Nse Ikpe-Etim: From writer to superstar actress

You made a drastic move from the banking industry to writing for television and screen. Why did you leave such a lucrative industry for one that is seen to still be in its formative years in Nigeria?   They say that art is the beauty of science. So I guess when one likes a beautiful […]

You made a drastic move from the banking industry to writing for television and screen. Why did you leave such a lucrative industry for one that is seen to still be in its formative years in Nigeria?

 

They say that art is the beauty of science. So I guess when one likes a beautiful thing one is always willing to try the stuff out. I also think it was the fact that banking was a bit too stifling for me and as a free bird, I had to fly.

You are now a seriously sought after actress. You have appeared in many high-profile movies; a number of which you had written yourself or co-written. Being in a position to ‘see’, do you write roles for yourself?

It would be wrong for me to say that I haven’t written for myself because I have ended up playing a role in which I write some part of the movie without necessarily thinking I’d play the role. Like in Reloaded, I did not think I would play the role of Omoza. I was practically forced into it by Emem Isong and at the time I wasn’t even an actor. I ended up doing it and look where it got me.

I did another one, Memories of My Heart which is an Ini Edo movie. It was funny because, I knew her role and knew mine as well since I wrote for the character. I was like, well…whatever. I guess it helps sometimes to be in this position.

You are one of the writers of Amazing Grace…

I edited the story.

Was there a role in the movie while you were working on it that you felt you could play?

No. I have never written anything and thought I could play this. This is because I never actually wanted to be an actor. It was not something I really wanted to be. I kept struggling with it.

At what point did you decide to act?

After I did Reloaded in 2008.

Prior to Reloaded, what prompted you to act?

I think it was the fact that it was a challenge. Someone had said things like I wasn’t sure of myself. So I was ready to prove to her that I was sure of myself.

But even then, I was so scared that I would fail. I guess the fear of failure makes you fail. So I had to lose that.

Most of your roles tend to lead towards the screen siren model. You cause all kinds of emotional chaos and anger, tear the cast apart. Is there something in your personality that leads you to such performances?

People usually say that. My friends see my movies and say, ‘that’s her’. And I say to them that it is very unfair because this means I have not assumed the role. I like to see that I have assumed every character because that is what the character demanded at the time.

I have had to play a role where I was not the disadvantaged wife but what I would like to describe as a suffering woman who breaks free in the end. It was a very demanding role and I do not think I have ever been in such a position before.

You had a particularly good chemistry with Ramsey Noah in the movie, Guilty Pleasures. Do you have other movies in the works with him?

Yes. There is Memories of My Heart which was premiered last year and will be out this year.

Considering how far you have come and the fact that you did not want to be an actress, would you say you have any regrets or is there something else you would rather have been doing?

No I don’t think so. I always say if you leave room for regrets, you will end up not being a happy person. Wherever you find yourself, you have to make do or make it work for you. Acting is as much a passion for me as cooking and writing are. I can always run to one of them. There is no room for regrets for me.

What was your perception of Nollywood before you got into it?

It was one of those industries that I looked and one day hoped to be a part of, in a positive light. I was always behind the scenes and never seen. So it was very painful when people would tear us apart. But what I say to them is Rome was not built in a day.

It is working. There was a death, a birth and a rebirth. Amidst the criticism, I think we are getting somewhere. It is a growing industry and brings in loads of money. So hey…

How did you land the hosting gig for AMAA?

I think it was an honour for Peace Anyiam to consider me in the first place. She must have had her fears because I can be one who could get out of the box. She must have had a lot of talks with my management as well and maybe they convinced her that they could control me.

We read a few internet rumours that you almost appeared in some Hausa movies at a point.

Seriously? I don’t know, but I think they really are rumours.

What do you think of the Hausa and the Yoruba movie industries being offshoots of Nollywood?

I don’t think I would call Yoruba movies offshoots of Nollywood because they were in existence before Nollywood came on board. They are more like what gave birth to Nollywood until maybe say, 1992 or so when Living in bondage was made. The Yoruba movie industry has always been there with Herbert Ogunde. But at the time it was mainly an entertainment sector not the money making one that it has now become.

That aside, I think it is a lot easier to act in your native language. The Yoruba and Hausa movie industries are comfort zones. If you give me a movie in my language I will be very comfortable doing it because it is my first language.

You have spoken about Nollywood at Harvard. What came after that? Do you have projects going on in Hollywood and other parts of the world?

Many times when I am asked such questions, I want to speak but also do not want to let the cat out of the bag.

My management is in talks with a few people and speaking on the panel was also an insight as to the worlds views Nollywood. There is so much in the pipeline and there are works that I am preparing for like the KunleAfolayan movie which I am going to do next month.

Looking at celebrity culture in Nigeria, do you think Nigerian celebrities have it easy or is it as bad as it is everywhere else in the world with reporters and photographers and fans chasing after you?

My other colleagues I think have that issue, but I do not at all. They can get really disturbed in restaurants and other public places but it doesn’t happen a lot to me because I also don’t eat out a lot and even when I do I think people are a lot more unsure if to work up or not to walk up to me.

Don’t you think that it is because of the screen diva image you have?

No I think I am just not recognisable and have different faces all the time.

A review referred to you as the Meryl Streep of Nollywood. Why do you think the writer made such a comment?

I am literally tongue-tied now. To be ever compared to Meryl Streep is like reaching the acme of one’s career and I don’t think I have gotten there yet.

There are rumours of you having a hot relationship with Nollywood bad boy, Jim Iyke?

What? Me, Jim, how, where, when? Where did that come from? We only did AMAA and a movie together. But even then, we didn’t even play alongside each other. I played with Van Vicker and he was Van’s brother. There was no such thing.

I hate to deny stories, but this is a bit too much.

Could you tell us the project you are working on at the moment or the one you are about to start work on?

I will talk about my last movie which I just finished. It is called Mr. and Mrs. It is a compelling story of a lady caught up in social strata with a husband who could not understand that he was married to a rich man’s daughter and his father had become a minister.

So it was a question of his relegating her to the kitchen and she fought against that.

It was a very, very tasking and emotional story. Up until now I can say that it is one of the most tasking stories I have done and had to run away for a week because I couldn’t take it anymore.

The next job I have been contacted to do is Kunle Afolayan’s Flake. It is not anything like the Figurine and not one of his usual works. But I would like to keep that still in the wraps. We’ll start filming soon in about two or three locations. It is a good story.

Written by you?

Written by who writes for him. I am looking forward to it because I find it an honour to work for someone who has been able to break it.