A woman with no purpose is driven by her beauty —Juliet Ibrahim

Popular actress and producer, Juliet Ibrahim has kept her game on for over a decade. Despite some dark moments that almost cowed her and pushed her out of reckoning, the fair-in-complexion mother of one, does not seem to be giving up at the moment. Armed with not just her beauty but talent and passion for her job, Ibrahim gives her total self into every job that comes her way and it has paid off. In this interview conducted by SEGUN ADEBAYO, she speaks on her career, life and dreams.

You are always up to something new, and one wonders if you would ever slow down. What motivates you to keep pushing yourself?
Why should I slow down? If you are an entrepreneur, you should never slow down. Success is motivation for me.

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You are a Ghanaian and you relate well with your Nigerian counterparts in the movie industry. Not many people know you are not even a Nigerian. Why do you feel homely in Nigeria?

For me, Nigeria is home. I believe as Africans, we should remember that we are one. I have travelled and lived in several countries, so it is easy for me to blend anywhere in the world. However, Nigerians have been so welcoming to me over the years and I can’t thank them enough. I am now learning how to speak Yoruba and Igbo. I eat so many naija dishes and I am glad that my fans gave me a name, BOMA, from Port Harcourt and TEMI as my Yoruba name. I also chose ADA as my Igbo name. I have acted in Yoruba and Hausa movies. Right now I’m eager to feature in an Igbo film. I just completed a role in Pretty Demon movie, produced by Basil Nneji,  where I spoke a little Igbo in it.

You have come a long way on the job and proved that you have what it takes to be one of the most sought after. Can you say you have lived up your dream till this point?

My childhood dream was to be in the spotlight. I am grateful to God that by his grace and favour I am living my dream. Not every kid dreams and gets to live it.

When you were starting out, there must have been limitations here and there, how did you overcome those limitations.

I knew what I wanted to be in life. I was focused and determined on living my dream I put in the work and I pushed through. I am a go-getter. I am a hardworking woman who will never listen to naysayers. The more I hear I can’t do something; the more you’ll see me doing.

You have held your head high and pushed your career to the highest point, despite the setbacks you have had. How do you feel now that your dreams have come true?

I am filled with gratitude.

You are one of the most beautiful women in the movie industry. In fact, many people believe that your beauty is your selling point. Does this make you feel special?

I am beautiful and I know it.  Beauty is beyond what the industry needs. It takes a whole lot more than just a pretty face to survive over a decade in this industry that I know for sure.

How have you managed to keep yourself in check and stay focused on the job, despite your beauty, knowing that men would keep coming at you because of the beauty factor?

Every regular 9 to 5 beautiful women have men chasing after them daily. There’s nothing special. Only a woman with no purpose will allow this get into her head. I am a focused woman and nothing can ever change that. I am not influenced by people or easily misled. I am extremely self-disciplined. I believe that’s what keeps me in check.

Let’s talk about your growing up days and the refugee story, which you alluded to in one your post on Twitter. How was life those days and what were the lessons you learnt?

I believe this is an experience that should be narrated in a book someday. Yes, I have lived as a refugee. I have experienced three civil wars as a kid and it’s something I’ll wish on no one. I intend to elaborate on this part of my life very soon and share this grass-to-grace story with the world. I remain humble and grateful to God Almighty, for my life is a testimony.

You are planning to write a book on some of the challenges you had over the years. What inspired the idea?

I believe it is always good to tell ones’ story and inspire someone out there. People think I have had it all rosy with no thorns. But sharing my life’s struggle and letting people know how I came from nothing to something is my way of inspiring people that they too can be anything they want to be as long as they stay focus and work towards it.

You claimed to have slept on mattresses outside and went through a lot before you became the sought-after Juliet. How did those moments shape your life?

These moments of my life have made me who I am. I am a very strong woman and it motivated my independent and hardworking nature. It has moulded me into the woman I am today. When I write my life story in a book, I’ll love people read it and be inspired, as well as learn on how they can use those bad moments to shape their lives eventually.

In those times, what kept coming into your head and what was that thing that kept you going?

I was a kid; so as a kid, you don’t think of anything except you’re scared. Fear is all I felt. I had no clue what was going on,  but all I wanted was to see my family together, alive and to be in a happy home again.

One can say that you have had your fair share of dark moments in life. If you look back at those days of nothingness to the life of opulence you now lead, what comes to your mind?

All I can is that God is good and I serve a God that never fails. And, that God does answer prayers but in His own time.

At what point did acting start for you and what exactly was the attraction at that time?

I started acting at a very young age where I performed at talent shows in school and in church. I was also singing at those talent shows and in the choir. I spent my entire childhood dreaming of becoming a superstar. Luckily, In 2004, I won a beauty pageant and I got a call for an audition; I went there and I got the lead role for my first movie ‘Crime to Christ’. That’s how it all started for me. I have been able to use my career to impact many lives and create other avenues for myself and my brand. Apart from acting, I’m a professional compere, I’m into music, I run a production company, Jewelz Productions and we produce and direct films, musical videos, TV series, you name it.  I’m also an entrepreneur and I have my own line of beauty products, Moda lipstick line and Shades by Juliet Ibrahim eyelashes. I also own the Juliet Ibrahim Foundation.

You are a mother of one and you still have an almost perfect carriage. It is hard to believe you have kept your shape intact. What’s the secret?

Secret is staying conscious of how I intend to always look and be seen. If I am going off track I diet, work out and put in the work to stay on track. Healthy eating habits are also very important. I drink a lot of liquids: water, fruits, and vegetables, sleeping for eight hours and trying my best to stay happy always.

What’s your assessment of the movies in Nigeria and Ghana; what do you think is the difference?

There is not any difference, to be honest. We are brothers. We need to stop the unnecessary comparison. We all work together and we are pushing African movies on the international scene. Let’s support each other and keep up the good work collaboratively.

If you are to ask God for one more thing in life what would it be?

God has blessed me. I’ll probably ask God that His will be done in my life and to be able to give me the power to see and know what it is my purpose is on earth, so I can fulfill accordingly.