Nollywood actress, Chika Ike, shares with JOAN OMIONAWELE her career, love life, fashion, style and other things. Excerpts:
FEW months ago, you became an ambassador of an energy drink. How did you land the deal?
The company did their research to check which artiste would represent their brand, and they chose me. It requires me doing a lot of promotions for them. It is a multi national company. They have over 20 products but that one is the most popular. It is a fantastic brand.
You also have a non-governmental organisation. What is its focus?
Yes, my NGO is named the Chika Ike Foundation. It focuses on helping street children. We help them with food, clothing, shelter and scholarships in order to improve the quality of their lives. We started officially on May 27, 2013.
You have been around in Nollywood for a while now. What has kept you relevant in the industry?
I always attribute all my successes to God, but it also entails hard work, dedication, perseverance and belief in oneself.
Continue after the cut...
What do you think stands you out in the industry?
Chika Ike differentiates me from others because I am real. I try to be myself at all times. I don’t try to be someone else; I try to be original.
How did your acting career begin?
It started in 2005 when I went for an audition. I was called four months after for the role, and here we are.
What were you doing then?
I was studying at the University of Lagos and I was modelling part time.
Like your colleagues, are you thinking of producing your own movie?
I love challenges. It is good to try things out even if they don’t work out. I think it is great to try something new. We shouldn’t just put ourselves in the box.
You are also the Chief Executive Officer of Fancy Nancy Collections. How do you juggle all these responsibilities?
It can get crazy sometimes because my schedule is busy, but I try my best to multitask. It can be overwhelming, but what can I do? I am still young; I have to keep pushing.
What aspects of your growing up linger?
I had a very interesting childhood because mine was a close-knit family, but I will always cherish the time I spent with my nanny. Her name was Rebecca. She taught me a lot of things because my mum was a busy woman who worked round the clock to take care of us as well as my dad. I had lots of fun with her, but right now, I don’t know where she is.
You just lost your dad. What is your fond memory of him?
My dad was a kind, soft-spoken man. He was a man of few words with a lot of wisdom. He was strong even as he battled his illness for a long time. My last unforgettable moment with my dad was when we went to India for his surgery and we went sightseeing before the surgery and had a father-and-daughter moment. When the nurses came to prepare him for the surgery, he held my hands and didn’t let go. He kept encouraging me.
Reports have it that you are set to have your own reality TV show. What is it about?
It is a reality game show called African Diva, created and hosted by me. I will be showcasing 22 girls in one house for four weeks with a weekly task. They will be fighting for the position of the African Diva. The winner gets N4 million and a one-year movie contract and other consolation prizes. It starts airing next month.
Why did you come up with this idea?
It is first of its kind, a way for me to create opportunity for up and coming stars.
What do you do to keep fit?
I feel everyone should try to lead a healthy life. Although it takes a lot of energy to wake up in the morning to do sit-ups or jog, with dedication, one can make it a lifestyle, because it is good for the body. I watch aerobics on DVD if I can’t go to the gym.
What are your favourite beauty products?
I don’t like too much chemical on my skin. I drink a lot of water; it is a cleanser for me. I get to eat lots of fruits and I make time to sleep.
How many handbags do you have?
I have a lot of them. I have lost count. And you can’t take a woman away from her shoes.
Can you buy a handbag for about $1000?
Hmm, I am guilty of that. I am so guilty of that. So, of course, yes.
You came into Nollywood acting much of the good-girl roles, but things are changing and the bad-girl character is evolving somewhat. Does this also apply to you in real life?
I am still that sweet Chika Ike; nothing has changed about me. But one thing with Nollywood is that one has to be versatile in the career, keep changing and giving the fans something new. I always challenge myself to put up with roles. It is nothing personal; it is just my job as an actress.
How do you react to negative comments and rumours about you from the social media?
At this point in my life, I hardly Google myself, because if you do, you may get heartbroken. I have a publicist and this keeps me from the stress of reading so much about myself. I don’t want to be thinking about what someone has written about me. I don’t want anything to keep me from my goals in life. At this point in my life, I want to be more focused. That is why I have a publicist to tell me what I should do or shouldn’t do. I try not to let all those things distract me. We all have feelings. People say we don’t care, but we do because we have blood running through our veins.
Your trip to Abu Dhabi early this year wherein you were lodged in the most expensive hotel has painted a picture of you being a flamboyant person. What do you say about that?
I like being happy. I do things that make me happy. I know there were lots of reactions; my publicist told me. If going to the moon would make me happy, I would go to the moon. If diving into the ocean would make me happy, I would do just that. That is the stage I am right now. I don’t need to let people’s opinions on how I live my life affect me. As long as I don’t hurt anybody in the process, nobody should feel bad about it.
Who was your celebrity crush while growing up?
Hmm, I see where you are going with that question. I can picture your headline already! I am not telling you that.
Every woman who goes through hard times in marriage always says she would never get married again. Is that the same with you?
Normally, I would not answer that question because it is personal, but I would say something: I still believe in love. Love is a beautiful thing.
What do you think Nollywood still needs to get right?
We are getting better by the day. But one thing I keep saying is: people should stop comparing us with Hollywood. It involves lots of funding. We lack funding in our movies because we aren’t like Hollywood. Distribution is another area where we have issues. We have limited cinemas and don’t know how to get our movies outside our shores. Piracy is also a big issue. You spend so much producing movies and someone out there just gets the profit for doing nothing. It is sickening, sad.
