We waited for more than a year for Ini Edo, the first runner-up of  last year’s edition of  Sexiest Lady in Nollywood event, to show up.

And when she  finally showed  up, she was full of apologies on one hand and praises for the Saturday Vanguard team for the good job they are  doing for the entertainment industry, especially Nollywood.

This is her story as captured by Ogbonna Amadi, Entertainment Editor and Ben Njoku

Why didn’t you attend our awards ceremony for winners of Sexiest in Nollywood last year?

I couldn’t attend the event because I was working somewhere in the East. I tried to obtain permission  from  my producer but he wouldn’t let me off the hook. Again, while we were there, some of my colleagues travelled out of the country, meaning that I had to stay back till the production was through. After that, I have been working ceaselessly, and at the same time, travelling within and outside the country. Along the line, I got married.

So, you  have been pretty busy?

I have been extremely busy. I think  God has been merciful in that direction. I have never had a dull moment at all.
What do you think of Nollywood today?

At the moment, I think the industry is experiencing some setbacks, financially. I don’t know why! May be, it could be as a result of piracy and other militating factors which are affecting the industry. But it’s not as if the industry is not going to improve in future.

How many movies have you done in the last few years? I can’t put a figure right now because every week I’m in Nigeria.

I have been working consistently.

Do you still make much money as usual from the industry?

I must confess that we are no longer making much money as we used to make in the recent past, simply because the producers are no longer making much money as they used to make. Definitely, it’s affecting whatever they are paying to the artistes.

You always travel out of the country. Why?

I actually have something very important that usually takes me out of the country every now and then.

Is it marriage?

Of course,  yes.

Couldn’t you decide to settle down at a particular place, either in Nigeria or over there? Is it because of the craze of acting ?

It’s not just about the  craze of Nigerian  movies. It’s my profession. Acting is my profession. It’s not just because of the money but it’s as a result of my love for acting. Moreover, I have one or two things that always bring me back to the country than  acting.

So, each time I come home to attend to those things, it would require me to stay back for a period of time.
As a newly married woman, you need the fruits of the womb to solidify your marriage.

I think, my husband and myself have a plan towards that. I have discussed with my husband over it, and I have decided what and when we have to do everything that we have to do.

Isn’t distance a barrier in  marriage?

It doesn’t matter. I’m always there with him. I just returned to the country last December. And he’s coming home before the end of this month. So, before he got married to his wife (referring to herself), he knew what his wife was doing, and he also knows that his wife lives in Nigeria.

Does it mean that you can’t secure a place in Hollywood, in case you want to settle down with your husband over there?

Hollywood is not a place you can get into easily. Right now, this whole thing started last year. It’s not as if I have been there for a very long time. But I’m working out something to enable me be at a particular place for a long time to come.
How do you cope with your lonely moments?

Just to get busy working.

I mean lonely nights and cold…?

Laughs.. Which cold? What about those sisters in the convent? Like I said earlier, it’s not an easy thing, and I can’t tell you that it’s something we both are enjoying. But at the same time, we have to make sacrifices. It’s the little sacrifices we have decided to make at this point in time.

Are you saying in time to come you may want to quit acting?

Definitely, something will have to give way for another.

So, when are you  hoping to settle down completely?

I have already settled down.

Why are you always controversial ?

I used to ask myself , why am I controversial? I wouldn’t know why people decide to talk about me every now and then.

I wouldn’t know why! I just do what I know how to do best and go back to my house. For some reasons, even if I’m in the States, they will continue to talk about the things I’m supposed to be doing in Nigeria. The most important thing is that 99 per cent of the things people say about me are nowhere near the truth.

What’s your relationship with your fellow actresses?

Cordial.

But the last time your sister represented you in Vanguard, we noticed some kind of face-off between herself and Genevieve?

Genny didn’t know her. I have no problem with Genevieve. She’s a good friend. All the same, everybody has got the right to do whatsoever that pleases him or herself.

Let’ talk about Sexiest in Nollywood. When you first noticed the competition, how did you react?

It was very flattering, in the sense that I couldn’t imagine my name being listed among those stars who were leading during the contest. For me, I felt flattered, and thereafter I resigned to fate, saying, let’s see how it goes. Then, I knew I had a lot of  highly placed in society who were calling me on phone to inform  me concerning the proceeding of the contest. It  makes me thank God all the more.

Were you disappointed that Genevieve carried the day at last?

No, I was not. Genevieve is a pretty girl too. It could have been anyone of us that was in the top three. There were a lot of other girls who couldn’t make it to the top three. What would they have done? They wouldn’t kill themselves either.

For me to have made the 1st runner- up, it remains a thing of  joy because it wasn’t something I was expecting. I didn’t know I was going to go that far.

How about  family life- growing up among your siblings and your parents?

It was fun. I came from a family of four, three women and one boy. I’m the second child of my parents. My parents are all that I have got in this world. They are the two most precious people to me. They can’t afford to hurt me because it will be like hurting themselves. Whatever affect me equally affects them  too.  So, my parents have really been  very  helpful.

