One of Nollywood’s fast rising actresses,
Belinda Effah spoke to us
recently about her career, love life and
more. Read excerpts from the interview
below;
How has the journey been so far?
The journey so far has been wonderful.
There was a time when Belinda Effah was
a struggling actress, just hoping to feature
in a movie. But today, the story has
changed. Thanks to Royal Arts Academy
owned by Emem Isong and her sister,
Uduak Isong Oguamanam who featured
me in their movies, “Udeme mmi” and
“Kokomma.” Featuring in these movies
opened a lot of doors for me. I have won a
lot of awards. I’m actually on my own, and
I now reject scripts . I’m not saying that
I’m there yet, I’m still hoping to get better.
But things are actually different today.
Was it part of the challenges you faced
before hitting the limelight?
Then I was not matured as an actress,
physically , emotionally and mentally. That
was my build up process, the producers
then knew what they wanted. They didn’t
tell me I was a bad actress. They said, I
had what it takes to be a good actor. But
looking at me today, things are different. I
have added some weights in the right
places. I guess I fit into certain roles now
than before. May be, they didn’t see me
fitting into a particular role . Like I said
earlier, I wasn’t just matured then.
How were you able to get the role that
gave you the break?
That was after I featured in Emem Isong’s
“Udeme mmi.” Her sister invited me to be
part of the cast of her film, ‘Kokomma” . I
read the script and I liked it because it was
a very touching story. To me, every script
that comes my way, gives me an
opportunity to do something differently.
How many movies have you done till date?
I have done a couple of movies. I don’t
keep count of the movies I have featured
in. But I’m happy that I’m busy every other
day. I’m one actress that like to take a
break to refresh myself after I have done
one or two movies, so that I can give my
very best into a production. I’m always
busy, I have won several awards and I’m
hoping that the endorsement will start
coming my way.
You seem to be eyeing endorsement by
some multi-national companies?
Yes, that’s the glory of every actress that
you are doing great works and people
want to associate with you.
When you are on set , what’s the
experience like?
I have different experiences especially
when I’m working with different producers.
Usually, I get fair treatment. As an actress,
I have to bring my game to the table. The
industry is such that we have new faces
that are strong as well. To me, it is not
about featuring in a movie that matters,
rather it’s about making an impression on
the people.
Belinda Effah was formerly described as a
regional actress. At what point did you
come out of that circle?
As an up and coming actor, when you are
offered a role to play in a movie, you don’t
really care what you are being offered. You
just want to be on set. Some people will
want to describe me as a regional actress.
But back then it’s not as if I haven’t done
a couple of English movies . After all, I
started with English movies before I later
featured in the two movies that brought
me to the limelight.
Maybe, it could be because the producers
of these films distributed them far and
wide causing people to get to notice me.
But the producers of my early movies did
not distribute the films well and that’s why
people tend to see me as a regional actor.
So, it doesn’t make me a regional actor.
I’d feature in both English and indigenous
movies. If I can speak the language, give
me a script and I will interprete it to the
best of my knowledge.
How did you feel when you were
announced winner of the Best rising
actress in Africa at this year’s AMAA?
That I was nominated for the award was a
win for me. I kept an open mindset that if I
win the award it’s an additional
advantage to me. I was very tensed
because I checked out the profiles of
everybody that was nominated in that Best
Promising Actress category. Prior to my
nomination, I have won GIAMA Awards,
and I have also gotten a lot of recognition
awards. It was like ‘let the trend keep
flowing.’ I was overwhelmed when I was
announced the winner. I’m grateful to
Royal Arts Academy because they didn’t
know me from anywhere. They saw
something in me which they tried their best
to harness it.
Between last year and this year, you have
been on top of your game. What’s the
secret?
I came into Nollywood at the right time. I
joined the industry between 2005 and
2006. Then I don’t think the industry was
ready for me. I was part of the Next Movie
Star reality TV show and I was one of the
last Housemates standing. I thought
participating in that show would create a
new opening for me. But it never did. For
four years ,I couldn’t lay my hand on
anything tangible.
