In showbiz, you’re relevant if people hate you – Helen Paul

Helen Paul is one of the most popular stand-up comediennes in Nigeria, as well as co- presenter of hit variety TV show ‘Jara’ on Africa Magic Channel. She spoke about her approach to her craft, what it takes to succeed in showbiz, industry drama, and more.   Weekend Magazine: You are a singer, actress, TV presenter, […]

Helen Paul is one of the most popular stand-up comediennes in Nigeria, as well as co- presenter of hit variety TV show ‘Jara’ on Africa Magic Channel. She spoke about her approach to her craft, what it takes to succeed in showbiz, industry drama, and more.  

Weekend Magazine: You are a singer, actress, TV presenter, radio host, and a successful stand-up comedienne. How did you become all these?
Helen Paul: I am a thespian. So as an actor, I am very malleable. I can express myself using several mediums. I am simply a fun-loving lady that loves to make people around her happy. My friends describe me as sanguine, with equal blends of choleric attributes. I love to bring dreams to reality as quickly as I can, as such I like to see myself as a go-getter. I am someone that believes that no force can stop anyone from achieving his or her dreams.
I am probably best known as a comedienne, actress, singer, television, and radio presenter. However, I am not sure many people know that I am also a dancer and playwright. As I always say, I am still in the process of discovering myself as all the numerous gifts of God in me must find expression.
WM: For someone this multitalented, quite a lot of people will want to know your secret to success… 
Paul: There’s no secret really. It’s all about using God-given talents. If however one is looking at things from the perspective of secrets, the only “secret” is to identify the talent God has given to you and know how to make use of it. I embarked on a journey of self-discovery and proceeded to train myself. I listened, and still listen, to tapes, watch performances, and read books. I also get inspired by watching goings on in the society. So I also learn from people’s lives and writings. In life, one cannot lay claim to a secret, one should just appreciate God that things are working, because even after you discover a gift, getting to know how to make use of that gift is another hurdle that a lot of people don’t know how to cross.
WM: How do you cope in a male-dominated industry?
Paul: It’s just God. There’s no male or female here.
WM: What’s your favourite among the things you do?
Paul: Being a thespian alone is my favourite. Everything falls under acting because it’s just a job that I do. I act out a script. I am on camera and I don’t get your reaction, nobody is seeing me at that time. They all fall under acting. All my activities will entertain and educate, be it comedy or anything else.
WM: You have a unique comedy persona, where you speak and act like a child. How did this come about?
Paul: My journey as an entertainer started unintentionally. I was just a kid, enjoying myself while entertaining my peers in the neighbourhood, but secretly nurturing my dreams of becoming a lawyer or newscaster one day. I think I was attracted to the dress code for both professions. I never even saw myself as a comedian. Back then, I just enjoyed playing and mingling with people. It was in this process that I discovered that I could make people laugh, even without intending to do so. I discovered this as a kid. I discovered that I could talk and act like a baby.
I started out by just doing it for the fun of it. One day, I was privileged to handle a radio programme for the first time and my boss listened in. He had never met me before but was captivated by the gist. He was so enthralled that he asked someone to fetch me after the programme so he could see the small kid that was saying things too advanced for her age. He was shocked when he saw an adult. I would say that being a TV show host forms a little part of my educational background.
WM: Generally, how did your career begin?
Paul: I started from church. In terms of professional comedy, I started in 2004 in the University of Lagos. I started using the child-like voice in 2002 when I was doing jingles and voice over in the studio. In terms of singing, it was in 1999. I used to do back-up vocals and jingles, commercials for individuals and organizations a lot before I made a major foray into comedy. Then I was working at Eko Reelmix Studios and doubled as an Assistant Producer at Yotomi Television. Meanwhile, I just enjoyed mimicking babies of different age groups.
WM: Did you feel certain your style will carve a niche for you?
Paul: I was sure I was going to be celebrated all over the world, but I wasn’t sure how. I was just determined as a young person. I was taught in church that what you put into your foundation goes a long way in forming and shaping your future. So I wrote my dreams on paper and anytime I was talking to God, I spread the paper out before Him. Today, I have to say He is the one that answered those prayers. 
WM: You seem to appear modestly dressed. What informs your dress-sense?
