Pamela Okoye may be relatively new in Nollywood, but the actress and producer is already carving a niche for herself with hard work, consistency, and a passion for storytelling. In this interview with ADENIYI ADEWOYIN, the Anambra State-born talent opens up about her career journey, male attention, marriage, and her aspirations within and beyond Nollywood.
How would you describe your journey so far in Nollywood? Some say rising to the top could be very challenging for women, especially due to sexual advances. Did you experience any?
No, I didn’t experience any. I knew some people fell into situations like that, but I was never in a position where someone would tell me that I had to sleep with them for a role, never. Of course, you would meet people who would like you. It might not even be producers; it might be anybody who would tell you that they like you. I think that is normal, but I have never been in any situation where the producer would tell me that I have to sleep with him for a role. I mean, I feel bad for people who fall into situations like that, but I have never.
Who are those veterans you look up to while starting your acting career?
I admire Aunt Kate Henshaw, Adesua Etomi Wellington, Rita Dominic, and Genevieve Nnaji. Honestly, if I started to mention names, I would call everybody’s name. I feel like everybody has something you can just look at and admire. Everybody is different in their crafts, so I try to learn from my senior colleagues as much as I can.
What are your career projections?
I am looking forward to doing more jobs both locally and internationally. I am looking forward to producing and collaborating locally and internationally as well. Also, I am looking forward to having some sort of platform where I can empower people and allow them to showcase themselves, because it takes one person to see you and believe in you. I’m looking forward to having a platform where I can empower people, especially young people and give them the opportunities they deserve. When God expands me, I want to uplift people and bring up new talents. I want people to see new talents, as there are a lot of people out there. I’m looking forward to all of that by the special grace of God.
With your beauty and star power, how do you deal with the sometimes overwhelming attention from male fans?
I get that a lot. Sometimes, people come up to me or send crazy messages to my DM or emails. It’s just about drawing boundaries and understanding that you have put yourself out there. For me, I try to remind myself that I have put myself out there, of course, I can’t feel some type of way when people love me or like me or go overboard to express themselves. I don’t feel bad about it, I feel loved, and secondly, I put myself there.
I know it is part of it, the whole thing is a total package, but I just try to create a bridge; however, there are boundaries.
Which role pushes you harder: bringing a character to life as an actor, or steering the whole production as a producer?
For me I think both of them are challenging in their way. Acting is challenging because I am not me at that point; I’m somebody else. So, for every script that I get, it comes with challenges. I think they are both challenging, but in different ways. Production is a lot of work; you will get frustrated and angry, and things will happen on your set. Do you think you know how to plan? Production will humble you. You will think you have got everything under control; you may be filming something that will just happen and interrupt your filming. It puts you under pressure sometimes, and sometimes, too, you will have a smooth production.
Sometimes, there are hazards here and there, but you are the producer; it’s on you. You can finish filming, and then you find out that you have lost an audio; it can be frustrating.
What’s your approach when cast members give you a hard time during production?
I think I have been very lucky not to have petty people on set with me, but the truth is that when I go on set, I like a very good energy on set because, as an actor, it helps to bring out the best in you. When the atmosphere is beautiful and the energy is all cool, it helps you connect, and the chemistry is better. When I go on set, I always drop whatever I’m dealing with, all the problems or challenges Pamela Okoye is faced with.
I drop them at home, and I come to set with a brand new clean energy. I come so sweet, and I respect everybody on set. But then, I always take a deep breath and see the reaction of the next person, which determines how we can flow.
After the set, if we don’t want to talk again, it’s fine; if we just want to like each other’s picture on Instagram, it’s fine.
We don’t have to be friends, but most importantly, we just have to connect for the sake of doing a good film.
You know how it is here; the day you come to set is the first day you are meeting your co-actor, and you might be playing best friends or lovers or siblings; that chemistry has to be built in that short space.
And if someone is being petty or carrying a grudge, it doesn’t help. So, it’s just very important that you come clean and let us make a good film.
What’s the craziest DM or message you have gotten from a male fan?
I have gotten a lot of very sick messages from a lot of people. I know these fans are people who love you, but when you see the message, you will be like, “Oh my God”.
There are a lot that I can’t even remember.
Some people go sexual a lot, and that’s why there are some DMs that I don’t even bother to open because there are some people who are very sexual. They come to your DM and they start to show you sexual stuff or say sexual things.
Is marriage to a fellow entertainer something you would consider?
Well, there’s no place you cannot find love. If I get attracted to someone, of course, never say never is one thing I have realized in life, because to be honest, if you had asked me this question a couple of months ago or a year or two ago, I would tell you no, because I’m already in the industry. I would rather marry someone who is not in the industry. But now I have realised that in life, never say never; anything can happen, and you will just find yourself in the situation you said you would never be in. There is nothing wrong with marrying someone from my industry; they are humans, and there are loads of amazing people in my industry. If I get attracted to someone in my industry and we want to get married, we will.
How do you personally view marriage — is it something that excites you or scares you?
First of all, I think marriage is a beautiful thing. Inasmuch as we see things on the internet, I still see marriage as beautiful. It was designed by God, it’s meant to be beautiful, and I’m a family person. I have that registered in my head that marriage is beautiful, and I want to experience marriage.
If I’m going to be cringing about marriage, it is not as an actress; it would be as a human being. Marriage doesn’t scare me as an actress. I love the idea of marriage. The most important thing is being with the right person. When God has destined you to be with someone, it’s not going to be a bed of roses, but somehow, you will find yourself doing it, and it will be beautiful regardless.
Are you currently in a relationship?
Being in a relationship, I think I would like to keep that private.
What kind of man are you attracted to?
The basic things that everybody likes are being God-fearing, understanding, a good listener, and someone we can have a conversation with.
Some things top in my chart: Respect, when people have respect for each other, it helps. When there is a good level of communication, you can talk and listen; you don’t always want to be the talker; you also want to listen. You tolerate each other regardless of your flaws, but there are some kinds of flaws you can’t take, like domestic violence, but like other things, you can walk around. But respect, communication, understanding, commitment; all these little things here and there matter.
