Why some actresses marry rich, elderly men — Uche Ogbodo

She may be one of the highly featured actresses in Nigeria, but Uche Ogbodo began her career in the movie industry 13 years ago albeit with a rough start. A single mother and movie producer, Uche is also one of the actresses who was introduced to the industry by her own father in an industry almost always considered parents’ nightmare. How these experiences have deepened her appreciation of the movie industry, her relationship and perception about life were some of the things she shared in this interview with Newton-Ray Ukwuoma. Excerpts:

How did the acting career journey start for you?

I really never thought I would be an actress at all. When I finished secondary school, I wrote JAMB unversity entrance examination and was hoping to get admission into the university to study Law. I really have always wanted to do Law but God had other plans for me. I found myself in Nollywood. The thing is that my dad felt I had it in me to do well in acting and he took me to Nollywood and registered me.

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Where you one of the few actresses that shuttled between school and auditions and casting?

Initially, it was so for me but it became too hard to continue hustling between school and Nollywood, because my dad was having difficult times and he told me I should drop out and focus on one. So, I had to face Nollywood with all my heart.

13 years after, would you say that the journey to the top was easy for you?

It was tough for me rising to the top. I struggled a lot. It was not easy proving to the producers that I am talented or proving to my colleagues that I was good enough. I put my head out a lot of times just to get accepted. I know how hard it was for me to break into the industry, to get my colleagues to give me a chance to be a star. I know how hard it was for me to break through producers that do not like giving greenhorns opportunities to rise. It was a tough fight for me. And after breaking through that barrier, I also had to break through the media. It was not easy at all, I can assure you.

If you can say, where are you now in the industry?

Right now, it is not about acceptance. It is about growth. It is about new heights. I have conquered the devils that I know. But the ones I am fighting are the devils I don’t know.

Are you happy with the remuneration in Nollywood?

I don’t know if I am. And I am not going to say that I am 100 per cent happy because I am not satisfied. I am not where I want to be yet. I am still working.

What figure puts you where you want to be?

Nollywood is a bit confusing, because the system keeps changing. The pay is not stable and I cannot blame the industry. I would rather blame the economy of the country. If movie producers had enough funding they would be able to pay actors well enough. We are not being paid well, honestly. The money does not cover our expenses, considering who we are or the kind of lifestyle that we live. We are stars, we live flamboyant lives: you want to fly business class, you want to go on vacation, and you want to travel out of the country with your family. How much can you make to cover all these?

How can the industry share in this blame for low pay?

We do not have structures like royalties, pension and other things that make the life of actors comfortable in other climes; we are down with what we have. The producers are equally struggling to make ends meet. I say this because I am also a producer. I cannot pay an actor N5million or even N3million for a project.

Have you been paid up to N1million for any job ever?

Yes, I have been paid N1million for a job.

Has it been frequent?

It hasn’t been frequent this year. Who is going to pay you that in recent times? However, there are still jobs out there, and this year just started. I have jobs that paid me that amount, but it is not frequent. They rather negotiate with you. They can shorten a job of two weeks to three days so that instead of N1m or N1.5million, you can get N300k or N500k. And I don’t blame these people because they are trying to cut cost because of the economy.

What is the least amount you have been paid since 13 years ago?

13 years ago, I was paid N500 for a job of one month, some N1000, N1500. I was paid N5000 at some point. I started from the scratch. It is glorifying that I am here now.

And would you argue that this is the reason some Nollywood actresses marry rich, but elderly men to be able to chalk up the flamboyant lifestyle?

I am not going to say that. People make their choices. It is their business, not mine. Some people are lucky to meet rich people, some people are not so lucky. Some people are lucky to meet older men, who are rich, while some people are not so lucky. And some people prefer older men to younger men. It is a personal preference. It has nothing to do with the industry.

Recently, the story of a young actress marrying a rich, but elderly man was all over the social media. You mentioned earlier that celebrities ought to live flamboyant lives. Does the displacement in terms of remuneration warrant situation like marrying rich, but elderly men?

Just like I told you, marriage is a choice. It has nothing to do with the industry. I am not interested in other people’s lives or choices because in my life, I have made choices that people could judge me for. I don’t judge people. I let them live their lives and be happy.

In retrospect, would you choose a young man who is striving or a rich man who is elderly?

Okay, in that aspect I am somebody who is passionate about God. I am a very spiritual person. I am not fake. I am not materialistic. I don’t judge people by who they are or what they possess. I judge you by your spirit. That is why I had crises in my life and relationship because when people come around you and try to be who they are not and you don’t see that, you might be hurt.

The way you come to me is the way I take you. I don’t judge you base on the car you drive or the clothes you wear. And to answer your question, I don’t know if I would love to marry an older man or a younger man. I believe in love and I believe in a person’s spirit. The heart is what matters to me, not about your age or purse. How rich you are is even the last thing I consider in a man. I am hard-working. If I must be with someone, that person must be a hard worker. I don’t want to suffer in my life, yes, and at the same time, I still do not want to be with a lazy rich man. It is going to bore me to death. What matters is the strength in you.

What other career excites you aside from acting?

I love fitness. I love to work out. So, I am seeking a career path in that. Also, I love anything business, so interesting business ideas interest me.

Does this account for the reason you have lost so much weight compared to before?

Maybe, because childbirth changed my whole figure and I could barely recognise myself when I look in the mirror. And my career would have suffered if I had remained that way, so I had to work on myself.

How do you feel now?

I feel really great and more confident.

You were in a relationship that almost led to marriage?

Yes, I was going to be married to my ex, but it didn’t work out anymore because we were highly incompatible. So, we had to go our separate ways. I had a baby afterwards and being a single mother is the hardest thing I have ever encountered in my life, but it is also the best motivating factor in my life too. My life has changed a lot for the better since I had my baby.

Has your break-up discouraged you from falling in love again?

Honestly, I was broken when my relationship crumbled and I was pregnant and alone. It’s the hardest thing I have had to deal with in my life so far. I hated love, I hated men. But I am totally healed now. So, I’m good.

At some point in your career and at most of the roles we see you in, you were either seducing friend’s husband or boyfriend. Some fans have assumed these roles may well be you in real life. Do you like such roles and how do you manage public opinion about them?

Well, I owe the craft, my fans and my producers the duty to be good at what I do. So, when I get such roles I put in all my best into interpreting them. That my fans assume that my character is me and that I am my character is a testimony of the success of my craft and talent.  Also, I’m single, and I love to mingle with single people like myself. I do not have any business hanging with someone else’s husband or boyfriend. I don’t take people’s men.