People asked if I was a witch —Lilian Bach

Nollywood actress, Lilian Bach was brought into limelight in the 1990s as a model, competing in the Most Beautiful girl in Nigeria pageantry, after which she was featured in television commercials and then the movies in 1997. Born to a Nigerian mother and Polish father, the Outkast role interpreter, is grouped among the most beautiful faces of Nollywood. The Theatre Arts graduate of University of Lagos, who is famous for her role in Ogidan and Married to a witch, told Newton-Ray Ukwuoma the reason behind her perceived absence from the movie scene. Excerpts:

Some people still talk about your role in the movie, ‘Married to a witch’, how do you feel about this?

[Laughs] Do you know after that movie came out, I was asked so many times if I was a witch or if I had been possessed by evil spirits before?

And what did you say?

[Laughs] I didn’t have to be a witch to play a witch.

Was there any other backlash after the movie?

No. funny enough, people liked it, they liked the way I interpreted the role. I got good reviews instead.

A lot of people might want to know why you’ve been off the movie scene for so long and can you tell them?

I wasn’t totally off the scene. Though, some other businesses caught my attention, every once in a while, I would do a film or two. For instance, in 2015, I featured in ‘One Good Man’. The movie was premiered in 2016. I became a producer too. Of course, sometimes it is necessary to take a back seat and watch. The issue of piracy played a role in my decision. You don’t want to put your money in a project that you’re not sure of return after investment. Sometimes you have to stay mellow and wait for the right opportunities and avenues to market your movie without falling into the hands of pirates.

Are you back because those avenues are in place or do you have any ideas?

Yes. Now, we have the online platforms. You hardly see movies on DVD anymore because producers are afraid that once their movies get into DVD they easily get into the hands of pirates, and that is bad business. They make all the money and producers go broke. Secondly, the cinema is another avenue. A lot of producers do cinematic films because they can easily recoup their money without exposing their movies for piracy. Then there is the DVD. This is for now the third avenue. But this depends on the producer, most don’t, others do it when all debts have been cleared and they have nothing to lose.

Beside acting and producing, what other areas are you looking to delve into in the future?

First, I haven’t really done much as a producer, so I should like to say that I want to get to the level where my movies get international recognitions. I want my movies to conveniently compete with movies done home and abroad.

Do you have any movie project you are working on?

It is not a movie this time, it is a soap. And we are going to be shooting in January.

Do you have a working title?

Yes. It is tentatively called, The Baby mamas. That is the new challenge for me.

Would it be benefiting from a personal experience?

No. I am not a baby mama, but based on experiences of people around me, people I have seen. The series will be unearthing the reason people become baby mamas and daddies. So, it is a collection of real people’s experiences.

Why do people become baby mamas?

People become baby mamas for different reasons. Sometimes, it is because of circumstances and forces against which they had absolutely no powers. Some plan it, others fall into it innocently.

What would you say is the reason for the many baby mamas and daddies in the entertainment industry?

The industry has advanced. The advent of the internet and social media is one. Fans now interact with their celebrities more. The stars hardly have peaceful marriages any more. They can’t even date peacefully. Some female fans want to be identified with male celebrity crushes. A male superstar, who is going out on an ordinary date, probably may not have plans to become a father afterwards. But then he gets to sleep with this female fan and the next thing is a child. And I am being careful so that I don’t let the cat out of the bag, but you are going to see all that in the soap. We will highlight all the grim truth about being a baby mama or daddy.

Since it is a social phenomenon, do you have any word of advice to young people concerning this?

Yes. I tell people to practice safe sex. If you are not married and you cannot abstain from sex, make it safe, so you don’t end up being a baby daddy, except it is your choice. But remember that you may have to bear the sole responsibility of taking care of that child. Because you don’t want to bring a child into the world to suffer just because of your stupid decisions. There are a lot of things to think about. I am not condemning anybody because I know that circumstances can lead to unprotected sex. Nevertheless, the truth is good for us all.

Do you have a beauty regiment?

Yes. Like every other person.

Would like to share with your fans?

First, I try to lead a healthy lifestyle. I don’t eat anyhow. I believe what goes in radiates outside. I keep away from unhealthy food. I take a lot of rest. I listen to my body. When my body tells me to rest, I rest, some sleep maybe. I pay attention to my body always. And for my skin, I don’t use harsh products. I treat my skin very tenderly. I moisturise regularly with very mild and organic products.

Have you ever had any embarrassing moment with a fan?

A lot. I can’t count how many. Generally, some fans want a piece of you. What I mean is they just want to sit beside you, hold you, you know, have a feel of you, not that they want anything else. I have had one or two come to hug me on the road. This has happened a number of times in London. A guy once lifted me surprisingly into the air on the street. I was so embarrassed. He apologised, of course. Told me he didn’t expect to see me on the streets of London. I was afraid. You know, what if he had lifted me and I suddenly landed on my back and had my spinal cord broken.

You now wear a golden tooth. Have you been to Mecca?

No. it is just a fashion thing. It was done in Hamburg, Germany.

What are your typecast roles and how do you feel when you get them?

Depending on the producer or director, being a beautiful lady, they think the role that suits you is being a seductress or a prostitute or a woman trying to snatch another woman’s husband. It can be frustrating. I experience it almost all the time. And because of that, other directors don’t know you can do far more that being a seducer. I acted the witch well. They don’t know that this beautiful woman can also be a nutcase. She can act crazy or even calmingly like the role of a doctor. It is not all the time you see a beautiful face that you think of a seduction role.

You were in some Yoruba movies as well. How was it?

Very easy, because I am Yoruba. I speak Yoruba.

Can you rate your competence in Yoruba?

My mum is from Isale Eko. Idon’t speak the core Yoruba, but my competence in Yoruba is sufficient for people to understand me.