Why I prefer stage acting over movies – Zara Udofia-Ejoh

An actress from her early teenage years, Zara Udofia-Ejoh went on to garner a reputation for being a seasoned thespian. Cutting her teeth in stage productions and an early interest in dance didn’t stop the talented young woman to pursue a career on the screen, sizzling in both TV and movieproductions. Weekend Magazine cornered her […]

An actress from her early teenage years, Zara Udofia-Ejoh went on to garner a reputation for being a seasoned thespian. Cutting her teeth in stage productions and an early interest in dance didn’t stop the talented young woman to pursue a career on the screen, sizzling in both TV and movieproductions. Weekend Magazine cornered her for a  chat and she spoke about  her love for theatre, music and more. Excerpts:
Weekend Magazine: You seem to prefer art-house, small budget films by talented directors. Why is that?
Zara Udofia-Ejoh: Not necessarily. If I see a good story, helmed by a talented director, I will do the work.
WM: You also lean more towards stage productions than movies. Can you tell us why?
Udofia-Ejoh: I guess it’s because I started on stage that I am more naturally drawn to do stage productions. I love to do film and one of the most challenging forms of presentations, which is radio. Being on TV is very exciting, as it opens you up to a larger audience and all that. But being on stage, there is something very exhilarating about it. I love it. The energy, power of delivery, urgency, you name it. The audience is right there, so no do-over. The push, the adrenaline, it has its own pull.
WM: You’ve gotten rave reviews for your stage acting, and you’re most-recently seen in ‘Altine’s Wrath’. How is the experience of being in that production like?
Udofia-Ejoh: Working on Altine’s Wrath was different. It is also the first time I’m working with Nissi George as a director, so I had to try to understand and follow his flow. He’s a very disciplined director, and he allowed the actors room to express themselves and always communicated his thoughts, which is important.
It was also my first time working with the producer, Mrs. Ayo Jaiyesinmi, a very passionate woman who knows what she wants and goes for it. As it is sometimes, it was a bit stressful. But when it is also for a cause, and not just entertainment, that gives you extra motivation to trudge on. The audience’s response to the message of violence against women – having students and a lot of young people in the audience who stand up to take a stand – makes it all worthwhile.
WM: How do you view the view the current crop of directors and movies coming out of Nollywood these days?
Udofia-Ejoh: As an industry and as a people, we have come a long, long way from 10 to 15years ago. There’s a new breed of producers, directors, production managers, writers, and so on in the industry and the older generation guiding and teaching to make sure we stay on the right path. Even as we grow and churn out new stuff and ideas, it is a good thing that we’re getting to the place that our ancestors, so to speak, dreamed and talked about. It is good for our industry and for our country.
WM: Do you have any plans to direct a movie someday?
Udofia-Ejoh: That hasn’t crossed my mind yet, but being a producer is certainly one of my plans. It’s one of the things I want to do in the future. I believe in professionalism and I respect it, so it is important to get proper preparation for anything you want to do, whether formal or informal. Apart from being an actor, I now produce for theatre and it’s exciting with all the challenges that come with the job. So when the time comes, I will gladly join the ranks of movie producers.
WM: How old were you when you first acted?
Udofia-Ejoh: I had a taste of professional theatre at age 14, even though I had been involved in drama and dance productions from primary school. I was still in secondary school then, and it was the production of ‘Iku Olokun Eshin’ the Yoruba translation of Prof Wole Soyinka’s ‘Death and the King’s Horseman’ by Professor Akinwunmi Ishola, Directed by Prof Segun Ojewuyi for NANTAP’s festival of Soyinka plays. I was an understudy for one of the girls, and two years later, I had what Mr. Isreal Eboh called my ‘baptism’ on stage in Harry Hagger’s ‘Aishatu’ where I played a sub-lead. My mother came to see it, and she decided that day that if I wanted to do this for a living, she wouldn’t stand in my way. She also encouraged my siblings to support me.
WM: At what point in your life did you decide you wanted to act professionally?
Udofia-Ejoh: That would be in my final year of secondary school. Apart from acting, I had also started dancing, and I was getting acting classes and being mentored.