By Florence Amagiya
Coming from a modeling background, Benson Okonkwo can best be described as a  young man with many talents. He is upcoming in Nollywood, yet he has done over thirty movies .

Today, he has a unisex saloon in Enugu and a modeling agency known as Mr. Packaging. In this interview, he talks about his role in a gay movie which has made him controversial and much more.

Enjoy!  

The gay rumour about me

It  started after I played a gay role in movie titled Desperate Hawkers. I must have done a wonderful job interpreting that role to necessitate the issues that generated after that particular movie. But if I am asked who started the rumour, I would say my male colleagues started it out of envy and jealousy. Perhaps because they feel I am good looking and I get roles in the industry.

I didn’t create myself!  I didn’t give myself the talent that I have. I thank my producers for working with me and seeing the talent in me. I do not womanize like some of the guys in the industry.  Or club or live a hard life. The other controversial movie is Pregnant Hawkers.  Acting is a make believe world and it is an actor’s job to be versatile in it.

If an actress plays a part of a prostitute in a movie, it doesn’t make her a prostitute.  I am not saying l do not have gays, bi- sexuals or even lesbians as friends but l am straight.

I am not bi- sexual, neither am l homosexual.I have dated my girl for close to eight years now. So far so good, I would love to take her to the altar some day.  Besides, I am from a Christian home. l wasn’t taught a habit like that by my family. And looking for money cannot push me to do such.

l am in a relationship but  the culture demands that the eldest gets married before the younger ones. Hence l am waiting for my elder brother to tie the knot first before thinking of mine. I am from a family of four guys and no girl. I am the third child out of four.

My movies

I have done close to 30 movies in the past. Some of my movies are Veronica; Indian Doctors; A Better Tomorrow; My Wicked Uncle; No man’s Land; The Strippers; World of a Prince; Total Love; War in the Palace and so on.

At the moment, I am in Asaba currently on set for a new movie. Before this movie, I was in Lagos for three weeks doing a big modeling job.  It is a TV commercial for Orange Drugs.

While l was in Lagos, I modeled for Delta soap commercial and for their Passion Energy drink. I also modeled for Hiar Thermocool calendar and a newspaper advert.

Sleeping my way to the top

I am not into that.  I am not saying that l cannot date an older woman that l am attracted to. And if she comes loaded with the gift of life, who am l to say  no to her gifts, but I wouldn’t date someone because she is taking me to the top.

I would date her because I like her. You know, I am from a very comfortable barground and my parents deemed it necessary to set me up to their own standard. Hence l am not doing badly as a business person.

Most young acts and even the very old ones would feel that dating the right person can take you to the top. It may take you there if that’s God original plan for you. But if that’s not your destiny, then you are doomed because you won’t even get there and you would hate yourself for doing that in the first place.

Trust me, talent is the only equipment you need to get to the top in Nollywood!  Movie makers and producers are willing to drop you like a piece of garbage when they find out that you are not good for their investments.

Women  in my life

There is one woman I can die for and that woman is my beautiful mother. She has always been by my side, she promised to be by my side and she has kept her word. She enrolled me into acting and modeling.  I love her so much and she brought me closer to GOD. May God bless and keep her.

People think I’m dating Chita Agwu. Chita Agwu is my colleague in the industry and also my friend. She is not my girlfriend, besides her boyfriend is a friend of mine. Like l said before, I have a girl friend and I love her so much. My girlfriend and I plan to tie the knot when the time is right.

I am from a Christian home and we are six in number. I am also from Anambra state. I have a wonderful father and an amazing mother who wouldn’t mind giving up her life for me to live. Growing up was fun for me as l am filled with nostalgia.

Going into Nollywood

I started out as a model. But I have always loved watching Jim Iyke in movies. It went on like that until one day, my mum called me up and gave me twelve thousand naira to register with in the industry.

I am a natural actor and l have always put up shows at home, hence I am known for my acting prowess. I am even popular at church because of my part in Good Friday drama.  Usually, l take the part of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. And even at our school drama group.

I am an upcoming actor. I cannot say I have arrived. We learn everyday. Nobody is perfect in the field.  GOD has the final say. We pray that HE would bless the fruit of my labour. I wish to be an A-list actor in the nearest future.

I cannot actually rate myself at the moment because l am also new in the business but my future is very bright. Sometimes, l get blinded by it!

At the moment, I have a unisex saloon in Enugu; I also have a modeling agency known as Mr. Packaging in Enugu.

Sexual harassment in Nollywood

I am a guy and I have not been sexually harassed before.  My female colleagues sometimes claim they have been harassed, but I do not know if what they are saying is the truth. I believe sexual harassment can only be described as that if you are decently dressed, yet a producer or director harasses you.

But if you are not decently dressed and you claim you are sexually harassed, then l am of the opinion that you are the harasser! Ladies should learn to dress the way they wish to be addressed!

You don’t go for auditions and at the end of it, call on the producers for a part in the movie without thinking you wouldn’t be asked to pay in kind. It’s better you work on yourself, go for your auditions and pray. You would be called when it is your turn.

Hope for the future

In the nearest future, I want to have grown my unisex saloon business to the extent of having branches in every big city in Nigeria. I also pray with the help of God to go on with my promotional modeling business and also become one of Nollywood’s finest actor.

I am still struggling and I know that GOD will bless my hustle one day.