Saturday 23 January 2016
I CAN ACT #NUDE–IJEOMA GRACE AGU } TheNation
At nearly 10 years old in Nollywood, actress and producer, Ijeoma Grace Agu, is living her dream, recently starring in ‘Taxi Driver’ and ‘Beyond Blood’. Married to fellow filmmaker, Daniel Emeke Oriahi, the CEO of House 5 Productions, Ijeoma, in this interview with JOE AGBRO JR., speaks on her early years in acting, and why she doesn’t support same-sex relationships
HOW did it all begin for you?
Right from when I was quite young, there’s been that flair for the creative stuff from liking movies to liking how they are made to writing. I started writing from primary three, trying my hands at novels. Of course, you can imagine how a primary three pupil’s novel will be (laughs) but it’s been a long time coming. I’ll say it started from childhood.
And where was that childhood?
In Benin. I grew up partly in Edo State and partly here (Lagos).
And how would you describe your childhood?
My childhood was fun. We didn’t have any television, so we were our own entertainment. I had sisters who can sing, act, dance. So, you will see us every day after school entertaining ourselves, so much so that people passing on the street will be looking through our gates to see (what we were doing). So, it was really fun growing up. And we were allowed to express ourselves. My dad has a creative side so, he allowed us express ourselves. So, all of that I think birth who I am today as an actor.
You studied (biochemistry) at the university. When did you start thinking you could take on acting professionally?
I actually started taking it (acting) serious at the age of 14. I was part of a theatre group called the Creative Squad if I remember correctly. That was in Benin. We were performing at the Abacha Cultural Centre then. I think it’s named something else now. That was for me my very first stint in professional acting. And then I went to university. While at university, I was writing films and sending it to marketers. And then finished with university in 2006/2007 and started doing this full time.
Your film debut was in El Dorado.
It was a TV series by Fidelis Dukker. I had about six scenes as the secretary.
Can you recall your experience?
I recall very well. We shot at his (Dukker) office then at Finbarrs Road and we finished quite late. Even before we started, I was anxious because I wanted to please. You know, it was my first time on set, first time acting for him. I was hoping I nailed it for him and all that. No much correction was made. I expected him to say, ‘cut, no, that’s not how to do it’ but I didn’t get any of that. I guess I wasn’t the primary force. We finished quite late and I had no means of getting home. I wasn’t mobile. So, it was someone else who dropped me at Surulere where I was squatting with a friend.
You also did a one-woman act where you played multiple characters. What informed that and how was the experience like?
That project was borne from a grant I got. I heard about a competition where they wanted creatives to create something original for a grant in the UK. And they needed 15 Nigerians here and 15 Nigerians resident in the UK and I applied for it. The first project I sent in was turned down. Then I sent in another one which was the one-woman show. For me, loving strong female characters, I wanted it full of strong female characters in a similar story.
And I had to pull them from books written by Nigerian playwrights. That for me too, was quite difficult because I didn’t know how to marry all of them together – how they can become seamless. But I had help, Aunty Joke Silva tutored me along the way; I had friends who were writers. We bounced ideas off each other. One of them was my lecturer at film school, Sunkami Adebayo. And we came up with what became Chronicles of Heroines from Nigerian Plays. And I sent that in and got the grant. I performed for about 10 minutes excerpt of it during the cultural Olympiad.
So, who is your own heroine?
My mum will remain my all-time heroine. And every strong woman out there that is holding the home-front. For me, they are heroines. I have a daughter now and I can’t imagine how they pulled it off with four, five, six children. I’m struggling with one and it is so overwhelming. So, every woman out there that sacrifices self for family is a heroine for me. And my mum being number one.
Every role comes with it different challenges but in your career so far, which role have you had to sacrifice the most?
Sacrifice, none. Challenging, all. In the past, I would select one probably because of the experience I had on set. But in retrospect, none of them is more challenging than the other because you have to remember that these are people who you’re not. These are characters that you are embodying that you’ve never had their experience and you have to go through what they are going through. It is challenging you embodying that character, being believable, giving truth to that character is a challenge on its own.
Have you always had hair on low-cut?
No… this was for a movie my company did, Taxi Driver Oko Ashewo. I had a pink and purple mohawk for the movie and after that, I cut it for another I did where I was a car thief. It was Jand Hustle but called Jimi Bendel. I kept the look because my husband likes it.
So, you mean you had to cut your hair for Taxi Driver
Yes. Because I wanted the role and the director, my husband, didn’t want me to play the part because it was an ashewo (prostitute) role and I’ve done a lot of ashewo roles in the past but I don’t care. I just wanted to work. I wanted to act. It was my company producing it and I really needed the part. And I remember when he was writing about the character, he encountered a woman at Oshodi, a young girl who was a sexual worker. When he came home that day, he said, ‘oh, her hair was like this, like this. I want that character to be like that.’
So, when I saw that the role was not coming to me, I went to cut the hair like that character and came back and said, ‘do I look like her now?’ (Laughs). I got the role instantly. (Laughs) He didn’t have the heart to say no. I mean, I had cut my hair, the glory of a woman. I took it off for a movie.
That’s quite brave…
Well, not really. I’ve done worse things for a role.
