Brain and beauty best describe Ruth Kadiri. In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, the screen writer, actress and producer takes a look at year 2014, describing it as a “very wonderful one.” She also talks about her new projects, career and love life.
helped me IT’S the end of the year. Can you tell us what 2014 has brought your way? 2014 has been a very wonderful year for me. I would say I’ve been blessed and I thank God for it. Most of the projects I penned for this year were actualised. That’s it.
Can you tell us about one or two of those projects that were actualised?
We started a clothing line called K and R. That’s my friend and I. We make customized urban clothes. We started off this year and so far it’s been good. I just finished my second movie project. The first was Matters Arising. And this other one is Somebody Lied.
What would you say is your biggest asset as an actress?
I would say it’s God first and may be my brain.
Some people think you are a better writer than an actress. What is your take on this?
I appreciate every talent that God has given me. Writing is different from acting. I don’t see myself trying to compare them in anyway. It’s my duty to do my job. It’s their duty to analyze it.
Can you share with us your best director and another director you can’t wait to work with?
I have been blessed to work with so many directors and I have personal relationships with some of them. Mentioning a name right now will put me in a very tight corner. I appreciate all of them for their strength.
Can you share with us your best co-cast; both male and female?
Majid Michel is a fantastic actor. That’s for Matters Arising. And we have somebody like Alex Ekubo, he portrayed the character wonderfully well. And then we have Eddie Watson from Ghana. He’s also good. On my project, I really don’t have much female cast. But there is a girl called Sharon Francis, she’s very good.
What lessons have you learnt so far in the industry?
I’ve learnt to be patient. I’ve learnt to understand that people’s destinies are different. And I’ve also leant to understand that not everybody will appreciate your style. Not everybody will understand where you’re coming from. All you need as a person is focus, because the easiest thing to do in this industry is to get distracted. The easiest thing to do in this industry is to follow the trend. But if you have a style and you are able to stick to it, as long as you know you are doing the right thing, you will get to where you want to go.
In this industry, people get a lot of bashing from their fans. How do you handle that? Recall that recently, you released some photos which didn’t go well with some fans.
I learnt from my seniors, if you want to go far and put yourself together, you have to be able to stay away from social media comments. I try not to read social media comments. Secondly, I wanted to do a photo shoot and I did that photo shoot. Like I said, if you have to listen to what people say, at the end of the day, you will just lose it.
Have you ever got a social media criticism that made you cry?
No. Not yet, but I pray it doesn’t get to that extent for me.
Have you had to kiss an actor that has a bad breath?
No, I hardly kiss in movies.
But you have kissed, so tell us the actor that has given you the best kiss on set?
Are you kidding me? I don’t know why people don’t understand that there is no personal attachment when it comes to kissing in a film.
Why do female talents in Nollywood appear richer than their male counterparts?
Hmmm, I don’t know. Do they? We women have a way of showing off things, things that naturally a guy will ignore and not count as something. They don’t even have time for social media.
You recently flaunted a Range Rover car on social media, including your boyfriend. What is the real story?
I didn’t flaunt any Range Rover on the internet. No, I did not. If you go on my Instagram page you will not find it. The pictures they found there I didn’t even know how. It was just a presumption from a blogger and apparently it turned out to be true that I got a Range. But I didn’t post a picture of my car. Again, the guy that was referred to isn’t my boyfriend.
So who is he?
He’s just my friend. Somebody I have known long ago.
Are you in a relationship?
So when is the bell going to toll for you?
Hopefully we will get there.
Do you feel successful?
What’s your definition of success?
Being successful is when you are comfortable with what you have and you are happy with it.
Do you have a new project you might want to share with us?
It’s still in the line of filmmaking. We are working on a project. It’s a movie called Over the Edge. And then I told you we just finished Somebody lied.
Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
I’m running a production company called Ruth Kadiri Productions and I’m hoping that in five years time it will be a household name. I’m hoping Ruth Kadiri will be a brand. I see myself as someone who inspires a lot of people. A lot of people look up to me and I hope that in the nearest future I don’t get to disappoint them.
What is your 2014 Christmas wish?
I hope to put smiles on the faces of kids because I love kids. Already, there is a project that will take place. It’s no longer an issue.
