I dream to be in Hollywood, win Oscar —Nollywood Actress, Damipe Adekoya

She was recently awarded the ‘Best Actress in a Lead Role’ at the 5 Continents International Film Festival in Venezuela for her role in the movie, ‘The New Patriots’. Theatre Arts graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, in this interview by FEMI OGUNTAYO, shares her career experiences and future plans. Excerpts:

You were recently awarded the best actress in a lead role at Five Continents International Film Festival in Venezuela for your role in the movie ‘The New Patriots’. What does this mean to you and how did you feel when you heard about it?

Getting the award got me more recognition and I felt I know what I was doing. It is more like a validation for me because I have never seen myself do any other thing aside from acting and filmmaking in general, which always lightens me up and I was never tired of it. So, in a simple sentence, I felt elated.

 

The much-anticipated movie ‘The New Patriots’ will be in the cinemas from July 11, how did you get featured in the movie and how would you describe your role in the movie?

Well, I guess one of the casting directors who might have seen my craft and know what I could do suggested me and I got lucky enough to get the lead character in the movie ‘The New Patriots’. So, my character, I played the role of ‘Simisola’. Simisola is the first daughter of the Republic of Aruguna, she paid attention to the well-being of the masses and also helped make her father’s reign not totally seen as a waste of time. She was also a lawyer who finished from Oxford University and came back home to make a great change in her father’s reign as the president of Aruguna. That is all I have to say about the movie for now.

 

Do you see this movie giving you an edge in the industry?

Yes, that is the dream of every actor; for your works to be ground-breaking and your name opening doors.

 

You joined Nollywood officially in 2013, how would you describe the journey for you so far?

Yes, 2013 was when I officially joined Nollywood but before then, I had worked with directors like Abiodun Arijan, I also worked as a contract staff with Ebony Life TV. But when I came in full time, just like every creative person, I had to make my dreams a reality. I attended a lot of auditions before I finally got a chance. I am still working because I am not even halfway to where I want to, and I am not there yet. So, I will just keep working to make sure that the best is what will come out of me.

 

Do you think it is difficult to become famous in Nollywood?

It is hard to be famous in Nollywood, because it is crowded, even though the sky is big enough to accommodate everyone. For everybody, I think there is a time for you to fly. It is like a queue, when it is your time, you will get known and your works will also speak for you. For me, I do see it like I am not in the industry for the fame, the fame will just be a plus for me because I see film work as a business and an opportunity to get famous. I call myself a filmmaker, I don’t just say I am an actor or an actress because I imagine things that are intellectual in my head and want to bring them to the visual aspect of things. So, for me it is not about fame, it is about the business.

 

What are the major challenges you face in the industry?

As a producer, because I produce movies too, I write scripts and I act; I think it is funding. Especially when you have a lot of things that you think you can put out there, so we need a lot of executive producers in the industry to help us. For some of us who are so passionate about the job, we even use our life savings to make those things come to reality. So, for me funding is the major challenge in the industry.

 

How was 2020 for you and what are the things you have worked on or still cooking for your fans in 2021?

It was a great year and a year of reflections. It took me back to the drawing board and I wrote more. I have scripts that I wrote out of sitting alone and thinking. Even the lockdown made us think about a lot of things we could do even when we are sitting in a particular position. 2020 was when this big project ‘The New Patriots’ came. So for me, it was a great year because I achieved more than what I had achieved in the last three decades of my life. What I am cooking; I have a few works coming out soon. I have a comedy film I just produced recently, which I titled ‘Japa’. Japa means ‘run away’ in the English language and I also have a few other projects that I featured in last year. I believe my fans will see more of it and the sky will be a stepping stone for me.

 

Is there an exemption to the kind of roles you play in movies or you can play any kind of role?

I am a very spontaneous and adventurous person, so I am looking forward to taking any role that might come to me, especially the ones that might seem difficult. I believe I am a total actor, so I should be able to fit into different roles, which is what makes me an actor. It is not really about me, it is about the character because I believe when I am up for a particular role, it is not me anymore it is about the character.

 

How have you been managing your marriage with acting?

I have an understanding family that gives me the cheer and applaud to go into it. Also, our parents are always there for me. I could remember there was a time my dad even called me to ask if I was okay and how the job was going. This is because they knew right from childhood I already told them this is what I want to do and they gave me a push and I really appreciate it and do not take it for granted. Then, for my partner, he understands that this is a job for me, it is what I want to do, it is not just about playing around, it is a job that I do and he gives me the cheers.

 

Do you believe it is difficult for actresses to stay in marriages?

I think it is not difficult for actresses to stay long in their marriages. I think it’s just the person and not about the job. It is just the people in the institution if you want to marry someone and the person wants to become an actor, just like I would be a banker and my partner would ask me what I do, he would take it that she is a banker. So he should also understand that I am an actress. All these things should have been sorted before getting married but I do not think your job as an actor should affect your home or marriage. In other fields too, we have people who are getting divorced for reasons that are best known to them, but I find it hard to believe that it is because of their jobs that their marriages are broken.

 

What inspired your most recent comedy movie ‘Japa’?

It was inspired by the COVID-19 lockdown. Like I said, I also write. So, I was just thinking and imagining that someone impregnates another person. I called on a particular actor, Jamiu Azeez, I said can you do something concerning this and we just did a little skit and put it online and it was really hilarious. Then we did an episode 2 in which I featured Iya Gbonko and Abeni Agbon and the internet went crazy seeing the skits. Then I thought why don’t I just turn this into a movie? Then I started thinking about all the hilarious people that could be in the movie and that would make people say the person who wrote this script is crazy and I decided to give it a shot. It really was just me thinking about what to write during the lockdown and it came out great. The thriler is out, you can check my Instagram handle @damipeadekoya to see it and very soon it will be out online.

 

What is the most embarrassing moment of your career as an actress?

That was when the a very early stage of my career and a particular filmmaker told me I should go and learn tailoring and forget about acting. It was so embarrassing, I almost cried out my eyes. If I was alone when he said it, I would have just shrugged it off and move on, but there were about five others in the room and they were all laughing. It was really embarrassing for me. I feel it is a bad thing to do because you never know who is who and you never can tell what the person is going to be in the future. If you cannot help, just say you cannot help, you don’t need to injure people with your words. But then it actually gave me the strength to forge on and I have promised to make something out of this.

 

What about your best moment?

My best would be when I win an Oscar (Laughs) and it’s yet to come. I dream to be in Hollywood and win an Oscar; that would be my best moment.

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