Eucharia Anunobi, Olu and Joke Silva are my role models —Actress Uche Elendu

Uche Elendu is one of the most prolific female role players in the Nigerian movie industry. The actress, who commenced her career in the motion picture industry, recently speaks with NEWTON-RAY UKWUOMA about her struggles and motivations in her ten years in the industry among other issues. Excerpts:

 

How would you describe the events of your emergence into the movie industry?

Divine, I would say. Ten years ago, while I was still at the university, I met a friend, whose father was an actor at the time. She introduced me to him after I intimated her about my passion for the movie industry. He decided to give me a shot and here I am today.

 

Would you say life as an actress hasn’t been turbulent?

No way! Life as an actress is all about ups and downs, the popularity is a plus and also a minus too. Once you step out of your house, automatically you become other people’s business. I don’t usually have that freedom to do what I used to do freely before like taking strolls, going to the market and so on. But all the same, I thank God because it is by His grace that I am even here in the first place.

 

Beside this privacy issue, are there other personal challenges you face in the movie industry?

Having to stay away from home for weeks without being with my daughters is one of my biggest challenges. Our job can be really challenging, time-consuming and demanding, so having to incorporate it into my family life is a real challenge for me. Another is having to leave your comfort zone and camp in the bush if need be for the success of the production.

 

How do you handle your personal struggles?

First, God Almighty has been my ultimate inspiration and standby. I go to him every time in devotion and He has never failed me. He directs my footsteps and guides me all the way, my parents also inspire me greatly to stay strong. I always try not to be a disappointment to them in any way. I follow every guideline and principles of life they have taught me both as a child and as an adult.

I never let them down because God used them greatly to guide me through every stage of my life and pray earnestly for me to be successful in life. So, when I met hard rocks, I run to them. I will always be my daddy’s little girl no matter how much of a woman I grow into. Also, my lovely daughters are my jewels; seeing them everyday gives me the zeal to go out there and achieve greater things to give them the best of life and to set an example for them despite what life throws at me.

 

There was a post of you and a badly hit car on social media sometime. Describe to us what happened?

Yes, I was involved in a ghastly motor accident some years ago when I was coming back from a movie location. It was by the special Grace of God I survived it. A lorry rammed into my car at a cross junction at night. The lorry had no headlights so I didn’t see it coming. As I drove to cross, the lorry collided with me from the side. I didn’t even know what happened until I found myself in the hospital. Unfortunately, the lorry driver didn’t make it. Anybody who had seen how my vehicle wrecked as it was wouldn’t have believed that the driver of the car survived. I had my family and friends praying for me so I pulled through, all thanks to God. Since that day till now, I have never stopped thanking God for sparing my life.

 

Are there other testimonies?

Yes. My life is full of them. Childbirth in both occasions were trying moments for me, my first child coming after over 14 hours of intense labour and complications came out lifeless but God in His infinite mercies used a nurse to give her mouth to mouth respiration and she heaved a breathe before the doctors took action because they had already given up. And having my second angel after 9 years of having the first child wasn’t easy at all but honestly, these things just make me more assured that I am special to God and I am indeed a child of grace.

 

Who or what do you consider as the greatest influence in your life and career?

God is my influence through and through. He guides me, provides for me and protects me because He’s the only one I look up to.

 

How about in the movie industry, do you have role models?

I admire Eucharia Anunobi a lot because of how passion. She is about her job and she goes all out to interpret her roles. She has been my role model since I got into the industry and she’s someone I can work with anytime.  Also, we seem to have similar areas of interest and spiritually we connect, we also look alike, I receive a lot of prayers and spiritual advice and guidance from her. Also, I admire the likes of Olu and Joke Jacobs, Genevieve, etc. These are all great professionals I admire. My mum is my role model for sure due to the way she handled my siblings and I while growing up and the role she has continually played in our lives and is still playing in the life of my children both physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually.

 

Let’s compare when you started and now, what has changed? 

Life is a whole lot different now than it used to be some years back. First, I’m older. I am more matured and much more learned and experienced, more responsibilities and many more people look up to me so I have to make sure I don’t let them down. Aside that, not much has changed,I still go where I want to go, hangout with whom I want to hang-out with.

In this industry, a lot has changed progressively; we have graduated from doing dramas to making movies. In the past, people see our movie as just another drama or joke, but now the people are taking us seriously.

We have increased our expertise and technically, we are going with the trend and getting more reasonable pictures, our stories are more diverse and relatable. We have so many nice movies with very good story lines and role interpretations. There are diverse means of movie distribution, I mean way back, we used to go to the cinema to watch only Hollywood movies but now, our Nollywood movies are sold out in cinemas as compared to Hollywood movies. People are beginning to embrace us, corporate bodies are beginning to invest in Nollywood, brands have begun to evaluate our commercial value and endorse us to make their brands popular and sellable.

Nollywood is being represented in highly placed government positions and our voices are heard and recognised in government administrative issues. Infact, we have really grown and even though we are still working hard to get there, I am proud of Nollywood and proud of how far I have come and it is all by the grace of the Almighty God.

 

What are some of the changes that you would like to see in the sector?

I would love the law to fall heavily upon those pirating our movies. It’s not helping our industry at all because it has eaten deep into the system. A situation whereby a producer will spend money to do a movie and someone somewhere will get a copy and pirate other fake copies and start selling to the public, this is what we have been fighting against for years and are still fighting it. If it can be nipped in the bud, it will encourage the production of more quality movies with great contents.

 

What is your definition of style?

Comfort.  I want to be comfortable and classy with what I do, how I dress, where I go to, so I don’t get into undue pressure and get unnecessary attention. Style is all about being yourself, It’s as short as that. For me, I do the things I am comfortable doing, wear what fits me,and never settle for less. Just as all human beings are different in some ways, so are our styles. So, anyone who tries to be like another person automatically has no style. That’s the way I see it.

 

What are some of the items that you treasure most in your wardrobe? 

I’m not particularly vain or materialistic but I treasure every wardrobe item, the handbags, jewelries, shoes, the outfit itself, perfumes and so on because all these makes me complete when I go out.

 

How do you relax?

I’m an extremely private person and I enjoy quiet times a lot, I read books because I like to broaden my knowledge and I also love to rest but I go to the beach with my kids on weekends or accompany them to their friends’ birthday parties when my older daughter insists. I rarely go out with peers and colleagues to functions, I just love to stay indoors.

 

Some actors have been known to do other businesses to augment their acting career. Do you have any side jobs besides acting?

No. My job is very challenging and possessive and I find it difficult to keep up with any side hustle because I need to fully concentrate on putting my best into the interpretation of any role I am given.

 

So, you are a full time actor?

Well, yes.