Have you ever lost your cool on set?
Yes I have. It is normal when one is under pressure. It happens to me and everyone else sometimes.
What is your take on tattoos?
I don’t have any.
Why?
I love art and even ask people what their tattoos mean, but I don’t want any ink on my body.
Chika Ike differentiates me from others because I am real. I try to be myself at all times. I don’t try to be someone else; I try to be original.
How did your acting career begin?
It started in 2005 when I went for an audition. I was called four months after for the role, and here we are.
What were you doing then?
I was studying at the University of Lagos and I was modelling part time.
Like your colleagues, are you thinking of producing your own movie?
I love challenges. It is good to try things out even if they don’t work out. I think it is great to try something new. We shouldn’t just put ourselves in the box.
You are also the Chief Executive Officer of Fancy Nancy Collections. How do you juggle all these responsibilities?
It can get crazy sometimes because my schedule is busy, but I try my best to multitask. It can be overwhelming, but what can I do? I am still young; I have to keep pushing.
What aspects of your growing up linger?
I had a very interesting childhood because mine was a close-knit family, but I will always cherish the time I spent with my nanny. Her name was Rebecca. She taught me a lot of things because my mum was a busy woman who worked round the clock to take care of us as well as my dad. I had lots of fun with her, but right now, I don’t know where she is.
You just lost your dad. What is your fond memory of him?
My dad was a kind, soft-spoken man. He was a man of few words with a lot of wisdom. He was strong even as he battled his illness for a long time. My last unforgettable moment with my dad was when we went to India for his surgery and we went sightseeing before the surgery and had a father-and-daughter moment. When the nurses came to prepare him for the surgery, he held my hands and didn’t let go. He kept encouraging me.
Reports have it that you are set to have your own reality TV show. What is it about?
It is a reality game show called African Diva, created and hosted by me. I will be showcasing 22 girls in one house for four weeks with a weekly task. They will be fighting for the position of the African Diva. The winner gets N4 million and a one-year movie contract and other consolation prizes. It starts airing next month.
Why did you come up with this idea?
It is first of its kind, a way for me to create opportunity for up and coming stars.
What do you do to keep fit?
I feel everyone should try to lead a healthy life. Although it takes a lot of energy to wake up in the morning to do sit-ups or jog, with dedication, one can make it a lifestyle, because it is good for the body. I watch aerobics on DVD if I can’t go to the gym.
What are your favourite beauty products?
I don’t like too much chemical on my skin. I drink a lot of water; it is a cleanser for me. I get to eat lots of fruits and I make time to sleep.
How many handbags do you have?
I have a lot of them. I have lost count. And you can’t take a woman away from her shoes.
Can you buy a handbag for about $1000?
Hmm, I am guilty of that. I am so guilty of that. So, of course, yes.
You came into Nollywood acting much of the good-girl roles, but things are changing and the bad-girl character is evolving somewhat. Does this also apply to you in real life?
I am still that sweet Chika Ike; nothing has changed about me. But one thing with Nollywood is that one has to be versatile in the career, keep changing and giving the fans something new. I always challenge myself to put up with roles. It is nothing personal; it is just my job as an actress.
How do you react to negative comments and rumours about you from the social media?
At this point in my life, I hardly Google myself, because if you do, you may get heartbroken. I have a publicist and this keeps me from the stress of reading so much about myself. I don’t want to be thinking about what someone has written about me. I don’t want anything to keep me from my goals in life. At this point in my life, I want to be more focused. That is why I have a publicist to tell me what I should do or shouldn’t do. I try not to let all those things distract me. We all have feelings. People say we don’t care, but we do because we have blood running through our veins.
Your trip to Abu Dhabi early this year wherein you were lodged in the most expensive hotel has painted a picture of you being a flamboyant person. What do you say about that?
I like being happy. I do things that make me happy. I know there were lots of reactions; my publicist told me. If going to the moon would make me happy, I would go to the moon. If diving into the ocean would make me happy, I would do just that. That is the stage I am right now. I don’t need to let people’s opinions on how I live my life affect me. As long as I don’t hurt anybody in the process, nobody should feel bad about it.
Who was your celebrity crush while growing up?
Hmm, I see where you are going with that question. I can picture your headline already! I am not telling you that.
Every woman who goes through hard times in marriage always says she would never get married again. Is that the same with you?
Normally, I would not answer that question because it is personal, but I would say something: I still believe in love. Love is a beautiful thing.
What do you think Nollywood still needs to get right?
We are getting better by the day. But one thing I keep saying is: people should stop comparing us with Hollywood. It involves lots of funding. We lack funding in our movies because we aren’t like Hollywood. Distribution is another area where we have issues. We have limited cinemas and don’t know how to get our movies outside our shores. Piracy is also a big issue. You spend so much producing movies and someone out there just gets the profit for doing nothing. It is sickening, sad.
Have you ever lost your cool on set?
Yes I have. It is normal when one is under pressure. It happens to me and everyone else sometimes.
What is your take on tattoos?
I don’t have any.
Why?
I love art and even ask people what their tattoos mean, but I don’t want any ink on my body.
Culled: Nigerian Tribune.
1 comment:
Nice one, but why avoid some questions?
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