While growing up, did you start off as an actress?

No, I didn’t . I have always had too big ambition. I had always wanted to be either a lawyer or a television broadcaster. Those were the two professions I wanted to belong to.  That was why I went in to study Mass Communication. Initially, because of the fact that I was not lucky enough to pass my JAMB, I took up a diploma course in Theatre Arts at the University of Calabar, and later switched over to Mass Communication.

At the time I was studying Mass Communication, I found myself falling in love with the stage.  In that process, there came a time , when ASUU was on strike, and there was this guy in our Department called Emeka who informed me about an audition that was taking place in Aba.

A lot of girls from my school went for that audition, including students from UNIPORT, and at the end of the audition, I was given a minor role to play. And after featuring in that movie, I went back to school, and two years after graduating from school, I returned to the screen.

During that period, you were not given any major role?

Not at all. That was why I was trying my hands on something else. If you ask me, ‘when did your  acting  career start?’ I would like to trace it to the time I really started featuring in big budget movies and playing prominent roles, and that was in 2003.

What movie was that ?

It was called, “Thick Madam’ and I played a prominent role in that movie. Featured in the movie were Eucharia Anunobi, and other big names in the industry. That was the first time I met with Eucharia, and she really encouraged me.

After that movie, I did a couple of other movies, which brought  me to limelight. But the major movie that gave me a break was “World’s Apart” featuring Laz Ekwueme, Liz Benson, Kenneth Okonkwo and many others. It was awesome.

I didn’t expect to get the role because then, I wasn’t the producer’s familiar cast. Somebody else was assigned to play the role , and along the line, the person disappointed the producer. Out of desperation, because they needed to shoot the film, and at the same time, wanted somebody that has a similar posture with the person they had in mind.  There and then, I was invited to come and pick up the role, even though the producer had some doubts concerning my ability to deliver the role.

Actually, the character I was to play in that movie was very deep. In fact, I didn’t have the confidence that I could do it as it was a very challenging role. I had to try my best to prove I had got the talent. At the end, the movie came out fine.
How do you feel seeing that those things you used to do in the past, you don’t do them anymore?

It’s overwhelming. Naturally, I have always not been an ordinary person. For some reasons, I have always been in the middle of so many things, both positively and negatively. I have always been that person you  must encounter first before encountering other people. It didn’t just happen. All of a sudden, I started having jobs here and there. I was like trying to do all of these jobs at the same time, and also, getting myself into troubles.

I mean, sometimes you find yourself stepping on so many people’s toes and all that. You are either on one set or the other, trying to do so many things at the same time. In coping with the situation, I found myself in the habit of delaying productions a little, because of the pressure that was on me at a particular time.

What was it like, I mean your love life…the  men that crossed your path?
The men would always make passes.

Even now that you are married?

Yes, I kept changing my lines every now and then. In fact, I do change my lines at least twice in a year, because of the unwanted calls from men that want to make advances to me.

Any embarrassing moments?

Yeah, I recall a situation where somebody walked up to me at the airport sometime ago, and dragged me from the rear. I was putting on this loosen  top, and when he dragged me rudely, I felt embarrassed because I was not expecting the action, at the time he did it. I immediately held on to my top, thank God the rope didn’t cut. But it was an embarrassing situation.

I screamed at the guy, but I think, he was a fan who was trying to draw my attention, while I was rushing to catch up with a flight.  I screamed seriously.

There was this rumour that you had to fight over your husband with his ex-wife, Ruth, and that Ruth  has something to do with Jim Iyke’s fiancee, Keturah. Was it true?

I have nothing to say on this, because I didn’t have to fight over anybody here. I was just on my own when the man came asking for my hand in marriage. I never met with her, nor set my eyes on her. As for Jim Iyke, or whatever ,I was not in the picture. I didn’t need to fight over anybody’s right.

You have not told us how your husband won your hand in  marriage?

It’s all about compatibility for you to find someone that is a friend. That was what I was actually looking out for in  marriage. I did not want a rich  man, or someone that throws his wealth here and there. Perhaps, I would have gotten  married long time ago. I wanted to marry my friend, someone that can tolerate  me, as well as me tolerating him.

How did you meet your husband?

I told you, we were talking on phone until he visited Nigeria where we met with each other.

Was he married at the time you knew him?

He was separated. I met him when  he was separated from his ex-wife.

How did  he get your phone number?

Phone number !  They always can get phone numbers…. Anybody’s phone  number.

How come you are the lucky person?

There’s always a lucky person.

What did he say that ignited your love for him?

We became friends first and foremost. The idea of marriage was not pronounced then.

Then  how did he propose to you?

He proposed to me while we were in Dubai. He went on his knees, with the diamond ring and asked me to marry him.

The ritual took place in our hotel room in Dubai. We dated for close to a year before we got married to each other. I think I saw the signs coming  and I was not surprised that he proposed to me then.

Did you break anybody’s heart or someone broke your own heart?

I don’t think I broke anybody’s  heart. But breaking my heart ! I think I had the experience once.