At a point, I had to take up a paid job
because I needed the money to fend for
myself between 2006 and 2008. I came
back in 2011 through the first series of
“Tales of Eve.” It gave me a huge platform
because a lot of people got to watch the
series. That was when the industry
actually called me back. A lot of people
identified with the series, and since then, I
have done a couple of movies.
The movie, Kokomma, got me nomination
for the 2013 Africa Movie Academy Awards
( AMAA). After featuring in that movie, a lot
of things started to fall in place because
people started calling me for jobs. Like I
said earlier, I joined Nollywood at the right
time, and everything is working out fine for
me.
What would you say prepared you for what
you are doing today?
I have always wanted to act. I was part of
a drama group in my church back then.
When the opportunity presented itself, I
took it with everything that I had. I could
recall that I was still in school when I
came on holiday in Lagos. A modelling
agent saw me and wanted to use me to
brand their product. Thereafter, I saw an
advert on television where actors were
invited to audition for the production,
“Shallow Waters.” I bought the form and
went for the audition. Later, I was given a
minor role. My passion for acting
increased, and each time, I was on
holiday, I would storm Lagos to pursue my
passion. So, immediately I graduated from
the university, I relocated to Lagos.
What did you study in the university?
I studied Biotechnology in the university.
Initially, I wanted to study medicine, but
when it was not forthcoming, I switched to
Biotechnology . But at the back of my
mind, it has always been the art. I have
always wanted to be an actress right from
when I was younger. Then, I always
wanted to do something with the choir
department of my church. So, when the
opportunity came, I just went for it.
What are you doing to stay on top of your
game!
As an actor, the best thing you can do for
yourself is to keep improving on your skill.
There are people you look up to. For me, I
have several mentors; Genevieve Nnaji,
Majid Mitchel and Uche Jombo. I pick one
or two things from them in terms of acting,
packaging and business sense and try to
make it Belinda. I don’t copy anybody but
if there is need for me to watch a
particular scene in a movie in order to
perfect my act, I will do so. Also, in terms
of business, one needs to know what
these star actors are doing. That’s
basically what’s keeping me going.
Have you played a love scene in a movie
before now?
Yes, I have played love scenes before now.
I played love scenes with Alex Ekubo and
Majid Mitchel who molested me in the
movie I featured with him. I also played
love scene with Kanayo O Kanayo.
Each time, you are playing the love scene,
what actually come to your mind?
I am an actor and I have to be
professional in my acting.
Some actors would tell you that while
playing love scenes, their emotions
usually come to play?
But mine never come to play because I
become the character that I’m playing. I
get involved in the character and when I’m
through with the role, I return to myself
again.
Have you been faced with a situation
where you have to reject the person you
are paired in a movie?
I hope to get to that stage where I would
make a choice. But don’t think any Actor
has the liberty yet to reject whoever he or
she is paired up with. Otherwise you have
to give your reasons for rejecting the actor;
whether he or she is a bad actor or the
person has a body odour. So far, I have
not been paired up with someone I
considered as a bad actor or one who has
a body odour.
You must have faced some temptation
while on set ?
I always keep it professional whether it’s
white collar job or not. I don’t want a
situation where I would be uncomfortable
on set simply because I have dated one
person or the other. I respect myself and I
respect everybody. Even if I’m tempted, I
try to keep it professional.
Have you had such a request before?
Of course, we are all human beings. I am a
good looking lady and a role model to
many ladies out there. I’m not acting
because I want to act. I have a desire to
affect people’s lives positively. Leadership
is in service. I don’t want to mess up my
reputation now because I am working on a
project called “Belinda Advocacy Against
Rape.”I have a reputation to protect. I
have a lot of things in the offing. If one is
tempted, one can easily go outside the
industry to get herself a boy friend. I can’t
afford to mess around in the industry.
Are you saying that you will not marry in
the industry?
I didn’t say that. If I find somebody in the
industry that I fall over heels in love with,
why not.
How often have you had heart breaks?
My heart have been broken and I have
broken other people’s hearts. So, no hard
feelings. It happens all the time where you
like someone and he doesn’t like you. That
does not mean there is no true love.
Have you found true love?
You will get to find out very soon.
What do you like in man?
I like a God fearing man, and one who is
down to earth.
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