Controversial
and fast rising actress and TV presenter, Juliet Chidinma Mgborukwe, is carving
a niche for herself in Nollywood as one of the faces to watch out for.
In this
chat with CHRISTIAN AGADIBE, the TV presenter and divorcee talks career and why
she wouldn’t sleep with a director to secure movie roles among other issues.
Excerpts:
You
received an award recently, could you tell us about it?
Yes,
I won CityPeople’s award for Best New Comer (female category). It was a
great feeling. It gave me this sense of fulfilment. At last, I am on the right
path to leaving my footprints in Nollywood’s sands of time. I cannot help but
thank God for it. Winning this award has proved that I am making relative
impact. And this is just the beginning of greater things to come.
How
did you get your first movie role?
It
started after I had an interview with Yvonne Nelson on one of my TV programmes.
We got along so well she invited me over to Ghana to act in her first self
produced movie entitled Priceless. It was a wonderful experience and
guess what; I got to act alongside Majid Michael and Yvonne Nelson. The movie
was directed by Frank Rajah.
Were
you jittery when you faced the camera that first time?
No,
not at all because it came so naturally to me. Like you very well know, I am a
TV presenter so it was quite easy making the switch to movies. Which movie
would you say gave you your break in Nollywood? I can’t really say it was
this particular movie or that particular movie but some of the movies I starred
in like Ebube The only child, Yankee Students, Sisters Battle, Educated
House Maids and School Trouble among many others got me to where I
am today and I thank God every day.
So
far, has acting been a lucrative venture for you?
I
wouldn’t say lucrative, no, not just yet. However, it has been more about
putting my foot on the ground and defining my niche. The lucrative part will
surely be a by-product of this defined character I am building.
What
is your opinion on sex-for-role which is rumoured to be quite rampant in
Nollywood?
It
is an unpleasant situation; very unpleasant I must confess. I have faced such
scenarios before but I never gave in. You see, for me, acting is a passion. I
am not desperate for roles; not at all. I have turned down such offers and I am
glad I did. I won my award based on sheer credibility so I don’t see why I
should sleep with anybody to get a role. That would be belittling myself; it is
like the Esau Syndrome which is selling your birthright for a plate of
porridge. The movies I have featured were based on merit. There are still good
producers and directors out there who want to make real movies with excellent
cast and those are the kind of people I have been working with.
As
an actress, are there some roles you consider forbidden?
No,
everything I do in front of the camera is acting; make belief. I am only
playing a character whether as a villain or victor so I don’t consider any role
as forbidden. If you see me as a killer in a movie, it is just role playing.
Same goes for any other role you will see me play. That is what makes me an
actress; the ability to interpret different roles convincingly.
How
about going nude on set? It is all make-belief. Although our culture frowns
at it but people should please understand that it is all a world of
make-belief.
Are
you currently in any serious relationship?
Maybe,
but I have always tried to keep my personal life private and I still maintain
that stand; do you understand?
What
characteristics must your ideal man possess?
My
ideal man is the man in the Book of Proverbs. A man who will let me live my
dreams, shine without being intimidated and be proud of me just like I am of
him; that is a rare species right (laughter)?
What
do you consider to be the meaning of love?
For
me, love means selflessness which is giving yourself solely to the happiness
and well being of others.
Have
you ever been broken hearted?
Yes,
I have had my fair share of heartbreak. Really, it has a very bitter taste.
Tell
us about your growing up, were you born with silver spoon?
I
have dined with both a silver spoon and a wooden spoon and both experiences are
the things shaping my philosophy of life today.
What
were the challenges you faced as an up-and-coming actress?
They
were the false representations and unrealistic expectations of me as an actress
and a Lady.
What
are you working on currently?
I
am on different production sets as we speak shooting back-to-back.
How I deal with sex-for-role -Juliet Mgborukwe
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Rating:
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