothers didn't keep quiet. They were not brought up to be brutal. A lot of friends wanted to fight for me. A lot of musicians were on my side. One of my brothers wanted to be confrontational. But I told them that two people can't be mad at the same time. The way we were trained is obviously different from the way some other people were trained. My brothers will always respect my feelings. John is a triple black belter. He doesn't even need to fight. He will just hit you one place and you will die. He is one of the best in karate and you know these people are trained not to get angry. He is calm.

Would you have married Timaya?

I would have made my mother the saddest woman on the face of this earth if I'd married Timaya. I would have sent my mother to an early grave. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me. She is my happiness. My mother has never advised me wrongly and she has never advised me to be involved in anything evil. If I had moved out of my family house, I would have been wayward. But when you are under the umbrella of a good parent, you will hardly go astray. If I try to go astray, my mum will put me on the right track since I'm still living under her roof. If I had wanted to rent my own flat, I would have rented over 100 flats.

But we thought you moved into Timaya's house?

I didn't move into that house, I got that house. Please, I don't want to talk about it. Let's just leave that side. When I said I lived my life for some people, you should understand what I'm saying. I never moved into any man's house. I've never done that and I will never do that.

I'm reading: Presenting Nollywood Actress Empress Njamah