Plus-size actress, Allwell Ademola, is an award-winning Nollywood star who is doing quite well for herself as an actress, scriptwriter and producer.
Not many of her fans know about her singing abilities and how she got into acting in 1985 after getting auditioned for a programme on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
In this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI, she speaks on how her big stature gets her roles and why she doesn’t want to get slim.
YOU have done quite well for yourself. What inspires your own story telling?
I will say God Almighty first because without Him, I don’t think we will have the brain to think of what to write and get the message of what to write when we see stories or hear stories that need to be told to the public.
I love movies with social messages like I mentioned earlier. As far as I am concerned, we are in position to tell movies that will affect lives positively. It is not until you climb on the pulpit that you can reach out to people.
Telling these stories in the way we know how to, is also a means of preaching the truth to people. We are also preachers. Even if I want to do comedy, I would want to reach out to people. I will want you to learn a message.
You won’t see me do a sci-fi movie because i don’t live in the U.S. I live in Nigeria, so, I learn from the things going on around me. They inspire my story telling.
Talking about switching character; you are good at it. How do you do it?
That one is a gift from God. Hard work and rehearsals are also important. The bible says, “Faith works by hearing…” Don’t mind me, my mother is a pastor.
I will just rate everything to hard work, because when you keep practicing something, it becomes a part of you and you master it.
Your mother being a pastor, how did you get her to support your going into acting?
My mother has always supported me. The only person I didn’t get support from was my father. But my mother was able to convince him at the end of the day. You know how mothers are.
You have been in this career for a while. How do you fund your movies?
It has not been easy. But the passion and faith has kept me going all the while. And basically I raise the funds I need by myself. Sometimes, we get sponsors too but that does not happen all the time. I will say most of my movies are been funded from my personal money.
Why didn’t you quit for lack of fund?
Most of us that are into this business do it because of the passion. It is a talent; you have a gift, it keeps pushing you to want to do more regardless of the challenges that come with it. You won’t want it to die inside of you and that is what has made me get to where I am today.
We recently lost a great actor, Pa Kasunmu, what can you say about him?
I have never met him as our industry is a large one. There are people that I have not even met since I joined the industry. I have never been chance to meet him one on one.
What do you think can be done to stop entertainers dying due to financial constraints?
It is only the government that can make this possible. We all need help. Even the rich need help; it is just that our help varies.
Some 10 years ago, I was not where I am at the moment. I needed help at that time. Even now I still need help. So the more it comes, the more problem that comes with it.
But why is it that it seem celebs do not plan for the future?
People just say all sorts. Everybody gets to be in one problem or the other. This is not just about entertainers; it is just that, it is easy for people to point at us because we are in their faces all the time.
Just like they say that entertainers sleep around a lot, don’t doctors sleep with nurses? So it is everywhere. They also say entertainer’s marriages do not last, don’t lawyers, teachers divorce? These things are everywhere. The same way it applies to us; we are not God, we are also humans. The same way we have blood running through our veins.
So whatever problems that is happening with entertainers, is the same that is happening in other sectors. It is not about us not managing our responsibilities, it can happen to anybody.
How have you managed to stay off scandals?
That I can say has never happened because I cut my cloth according to my size. It is just God; it is not that I am perfect or better than anybody.
Talking about your size, has it been a sort of challenge in getting roles?
Never! Infact, my stature gets me roles. Everybody cannot be slim. There are roles that fit into everyone’s stature or size.
Has it ever crossed your mind to trim down?
No and I don’t think I ever want to. I just try to be healthy which is very important. I eat healthy, exercise, and drink lot of water.
What are we expecting from you?
I have quite a number of stuff going on. But my fans should watch out for Love Me Some More. Do you know I also sing? I just dropped a single Ire. I am working on the video at the moment.
Tell us about your music side?
I have been singing for 20 years. This started a long time ago, and I have a 12-man band. And we perform at events.
Did music come before acting?
No, acting came before I took up music professionally but I have been singing as a child and I have managed to keep the two going.
Why do you do more of Yoruba movies?
I started out with English movies. That was until Uncle Jide Kosoko invited me over to play a role in a Yoruba film that was after spending like 15 years in the English sector. That was how I did just one Yoruba movie and boom! I was everywhere. I must confess the movie took me to the next level. I was surprised because I had been in the industry for quite a while but didn’t get such attention. And that is why I so much appreciate the Yoruba sector of Nollywood. They help people to grow. Now, I act, produce and direct Yoruba movies. I still do English movies, though.
You are one of the cast of The Scourge movie, why did you accept the script?
I love scripts with messages; messages with positive impact to society as a whole. That is one thing I always watch out for when I am called upon as an actor.
For the movie The Scourge, this is one particular movie that cut across everyone; from parents, to teachers, students, and the society. The movie tackles the misuse of drugs, and it menace in the society. It also treats how to leave a healthy lifestyle.
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