It wasn’t easy shooting movie in two languages —Actress, Iwalola Adekugbe

Fast-rising Nollywood actress, Iwalola Adekugbe, a native of Ondo in Ondo State got a face for herself when she played the lead character in Tunde Ola-Yusuf’s movie, ‘Ejiworo’. The Sociology student of the University of Ibadan, in this interview by FEMI OGUNTAYO, talks about her personality, career and upcoming projects. Excerpts:

 

How was your childhood experience like?

My childhood experience was not really a rosy one, as I was not born with the silver spoon but at the same time, we were not poor, we thank God. I lost my dad at a very young age, so I was living with my mum; it’s been my mum all alone. I went to one of the best schools, Success International School, then to St Monica Grammar school in Ondo town after which I moved to Port Harcourt. So, my childhood was not really rosy, but it was not bad either.

 

How and when did you join the movie industry?

Let me say 2007, back then in Ondo State. Then, I joined the Akin Adetunmobi’s group in Ondo. So, I used to go for this soap opera called, ‘Aditu Olodumare’. I stopped when I relocated to Port Harcourt, because there was nowhere to have rehearsals, there was no group to join. In 2009, I left Port Harcourt for Lagos and in Lagos, I used to follow my sister to Gbenga Adeyinka’s show called ‘Laff Mataz’. After a while, I went to several movie auditions. I was picked for a soap opera called ‘Private Sector’, after that I moved to Ibadan. So when I got to Ibadan in 2009, I was at The Polytechnic Ibadan. I graduated from the Polytechnic in 2012, which was when I joined Uncle Tunde Ola-Yusuf’s school – Ibadan Acting Studio. I can proudly say I graduated from there and that was it, till today I am still a better person.

 

The movie, ‘Ejiworo’ brought you into limelight; can tell us about your journey to stardom?

It feels so good to see one’s dream coming true. The movie ‘Ejiworo’ has increased my profile and turned me into a movie star. I am not there yet, but all thanks to God. I am not going to allow all this attention get into my head now, because there are more grounds to cover. At first, it was very rough and very tasking, but all thanks to God, it is a success story now. So, it feels good to know I am getting there.

 

‘Ejiworo’ is a bilingual movie, how was the experience like shooting in both languages simultaneously and at the same location?

It was very tasking at the beginning, it was not easy. When you now have an extra-demanding director, you have to give it your best. It was not easy shooting in Yoruba and English languages simultaneously. I had to shoot over 40 scenes in Yoruba language, now when it was time to shoot in English language; all together I shot about 90 scenes. The fact that we have to switch to English language immediately after shooting in Yoruba was also quite challenging and tasking, I won’t lie. But I was so prepared for it because I got the script early, I had time to read through and when we were shooting, the experience was crazy but thanks to God, it was a success.

 

Have you been getting invitations to feature in other movies from producers in the industry?

Even on my Instagram page, I have gained more followers and people have been dropping comments, reposting anything I post, come to my DM, call me and all. Even in my church and in school, even in the bank, everywhere I go these days, people just see me and compliment me and tell me I did well in ‘Ejiworo’. Some people will even wake me up in the morning with prayers, saying they love that movie and that God will bless me and all that. Of course too, I have been getting invitations from producers and directors who want me to feature in their movies. It feels great though.

 

The general and common belief is that most upcoming stars in the industry have to sleep their way to the top. What is your take on this and how are you coping with advances from producers, directors or even your male fans and admirers?

That is a lie and that belief is everywhere, be it in the bank or in other industries. It happens everywhere. I did ‘Ejiworo’ and nobody ever lured me into sleeping with him before anything. You cannot even try that with my director – Tunde Ola-Yusuf if you don’t have anything upstairs and you cannot deliver.

This is somebody’s career; this is somebody’s life we are talking about here. Maybe back then, it happened a lot but these days, you can even produce a movie yourself and get a director to direct for you. People will see what I can do through that movie, so it is more than sleeping around. If you are not good, even if you get what you want and get featured in the movie, the viewers will be the ones to judge you and they would ask if you know what you are doing. On advances from producers, directors and male admirers and how I cope with that, I would cope. Aside from the fact that I am an actress, on a normal day, several people ask me out, so as an adult I know how I manage and cope with that. I have not had experiences like a situation where someone will say I have to sleep with him to get a job or a role for that matter.

 

You are a beautiful and attractive lady, many of your fans would love to know, are you in a relationship?

Yes, I am in a relationship.

 

What are the things you find challenging on this job as an actress?

Meeting up with the demands of many directors can be challenging. Understanding the intention of the writer and becoming the character the writer had in mind when penning down the script is another thing that can be challenging as well.

 

Are there roles you would never play as an actress?

I am not a fan of nudity, so I am not going to play nude.

 

What is your ideal kind of man?

Of course, a God-fearing man, an understanding and loving man and an intelligent man please. Intelligence is very important, then, very educative and industrious.

 

What upcoming projects are you working on?

I am working on my own movie titled ‘Osunkunbi’; it is coming up next month, August. It is a multimillion naira project, so people should be expecting it. I gave it my best and Tunde Ola-Yusuf directed it and I promise not to disappoint you my fans.

 

Some words for your fans and supporters.

I sincerely appreciate you all. I want to deeply appreciate you all and I want to say a big thank you for being there for me. God bless you and I want to say I will never disappoint you guys in anyway, I love you all.