Did your husband work very hard to win your heart?

He didn’t work very hard for anything.  We just found out we could work together and live together as husband and wife.

But how does he feel when he watches your  movies, especially when you are playing those romantic roles you are noted for ?

He doesn’t smile at all. Rather, he keeps mute. It’s okay. This is my wife, it’s getting  too much. But he understands the fact that am doing my job, and right now, I’m beginning to cut down  my approach to those romantic roles.

You  mean you are drawing a limit to playing romantic roles. ?

Yes, for some reasons, I’m married and bearing somebody’s name. My husband  has a family. Even if he understands my profession, he has to put his family into consideration.

What’s it like being married, after years of being a single girl?

It’s memorable. A different world. But naturally, I love to serve people. I love serving my guests. Sometimes, I would cook a enough food and invite people to come and eat with me. I like local food, and I also like to cook for people to appreciate me.

Let’s take your mind back to the time you met with your husband, and how  he bought you a ring that got lost on board an aircraft in the States. What does that ring signify in your life?

It was my engagement ring. The ring got missing while I was on board on a Delta plane in the United States.

What was the worth of the ring?

I have no idea.

But it must be a special ring?

Yeah, it was a diamond ring.

How did you feel when it dawned on you that you  had lost the ring?

I cried like a baby, not just because of the money involved but basically because of the fact that the ring was something

I valued so much.

Even when he replaced the ring, you went ahead to lose it again?

Surprise…! Where did you get that information from? Na wa oo! Anyway, the second ring was actually robbed from me by bandits in Lagos. Some bandits armed with guns accosted me around Apogbon bridge in central Lagos and robbed me of my priceless ring.

How did your husband react for losing the ring for the second time?

He felt very bad. But he also know, naturally I’m  not a very careful person. And that is it.

Before you got married, you had expressed worries concerning negative publicity that trails your career as a star. How much of these prices have you paid?

I think I have paid the overall price for the next generation to come. Are you not aware? I  have paid the prices for every other actress in Nigeria. And I have had the height of it all.

Which one is the height of the prices?

Were you not aware when they rumoured that I was caught in London for a drug related offence?

Also, what of the rumour that your husband went bankrupt, resulting in a crack in your marriage and again that you funded your own marriage pending when your husband would refund your money?

These days, I don’t know how I feel anymore. May be, I have got  used to the rumours. I’m just hearing all these things you people are asking me for the first time. I must state here that there’s no crack in my marriage. I don’t bother myself anymore. I just need to go and anoint myself.

Did your people oppose your marriage to your husband?

No problem. My people were very supportive. Initially they had reservations about the distance but it was resolved thereafter.

Was the same thing applicable to his own people?

They all supported the marriage, and for the fact that they all attended our wedding ceremony was an indication that they supported the marriage. Similarly, his people had their reservations like my own people. These days, families don’t like their wards to marry, especially celebrities. They had their reservations but at the same time, we both did our home works and convinced our people to give the marriage a chance.

The first time, you did your first movie, what was the pay like?

Little money. Though, I didn’t negotiate  for the fee. I asked the producer to pay  me whatever he felt was okay for me.

And it was a lot more than I had ever taken then. It was too much money for me at my level at that time.

Right now, how much is your take home after a production?

I’m not comfortable talking about my fee, because there is no fee tag on what we are paid as movie stars. A friend could approach me to star in his/her movie for a lesser amount, and I oblige him the request. That does not mean that I will settle for the same amount when another person approaches me to star in his film. I have done a movie where I collected no fee from the producer.

People always  accuse you of being combative and unnecessarily ambitious. Do you possess any of these qualities?
Those are not the qualities you can use to qualify whom I am.

Then, who are you?

I think I’m a very real person. I just like to be myself. I don’t like to put myself in any situation that’s not real. I like to be myself anywhere I go. Am I really combative? I’m actually one that does not know how to keep malice. I’m this kind of person that does not know how to hide her feelings . If you offend me, I will be blunt to tell you to your face that you have offended me.  I have never fought anyone in the cause of my career.

Again, why are you regarded as one of the bad girls of Nollywood ?

I don’t know.

May be, because of the kind of roles you  play on screen.

I want to believe so.

When playing romantic roles, kissing yourselves,  does it move you?

Not at all . It’s not as if  it’s a private thing. While they are filming us, there are other people around who are watching us. So, you cannot allow that kind of illicit thought to come into your head.

You just produced your own movie last year. What are you working on currently?

The movie titled “ The memories of my heart”, was directed by Desmond Elliot, and features, Ramsey Noah, Nse and many others.  The script was written by Emem Isong. I’m  yet to premiere the movie. And am working towards premiering it.

Any charity works ?

I do some charity works whenever I’m not working. I do visit some orphanages. I actually did some charity works in Liberia sometime last year. It’s going to be posted on my site very soon. For three days, while I was in Liberia, I visited old people’s homes, war survivals. I want to see how I can use that project to set up a foundation. Back in my country home, I have a lot of people on my pay roll.