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The movie starred actors like Clarion Chukwurah, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Belinda Effah, among others. She played Swam, the heroine’s first child and daughter.
In this interview, she talks about her crashed marriage that produced a five-year old daughter, her career, and the movie that relaunched her into the mainstream acting. She also refuted the rumour making the rounds that she’s currently in a fresh relationship, dismissing, any plan to remarry soon.
Would you say the role you played in Emem
Isong’s latest film, “Apaye: A Mother’s Love, ” is your most
challenging role in movies so far?
I played the role of Swam, Apaye’s first child and
daughter, who eventually got pregnant out of wedlock. I don’t think
I would use the word “challenging” because it’s a real
life story. It was more emotional for me than challenging
because one had her own personal struggles and emotions. It was easy
for me to portray that character in the movie. Apaye’s life
was very amiable as well as emotional when she had to raise her six
children amidst abject poverty. It was very easy for me to break into
that person in order to interprete my role.
Apaye: A Mother’s Love, is a moving story of
one woman’s quest to succeed in the face of hostilities.
Inspired by true events, it is the story of Elder Irene Yepayeye
Uriah, born in the creeks of what is now Bayelsa State, who was left
to fend for her six children all alone. She struggled and
toiled to provide for her family and to make sure they enjoyed the
life she never had. Against all odds, she became a woman of
substance in a community that never believed any good could
come from her.
I must appreciate the family of Elder Irene Yepayeye
Uriah for their co-operation while the filming lasted. They
were all simply amazing. They are approachable, personable, and
so humble to a fault. I feel like a lot of people should
emulate lifestyles like theirs. No matter your status, just
keep it real and stay humble. I had amazing and solid bond with
the family. They were fantastic in every sense of it.
Would you relate the story to your own story?
It’s very similar because I am a mother and I have a
child. It’s hard to be a mother as well as a woman. So, Apaye
had to deal with raising six children by herself. I don’t
know how she was able to do it, and I don’t know where she got the
strength to push on and did all that she could do, for her children.
It’s hard, and that’s how I can relate to her story, as a woman
and a mother.
How challenging was it playing the role of Swam?
It was more emotional for me having to play that role.
As a human being, we all have our personal struggles and challenges.
The story captured some part of my life. Apaye had six children and
she single-handedly raised her children. My mum at some point
in her life had to cater for me and my siblings. She faced a lot of
challenges making us what we are today.
How does it feel being part of the production?
It is a breath of fresh air for me because you
don’t do films like this every time in Nollywood. It is
really expensive to pull off something like this. So, for me,
it is refreshing to know we can achieve this great feat.
And the cast?
It was awesome getting to work with my senior
colleagues, Clarion Chukwurah, Kanayo O. Kanayo and others. We
had a great time filming in the creeks of the Niger-Delta. So,
it was a great bonding for us since we were working outside Lagos.
We bonded as a family. We were part of the
community and they will never forget us in a hurry because they made
a lot of impact in our lives. And so did we. That was the
first time Nollywood would be shooting in their community. It
was fun and would remain memorable for us all. The crew was
equally fantastic. Everyone brought in his or her expertise.
From the producer, Emem Isong to the director, Desmond Elliot, I
would say we had a competent crew.
You have been in the industry for a very long time,
yet your face is rarely regular on screen?
I took some time off to have my baby in 2008. Later, I
relocated to the United States, where I worked on one
project or the other. Also, I really don’t do a lot of mainstream
films. For me, it’s okay to feature in two to three films in
a year and I’m satisfied with that. I can have my daughter
watch my films in 10 years from now. That’s what matters to
me, and not how many films I’m able to churn out in a year. For me,
it has to do with quality over quantity.
How long have you sojourned in the industry?
I have spent eleven years in Nollywood.I started my
career after featuring in the much acclaimed movie,’Amazing
Grace.” I also starred in popular films like ‘Black
November’, ‘Mutanda’, ‘Wheel of Change’, ‘Reloaded’,
‘Forgetting June’, ‘Darima’s Dilemma’, among others.
Would you say, “Apaye: The mother’s
love” relaunched you into the mainstream acting?
Yes, I would say so. I have started producing my own
films. I just finished producing my first movie. And very soon,
it would hit the market. You are going to be seeing more of me now
than before. As a matter of fact, I have about three
films that I’m going to release before the end of this month.
Becoming a producer?
I’m used to the ropes, I understand the terrain. I
know how these things are done. I was once married to a film
director, so, I’d understand what film making entails.
You said, you were once married to a film maker?
Yes, once married to a film maker. But not any more.
What really happened?
Am I really going to say that? Life happened.
Were you ever worried by negative stories that
trailed the crash of your marriage?
Never. I tried my best. I might not look strong but I’m
very, very strong. If you are in show business or any business
that put you out there, you have to build a solid, great wall of
China around you. My wall is very tall. I only hear about it,
but I’m not moved one bit. So, I have a huge wall
around my person.
You are still bearing Jeta Amata’s
name?
Yes, does it change anything? It doesn’t.
How you would describe your ex-husband?
Jeta is a great man, fantastic dad but life has to move
on.
If you have the opportunity to star in his film,
would you do so?
Why not? He was my friend before he became my husband.
We had a great relationship. We are connected for life. We have
a child together. If I see him, as often as I could,
it doesn’t change anything.
But you are not feeling the same way you felt when
you met him?
That’s relative!
And you are not in a fresh relationship?
I’m not in a fresh relationship.
Won’t you give marriage another chance?
I don’t really know, but I don’t want to say never.
It is the future, I prefer to live in the now and see how that goes.
But for now, it is about me doing more films, charity and raising my
child. So, that is my priority.
At a time, you were only featuring in Jeta’s
movies. Was there any difference between then and now?
I did work with a lot of producers and directors at a
time. But I featured more in Jeta’s movies. Secondly, I think he
was a fantastic director. He understands his onions. He knew my weak
points and he also knew where he would touch to get the best out of
me as an actor. There are a little difference here and there. But
it’s great that I’m beginning to get the opportunity to work with
more producers and directors than I did in the past.
Did you have any formal training in acting?
Not at all. I was watching an interview session on CNN,
where a Hollywood actor revealed that at some point in his career,
despite the great experience he had in drama and film, he decided to
take up a three years course in acting. Sometimes, we shouldn’t be
too comfortable because we are making a lot of money from what we do.
We should actually make out time to enhance our skills.
What did you study?
I studied History and International Relations. I
had a lot of dreams and career choices but none of them was acting.
Fortunately, I found myself in the acting profession and I’m loving
it.
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