BY ADERONKE ADEYERI

Sola Kosoko is an award-winning actress and daughter of the veteran actor, Jide Kosoko. She came into the industry in the 90s and has remained relevant since then. She is a prolific actress who has starred in countless films and with three films to her credit as a producer. All thanks to her father who encouraged her to go into acting shortly after graduating from secondary school. The now-married lady shares with Showtime Celebrity how she met her heartthrob, Abiodun Abinna, and the price she has paid for stardom, among other interesting things.

What influenced your choice of career?

To be honest, my dad influenced my choice of career. My ambition as a child was to become a lawyer or a broadcaster. My first appearance could be likened to a prop-like appearance. In 1987, I got my first role in a celluloid film after which I went back to school. Immediately after my secondary school education, I started appearing more in films. Some of daddy’s colleagues like Baba Suwe would come around and would tell me to come and act about three scenes and that was it. My first major film was Ola Abata in 1999 because I was cast for the role Alaja Wosilat. With that movie, my dad became more convinced that I should take acting seriously. But I wasn’t keen about it because I was seeking admission into the University. In the year 2000, my dad scripted another movie and he said I would not just take two or three scenes, but would be the main character in the film. I obliged reluctantly. I watched the film and I was not too happy with myself . I felt like I was too small and not beautiful enough and I decided to quit acting and concentrate on my academics. In the year 2001, I had another opportunity to act in a film as the main character again, I accepted reluctantly yet again but this time when I watched the movie, I was happy with what I saw on the screen. I was looking more matured, beautiful and I performed well. And that was the movie that shot me into limelight. With this, I started getting more invitations from other producers.

Sola and her dad, Jide Kosoko

How do you see the ‘’Kosoko’’ brand where every member of the family is into acting?
Not every member of the family is into acting. I have a younger sister that studied Cell Biology and Genetics and not in the acting business. I have another younger brother that studied the same course and he is not also into acting. My elder sister is a Civil Servant. We only have myself, my younger sister, Bidemi and my elder brother who is a movie director, that are into acting. The rest are into different fields of work. We can just say the business in some ways have become a family trade. I have plans to ensure one of my children goes into entertainment, be it music, acting or other things.

You are a career woman, mother and a wife. How do you cope with all these without one affecting the other?
It sometimes affect one another I must confess but by the grace of God I survive.

So how was growing up for you especially in a poligamous family?
I would just say that my family is blessed. Though we had times when we quarelled and that happens in every polygamous family. But in spite of our differences, we always come together as one. We, the children even forget that this person is not from my mum, we are just so close . We pray together,eat together and do things as one big family.

How did you meet your husband?
I met him few years back and that was before I was in the limelight. At first, we started as friends, very good friends. Back then, (before I gained admission into the University which took me some time) he was the one teaching me Mathematics which was a very difficult subject for me then. When I eventually gained admission to study Sociology, I decided to accept his proposal and we later got married.

What have you paid for stardom?
I spend more and is worrisome. I can’t go get stuffs for myself. This is because whatever is sold for 10 naira will be sold to me for 15 naira. I was at the market at a time and I bought something worth N200, the seller refused to give me my 800 naira balance on the account that she buys my films, watch my movies and that I will have to pay her for that favour. She eventually gave me 400 naira reluctantly and that is why I rarely go to the markets. I go to the mall instead but I really miss going to our local markets. Also, I dare not stay in the car alone. This is because if I have to get or do something, somebody has to be with me to help me get it done. So one of my PAs has to always be with me otherwise I might end up spending 5000 naira for something worth less especially when my ‘’crazy’’ fans are involved. I have also lost my privacy.

But we hardly read or hear about you?
That is because I try to keep a low profile, I am more of an introvert.

You have also been able to keep a clean sheet, what are the secrets?
Like I said, I am more of an introvert especially in public. Also, I don’t blow my own trumpet. Last year, the Federal Government sponsored a project called ‘’Nollywood Project Art’’where ten actors from the Yoruba sector of Nollywood went on a Diploma course in Performing Arts at the Olabisi Onabanjo University. Some of my colleagues will make so much noise about it but that is not me.

Many Yoruba films are poorly subtitled, why?
I think we are getting over that. When I was working on my last project which was shown at the cinemas during the Ileya festival, the lady who was supposed do the translation was out of the country. She advised me against using some hands whom she knew will not do a fantastic job, but will do the work within a limited time. I had to wait for her arrival. Sometimes too, it could be typographical errors. Even when I insisted on using the right hand and going through the job myself, some errors still found their way into the project.

Why do we have many producers especially among the Yoruba sector?
We have many producers because many people are joining the industry.

Or is it because many of you want to make more money?
Let’s be realistic. We all crave to make money. Again, it could be to become famous, forgetting there are people who are better suited for the job.

Had there been an instance where you had argument with your father on set?
Not really. Sometimes, our opinion about issues could be different. There was a time I was working on a project and I pictured another person for a role but he had a different person in mind. That, I can say happens a lot of times. But we try as much as possible to see reasons and go for the best.

What are the pains of being a Jide Kosoko’s daughter?
Well, I can’t remember any memorable one as I speak now but hardly will that happen. Around 2002 or 2003, armed robbers came to our house. On that fateful day, they saw my father’s portrait in my step mum’s room ( Late Henrietta Kosoko) and made inquiries what his picture was doing in her room. She told them he was her husband. Believe me, the gang’s leader commanded his boys to drop everything they had collected from our house and they left without hurting anyone.