Let me take you back a little bit to your first movie project, Matters Arising. What was the experience like?
Matters Arising, was the first project and I would say it was my first successful project because there is no colleague of mine, even those I have not seen in the past three years that didn’t have some positive things to say about the movie. It was a wonderful experience filming it.
Its election year; who are you supporting?
I’m not going to say anything about politics.
What is your take on the newly established Audio Visual Right Society (AVRS)?
I’ve not heard about it but I think it’s good. Copyright in this country… I don’t know if it works. I copyrighted my title for a movie Dark Side sometime ago and the next month, I’m seeing a movie in the cinema with that title. I did complain, but since I didn’t have strength to fight it, I just changed my title. So I don’t know if copyright really works in this country.
You adore Uche Jumbo a lot. How would you describe her?
I think she’s the most hardworking person I know especially in this movie industry. And she’s the most sincere person. I’m somebody that doesn’t listen but she’s patient enough to…For a colleague who takes somebody else up and doesn’t give up on the person, that’s something I know I don’t have. So I appreciate her a lot.
You say you don’t listen, how did it play out when you were growing up?
I believe that every child who hopes to be independent should have a mind of his or her own. And I also know that in being independent not everybody would agree with you. If I don’t agree with you, you have to make me see reasons enough to listen, if not sorry. My dad is a complete gentleman he never raised his hand on me.
How has your business administration skill helped with movie career?
I’m a business woman. I’m now producing my own film. I run a clothing line called K & R. I think everything you learn as a person come together to make you who you actually become.
Where you born with a silver spoon?
No, did anybody say that.
You were raised in Ajegunle. Tell us about that experience and the transformation from there to where you are now?
As a child, I’ve always known what I wanted. In my bedroom then I had a write-up that when I become 18, I will rent my own house. My dad felt I should still be talking about my education at 18 instead of renting a house. But I insisted I want to be able to make my own money and rent my own house. He just laughed it off. So the desire to want to make my own money but in the right way, helped me.
And then growing up as a child in Ajegunle; its either you get lost in it or it helps you find your way. Right now, there are certain mistakes that I can’t make. I see a lot of girls making certain mistakes. If I’d not been able to overcome them from childhood, I would not be able to do certain things anymore. And then, growing up in the slum helps you to find yourself. It’s either you are defined or you are not.
You were once quoted to have said you fell in love at 18…
I didn’t say that.
So what happened at 18?
Nothing happened. I had that interview but I didn’t say that.
When was the first time you fell in love?
Sincerely, it’s my present relationship.
What is it about this one that is different?
I think he’s very mature. And he respects me a lot in a certain kind of way that I appreciate. If you haven’t been on the other side you probably would not even know that you are not respected.
Have you been abused in any way before?
There are certain things that I cannot take in a relationship. I don’t know if it’s wrong or right. I cannot sit down and my partner makes or receives a call from an ex and he is laughing. I can’t take that. But at some point, probably someone has tried to convince you there is nothing wrong with it. And now you meet somebody else who thinks it’s wrong. Abuse or disrespect comes in various forms that a lot of us don’t even identify.
I read somewhere that a female lecturer made passes at you?
I was in school; at first she took a lot of interest in me. In fact the first day I went to write that exam she took an unusual interest in me. But I didn’t see anything wrong in it. Every day she would come and look for me in school.
In fact, she knew the day I don’t come to school. She knew my scores. One day, I think I missed her text and I went to her office to see her. I was sitting across her like this and she just moved her leg and started to touch me inappropriately. I had to move away. I knew her daughter, so I went straight to make friends with her.
You visited your alma mater recently. Any reason why?
I grew up in Ajegunle but I went to a private school. There were times when it was very difficult for me to pay my fee. You will go to school the first three times after that you are sent out for your school fees and before you are able to get that school fees to pay, it’s like two weeks to exam. It was always crazy. And I watched a lot of my classmates drop out of school but my parents were adamant that I was going to finish from that school which I think also helped me.
The standard of school you attend, the level of education you get actually does help. And I realise that there are people who want to go to school but they can’t afford it. So knowing that this is where I’m coming from, I wanted to do something for that school. I said okay who is the best person to give and it has to be my kind.
What’s one perception that people have about you that’s not true?
Some people think I’m proud. How can I be proud?
