Big, bold and sexy actress Bimbo Thomas needs no introduction as far as Yoruba Nollywood industry is concerned. The Nikky Character in the blockbuster, Omo Ghetto, is one person that is fun to talk to. In this interview with Mercy Michael, the actress opened up on her background, future plans, relationship, among other things:
QUITE playful, I guess comedy comes naturally to you… No, it can’t be because I’m full of comedy myself.
Do you ever get angry?
Well, let’s just say I’m used to transferring aggression in anyway. I know several colleagues that whenever they are having any issue with anybody or they are passing through some problems they then transfer it. Even when I’m pissed off, if I get to a gathering or a public place I tend to pretend and make you feel that I’m the happiest babe in the world that moment. It’s just me. I take delight in doing that. I just want to feel free. It’s easy for me to play and have fun.
So, what’s your low moment?
You don’t want to see my low moment, you won’t like me. Not that when I’m angry, but when I’m troubled, maybe I need to fix something, I’m unsettled, unorganised, you won’t like me. So I try as much as possible to get my time right. I have a time manager. I do my things when they need to be done, so I won’t get cranky and you won’t like me.
It’s not possible to talk about Bimbo Thomas and not talk about your character in Omo Ghetto, Nikky. You need to convince me you were not brought up in Ita Faji in Lagos Island?
Well, the area I was brought up is very close to Ita Faji. So, whether you like it or not, Ita Faji na ni, Obadina, Ita Faji things. But I tell you something, my background is not what I portrayed in Omo Ghetto. I came from a staunch Christian home, disciplined father. My house, there is no gate; you know those foreign English houses, that’s how our family house is on the Island. And everybody that comes to play, there is a serious scrutiny when you’re coming into that compound. You have to belong to one family; they know you. That’s how my house is.
How do you explain the street character you portrayed in Omo Ghetto?
I’m one person that listens to her environment. I study the environment and people a lot. Let me shock you: the very first time I broke bottle was in Fathia Balogun’s movie Omo Iyajo. I didn’t break it. I just dipped it into a side glass of a bus, but that very stunt I did, I was blown away myself. I didn’t realise it until I was in it. After that very scene, the director, Abbey Lanre, had to cut, because he thought I had a cut. I will tell you that, that’s about the most challenging thing I have done.
Months after, I was still in character. I would fight in my dream. I’d stand up and want to break bottle; you know it took us time. It was I and Funke, actually. Before we acted the movie Omo Ghetto, we wrote the script. We talked about it. What we wanted in it. We were a part of it already. Actually, I didn’t know I was going to play that role. Every character in the movie I gave name. It was only Funke that had her own name. You know she’s a left-handed person so she wanted to do the lefty but I thought Nikky Scoda won’t be bad.
The idea behind some of the stunts, we talked about it together. Myself and Funke, when we play, I bully her a lot so that was how we came about it. You know as a creative actress that Funke is, she now thought of the bigger idea of bringing Eniola Badmus and Ireti Bakare, and that was how we came about Omo Ghetto. We didn’t expect it would be a blockbuster. All glory to God. We didn’t expect it. Till tomorrow I still get calls, accolades on that movie.
No doubt, that movie must have opened doors for you. Tell us about it?
I know I’ve come to stay in this industry whether you believe or not. The willingness for me to showcase what I’ve got within me is there. I want to do things Bimbo Thomas can’t do. Talking about Omo Ghetto, people were like we’ve seen thugs, we’ve seen tough actors, we’ve seen people depict that role even better but I don’t know, somehow, people just feel it’s the best of it all.
How do you feel when people look at you with that eye of a street girl or thug?
Surprisingly, people can see beyond that gangsterism. People saw that beyond that gangster that I portrayed, there is a posh, calm Bimbo Thomas. On a good day, you won’t see me use those slangs because I want people to see me differently from Nikky. Bimbo Thomas is gentle. I only do the street thing behind the camera; when the director says, action.
After Omo Ghetto, you’ve done a lot of gangster roles. How do you intend to check stereotype?
Talking about stereotype, I saw it coming. If I have to do anything gangsterism, it has to be something serious. There has to be a story. I won’t do any script that is shallow, that the producer is just interested in selling gangsterism. I’m a consummate actress and I can play any role, so I won’t be stereotyped.
When I say I can play any role, it does not include going naked. I can’t go naked in a movie. So when I notice that people want to give me that role because they feel that is all I can do, I convince them to give me some other role. So far so good, I’ve been able to convince them to give me other roles.
Most of your colleagues have embraced film production. Any plans for film production?
I’ve not done anyone. But I have a story. Sometime this year I will come out with it. But basically, I say this to some of my colleagues. I am even established as an actress first and foremost. When I get to Enugu, will people recognise me and say that’s Bimbo Thomas! Fine! I’m a total actress. I did Creative Arts, a Theatre Arts major from the University of Lagos. There is no aspect of production I don’t know about, but I don’t have to do it because other people are doing it.
But now I’m ready for it. As I said, I have my story and I will hit location this year to get it done. I’m going to put in all my best because I don’t want to be tagged a flash in pan.
What role are you playing in this movie when it comes out? Are we seeing another Nikky?
You could see Nikky but Nikky that’s posh, classy, and local. I can bring it all in one. Like what Funke tried to do in Omo Ghetto. Funke is a bundle of talent. She’s my friend, I adore her. I have the trait but it’s just that I don’t give myself to time, seriously I don’t. I put my hands into so many things. But when I put my mind to it, I know I can bring it all in one.
Is it right to say you are restless?
Yes.
It then means you can’t keep relationship for long?
I can keep relationship for long but I get tired.
How long is the longest relationship you’ve kept?
Five years and that’s because he adores me. He understands me a lot. I am lovable, any man would like me.
What pisses you off about a man?
I can get so mad when you stand me up.
When you wake up in the morning, what do you do?
I will get on my instagram first, I would look at calls. Then I would start calling people I like to talk to. I have a friend that I call that makes me laugh, and who is that person? Eniola Badmus. I call her in the morning when I wake up and she goes like Omo Oya Kilonsele. Iyalaya Bimbo; that is how we get started. That’s about it. Maybe around eleven, I havea light breakfast. When I’m working, I don’t get tired easily. I’m very strong. When my colleagues are getting tired on location, me, that’s when my strength doubles. If I’m sick is when I’m tired. Right now I’m sick, but I’ve seen people; I’m happy now I could go on and on.
Your size; is it genetic?
Yes it is. My mum and dad are big.
Have you been turned down for a role as a plus sized actress?
Yes, that was when I was starting off initially, in those days of training in Odunfa. Then, I had not come to really convince them that I could do it because I’m a very shy person. I can be very shy, that’s one thing people don’t know about me. And when I started, I spoke a lot of English, so they didn’t want to give me roles.
They would tell me that I couldn’t be Fathia Balogun’s daughters, or I couldn’t be those mothers then. They would tell me I’m too big, but I think it’s my Yoruba that messed me up those days. So I started learning, I started watching more of Yoruba films. I started reading Yoruba books. Veterans on Yoruba, I started listening to them. Then in no time they got convinced that ‘she has it’.
So, why didn’t you pitch your tent with the English movie then?
You know what happens; I was loving my comfort zone. And I felt like you people don’t have a choice you just have to take me.
How do you unwind?
I drive to Raddison Blu. I take some drink. I listen to music a lot. I sit by the pool side and after like two days I go back home.
