HOW long have you been acting and producing movies as well?
I have been acting for four years and this is my second movie as a producer.
How did acting start for you?
I have always loved the arts and I talked about it with a friend of mine some time ago. His name is Roger and he introduced me to Venus Films. I went for an audition and they were impressed with what they saw, and that was how my acting career started.
How popular are you back home?
I am quite popular back and sometimes I forget that I am popular. I try to live my life as simply as I can. People sometimes recognise me when they see me pass by and they are like: “Is she the one or not?” Then I realise that I am a face on TV; people make me realise that I am relatively known back home and that is a pointer to the fact that my works are being noticed.
How would you describe yourself?
I would term myself as a down to earth person; I am a simple person and try to give the best in whatever I do. I am plain and open; what else can I say? I think as time goes on people will get to know more about me.
What’s your educational background like?
I have a degree in English and Classics from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana.
With a degree in English and Classics one would expect that you end up as a teacher. Why did you choose to be an actress?
I would say the allure of theatre attracted me to acting; I love the arts and it was just natural that I ended up as an actress. I couldn’t have imagined myself doing anything else. It has been my dream to be on stage and act out my heart. I also like to be as expressive as possible.
What has it been like as an actress in the last four years?
It has been a rewarding experience as I have been able to develop myself as an actress. I have also evolved into a producer and that has somewhat expanded my horizon. I look forward to learning and achieving more in my chosen field of endeavour and I know the only way I can get there is by working really hard.
How many movies have you been part of in the last four years?
I have been part of a handful of movies; I have been part of 10 movies thus far and I am willing to be part of more blockbuster movies in the future.
Which of those 10 movies has been the most challenging?
As the saying goes, ‘You are as good as your last job’. The movie titled Letter to My Mother has been the most challenging movie that I have been part of in recent times. It was challenging because I had to work with actors such as John Dumelo and Adjetey Anang and a host of other frontline Ghanaian producers as well.
Tell us more about Letter to my Mother?
The movie is about the story of a young man who has lived abroad for a long time and he comes home with a wife. But the young man’s mother does not approve of the wife he is about to be married to. The said young man decided to get answers as to why his mother does not approve of his wife and in the process he uncovers a pile of letters that reveal why he shouldn’t be married to the lady in question. The story is an interesting story and it passes on a strong message.
How much did you invest in the movie?
I invested a lot of money; I am still spending because the movie is being premiered at the moment and that means we are still spending. I never thought it was going to turn out this big and I thank everyone that was part of the movie as I look forward to the next one pretty soon.
What’s next for you after Letter to my Mother?
I’ll be working on my next movie titled Devil in a Dress; it’s a hilarious movie and we have already started work on it. The movie will feature Nigerian and Ghanaian thespians and I am looking forward to it.
How have you been able to balance acting and producing?
I have been doing my bit, though it has not been easy. Nothing good comes easy and I always put my nose to the grindstone. I have worked hard to get to where I am today. This is my first time turning out as an actress and a producer; it has brought out the best in me, thanks also to the help of my assistant.
Was it hard to get the likes of John Dumelo and Adjetey Anang to be part of Letter to my Mother?
It wasn’t easy because they are also busy people and even though we are friends they didn’t make things easy for me. Especially with the amount they both charged me, but we came to a compromise after all and everyone on the set of the movie gave their very best.
How toughened are you now, considering your relative experience?
It has made me strong and I have learnt a whole lot. For instance, I have learnt that premiering movies in Ghana is quite different from what you have in Nigeria. To me, the right market is here and I hope to explore whatever opportunity that can be explored to ensure I get the best out of my latest movie. I am happy I am premiering my movie here in Nigeria because I have had quite a few nominations from the City People Awards and am happy I am here to showcase my movie.
Are you married?
(Laughs) I am fully booked…
How do you handle advances, especially from die-hard male fans?
I tell them that I am married and I try to handle the stubborn ones as maturely as I can. That is the way I turn down advances from men who accost me. Men will always make passes at women and it all depends on whether or not the lady is free. But as I said earlier, I am fully booked.
What’s your greatest fear?
My greatest fear is being poor; I dread the thought of waking up one morning to find out that I have nothing or I am poor. That is one of the reasons I have tasked myself to work harder and to give my very best in whatever I do.
What’s the craziest thing you have attempted?
I am not that much of a crazy person and I can’t readily think of anything crazy that I have done in the past. I don’t really think I am cut out for that anyway.
How daring can you get on set?
I try to give my best on set in terms of interpreting my roles effectively but I also try to draw the line too. I would not do anything on set that would compromise my person. I try as much as possible to be decent at delivering my roles whenever I am on set. If I feel I am not okay with a certain role, I will not accept it.
What’s your projection?
My projection is working towards being one of the very prominent moviemakers on the continent that contributed positively towards the development of African movies. I also look forward to making more movies that tell African stories the way they should be told.
Source: The Nation
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