Okay, like what?
I’ve done stunts in movies that I’m not supposed to do. I was supposed to have a stunts double. I’ve injured myself, kissing other people.
Your husband is also a filmmaker but you talked of the length you went to secure the ashewo role in Taxi driver. As your husband, he won’t like to see you in that light…
Trust me, out of five ashewo roles, he has given me four. (Laughs) He’s a filmmaker. They are the ones who create these roles for us and put us in it. You’re an actor. You become what the script says you should become. It’s not a reflection of who you are or what you can be. It’s just a reflection of using your God-given talents to portray characters to its realest essence.
In Nigeria, we ape westerners in trying to make movies that are so real. Now, sex always sell. If you’re to portray the role of anashewo, how far can you take it to make it as real as possible?
As far as it is needed. As long as you’re not shooting porn, the actual copulation, you can simulate it.
I’m referring to the show-it-all nudity
If it’s relevant to the character and it won’t take away from the story. If it will add to the story, yes I would do it.
So, you can go nude in a movie
If it’s tastefully done, yeah.
How is nudity tastefully done?
There is art to everything we do as creatives. You’re not shooting porn, so the blatant showing of it shouldn’t be there. You simulate it and make it look arty in a way that is not disgusting.
How did you and your husband meet?
I auditioned for him six years ago and got the part. We worked on a short film called My Valentine. Then three years later, he came to watch my one-woman show and called me up again for his first feature, Misfit, which I helped him cast for and played a starring role.
And after we shot Misfit, I think both of us saw the similarities in our personalities. He is a very open and honest person. I like to think that I am as well. And then the passion that he has for the arts is like the passion I have for the arts. So, it was just a no-brainer that we would click on that level. Then the friendship blossomed from there. And we got married months after.
Now, with a daughter, how has it been combining family and work?
It’s not been easy but when you have support, it seems like it is easy but it’s not easy. With every responsibility in life, you just have to man up and do what you have to do. So, for me, when it comes to the work, we do the work. When it comes to family, it’s all about the family. I just do not like carrying over family into work. They are separate entities and I treat them as such.
Aside acting, do you do any other thing?
I produce for my company, House5 Productions.
What for you is more engaging, working as a producer or working as an actor?
First, producing is not my first love. I do it out of necessity. But I produce for all of the productions so that he (husband) can focus on his creative side as a director. So, I will say that is more tasking. It is not something that I really enjoy. I just have to do it for the company. Producing is more tasking. Acting comes naturally. It is easy for me and fun for me. Production is work, serious work – no smiles. (Laughs)
You’ve been in Nollywood for about 10 years now, how fulfilled would you say you are?
I am very fulfilled. I mean, doing what you love, what you’re passionate about, for me, that’s the whole essence of living. And the added advantage for me is that I get paid for it.
You got the BON Most Promising Award in 2014. Now, there is the AMVCA coming up shortly, how optimistic are you?
My film, Taxi Driver, was nominated for Best Indigenous film, so I am optimistic.
You’re very optimistic?
Yes, I hope to win.
Same-sex relationships have been gathering momentum, especially in the west but in this part of the world, there has been more condemnation and it’s even a criminal. As someone who is in the arts and in the forefront of promoting and exporting our culture, so to say, what are your own views on the matter?
I’m a Christian and I stand by that, it’s a sin. I don’t care if the whole world accepts it. It is against the nature of how God has made it. But, I mean, it also shows that signs of the times that is shown in the Bible in the book of Romans that men would be lovers of self, men lusting after fellow men, women lusting after fellow women. So, it’s not surprising that it is happening. The Bible said that it will happen and it has happened. It just signifies that the end is near. So, I actually abhor same-sex relationship.
Don’t you think it’s an infringement on some people’s fundamental human rights?
No, I don’t. Because I mean, God created us and gave us free will but at the same time within the confines of His word.
So, in your world, is it that people that believe in and engage in homosexual acts should be treated as criminals?
No.
But it’s against our laws in nigeria
It is against our law. But he who is without sin should throw the first stone. As much as I am against it, I won’t treat them (homosexuals) as criminals. For me, I just think Satan has whacked their brains to think they can only be with same-sex.
If you were given a role of a lesbian, will you take it?
Yes, I’m an actor.
Following the arrest and detention of Nnamdi Kanu, a leader of the Independent People of Biafra, the agitation for Biafra is getting louder. What is your view of the agitation for the sovereign state of Biafra?
Whatever would lead to war, I’m not a party to that. I just feel that we can all live as one. There is no need to segregate and say, ‘oh that person is from this place, that person is from that place.’ We are all one and we should live as one. Love each other, treat each other fairly as we treat ourselves. So, I don’t believe in all that segregation.
So, is that you don’t think there is a cause for Biafra?
What cause? At what cost? That’s the big question. What cause would lead to one killing my fellow human being? Is it worth it?
It is 2016. What should your fans expect from you?
More work with more international collaborations, more productions from our company, House5 Productions and more quality work from me.
Any particular one?
Oh yes, many. We have one in cinemas now, Beyond Blood which I think you all should see because it’s amazing, top quality, hot here and in the UK. Then, I have Jimi Bendel also coming out, I don’t know when exactly.
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