Paul: On a personal level, I love casual wears. I’m very free and uninhibited in those. I generally love to appear simple yet lovely at the same time. I don’t believe that one needs to rob a bank to dress well. I believe it’s all about how elegant one looks and how well one carries oneself. My dressing also goes in tandem with the nature of my job. On a general level, I am an entertainer and I don’t think I would be passing the right message by appearing too serious. Meanwhile, the type of job or function that I’m handling also determines my outfit. If I am going for a wedding or other classy party for example, I would want to put on a lovely and elegant gown or traditional wear that is in sync with the prescribed or expected dress code of the event.
WM: What was your childhood like and how did it shape you into who you are today?
Paul: I was very playful. I went through a lot of rejection, a lot of hatred, yet Christ gave me the power to overcome. As a child, I got spanked really well for either getting into trouble or performing below par academically. At a point in my childhood, I had to ask myself if I wasn’t being victimized or something like that. The standards were very high – I always had to emerge in the first position in my class. Nothing less. If I dare come back home with a second, third, or fourth position, I would take some serious beating. So I knew from an early point of my life that I must just get it right. This instilled discipline and hard work in me.
WM: What will you describe as the highest point of your career?
Paul: I haven’t gotten there yet. I am still working at getting there.
WM: How do you relax?
Paul: I like to see movies. I also love visiting the beach. I play a lot when I am with my children. Then I love my rehearsals. For me it’s a form of relaxation. 
WM: How have you been able to balance the home front and work?
Paul: It’s been God all the way. God’s wisdom is highly needed in striking a balance between both callings. I believe that I’m living the dreams of my life. I don’t see the institution of marriage as a barrier. Yes, it might add additional demands, but it also comes with additional benefits. It’s a give and take situation. With God’s wisdom, it can be shaped into what one desires it to be. Sometimes you think that if you were not married, you would have achieved more.
Again you will think that if you are married with children, you will lose some jobs, but you will also gain some. So it’s a win-win situation, you lose some and win some. There are times you have to sacrifice some things in order to gain some other things. If you want to win everything however, your career may eventually grow but your marriage will suffer. I am surrounded by the right people, both at the home front and at work, so this greatly helps me.
WM: You had an incident with Gordons on the AY show where you un-jokingly took jabs at each other. Some fans see it as unprofessional, while others say it goes with the job…
Paul: Like I said, in life you can’t win all. When playing a character on stage, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. In entertainment, you will educate, inform and even provoke some people. It’s part of the job. As far as I am concerned, Uncle Gordons is my friend. I still speak to him and call him, he still recommends me. Some people also tried to make an issue with the lines I used for our senior colleague, Ali Baba. Incidentally, I am also on very good terms with him too. But there are some people that naturally will not like you. It’s a common thing amongst us comedians to gather and throw jabs at one another. It was nothing out of the ordinary. People just wanted to be some form of Don King, promoting an imaginary fight.
WM: Still on that incident, you reacted on social media when a fan said you should stick to being a radio presenter and leave comedy. Couldn’t you have ignored the person?
Paul: The person wanted some attention and I was just in the right mood to promote the person. I helped the person to realise a personal goal. If the person had a good intention or didn’t want unnecessary attention, there’s something called DM on Instagram where you send direct messages or opinion. But the person didn’t use that platform, which meant the person wanted attention and wanted people to either clap for or jeer at his or her comment. At that point, as an actor, you should be able to respond. So I replied and helped the person achieve that fifteen minutes of fame. I’m used to such people though – not everyone would like you.
As it’s currently playing out in America, folks that love Donald Trump would say that Hillary Clinton is an obnoxious person while folks on the side of Hillary would say that Donald is an irritating person. Some people love my baby voice, while some don’t. As fantastic as you are, there will be people who wouldn’t like you. But, in all, everyone is welcome, friends or enemies alike. It’s good to just live one’s life. The fact that some people hate your guts means that you’re relevant. I doubt that never-do-wells have half the enemies that progressive people have. It’s a word of advice I give everyone –  be you and do you.