Light-skinned actress, Gloria Mba, had a short run in the industry in 1996. Armed with a Diploma Certificate in Public Relation from Lagos State University In 2003, she came back to start afresh. The mother of one, whose love for broadcasting made her who she is today, speaks with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUKANMI about her career, hopes of getting married again and plans to go back to school.
WHAT are you doing at present?
I will be starting a job soon and it is not my movie. I will not like to go into details but it is a marketer’s job which I was contacted to be part of it. I am looking forward to it too.
Before you came back in 2003, what were you doing in between?
I came in 1996 and took a break for like seven years and came back in 2003 fully. I had to take that break because I realize that there was need for me to go back to school. I had to do this because my parents insisted that I have to finish my schooling and then for me to be able to convince them to let me do what I wanted to do too, I had to satisfy them first. And because of the way acting was accepted in those days, and because I didn’t know my way around, I just had to take that break. So I will say I came into the industry professionally in 2003.
Did your parents still oppose your career after you had finished schooling?
My father opposed my career. He was a disciplinarian to the core. He told me never to come home late even if I wanted to act, but that was impossible. He feared for my safety and was against it totally. One day he locked me out when I came home by 12am from a movie location. It took our neighbours to placate him. My mother’s encouragement was wonderful. She supported me totally.
How were you able to convince him afterwards?
It was when people started telling him they saw me in movies that he mellowed. Some even bought him drinks because of me. He was proud of me and gave his consent.
What significant roles have you played since 2003?
I would say that the roles that I have been able to play in the past and present have affected the lives of some people positively. Though some don’t like it, that is because it is not every role that you take up that people will like or appreciate. Some believe that is the way you are and therefore react negatively to that which you are asked to do. The good thing about this industry is that whatever role you are given to play; it gives you recognition wherever you go to.
What have you been able to achieve since you started?
Would I say I have achieved so much? No. I would say thank God, because He has kept me to this stage. Many who started before me or after me have dropped along the line, but I am still here, so it is just the grace of God. It is not an easy field to be in because the challenges are very high. You just have to be on top of your game all the time. I would say who I was in 2003 is different from who I am now. Who I was in 2007 is also different from who I was in 2010. So every year, I just have to learn how to be better.
What is your relationship with Toyin Alausa, to have accompanied her to HOG hospice?
Toyin and I are very close friends. People go to different places to pay visits, it is all about choice. Some would go the see the widows, some to the beggars and to other places. Sincerely I have never been to such a place before and seeing those kids, I don’t know how to explain that feeling. When she told me she needed to be there, I asked her why that particular place and she said that is the place she has chosen. So I told her I will be there. The reason I am here is not just to accompany Toyin, but to also make an impact in the lives of these kids. They do not just need material things only, they need love too. We need to be around them to show them love by playing with them.
How do you balance your activities between work and home front?
Home front? No woman is a super woman I must confess. Even a man and that is because the men also pass through the same challenges that we go through too. Because a man might just be working all the time and might not have time for his children and will one day find out that he is seen as an uncle to them, rather than being a father. That also applies to the woman too. But it all takes the grace of God to be the perfect person.
So how many years experience have you had as a married woman and a career lady?
First I am no longer married, and that is all I can say. My career also dropped when I was married because I wanted my marriage to work. I gave my career a hold at that time, I wanted to know what it is like to be married and be in the home front. All I wanted was to know how to be a wife, mother and how to take care of my home. But it didn’t work, so I said to myself why not pick up from where you stopped from and just move ahead.
What is it like being a single mother now and pursuing a career at the same time?
Well, I would say it is just the grace of God and then I would say it is a bit easy for the both of us because I have taught him a lot of things in the course of time. It is like having someone you call your brother. That is how we are. It is like that between us because I have come to make him my friend and he has made me his friend too. Even if I am not there, he knows what to do. He will do them to a stage, that all I have to do when I get back is just to complete it.
How did you feel, when your marriage crashed added to the ones we already had?
I didn’t feel bad though it was heart breaking. I won’t break my head, because I believe God has a reason for everything that happens to human beings. What is the use crying over split milk when I cannot pack it up again?
You speak as if you were expecting what happened?
No, it is not like that. It just didn’t work and there was nothing I could do about it. You don’t expect me to start crying over it. I cannot tell you that I regret all that happened because it has a reason. God has a purpose for everything that happens to us. My coming to this industry is for a purpose. It is the same as being married. I would say I have learnt my lesson and has made me a stronger person.
Is there any possibility of another marriage?
Definitely; how old do you think I am? I am still young. It is just like saying because you have a broken heart from your first boyfriend, you won’t want to have another one. Or because you lost out in your first marriage, and you don’t have a child in the process, now you don’t want to have children again. It does not follow. If you say childbirth is awful, then you say because of that you don’t want to have another. If another one comes, what will you do, would you throw it away? I won’t get another one and make another trial but I am asking God to take control because I don’t want to fail again.
How do you intend to share the love between the men in your life?
My son has never been a challenge to me getting another chance and he will never be. He is my son and any man that comes is my husband. There is no competition there. I have taught him to be self dependent. It is like comparing the love between my father and my husband. They are both men and there love can not be the same.
If you are not busy acting, what do you do?
I am into event management. Once in awhile I do buying and selling. But the event management I have not really put in all my time. Knowing how the industry is, I am trying to grow it to become a brand.
Actors are veering into movie production these days. Any plans on that too?
Yes, and that is because it is more productive. Someday I would love to do the same though not as a Director. It makes sense and it is putting food on peoples table.
Why acting as a career, when there are other jobs?
As a child growing up I have always loved the TV, I mean broadcasting. I just felt that I could do acting with that too. As time went on, I discovered that they are two different things and I needed to study them separately. Someday I will return to school to do broadcasting because that is where the flair came from before I went into acting. I have people who do tell me that I can act, that gave me the encouragement to give it a trail and it has been glorious. Though it has been stressful and challenging, it has been fulfilling too.
Who are your mentors?
I look up to the likes of Liz Benson, Joke Silva, and Genevieve Nnaji. But now sincerely my mother is my only mentor.
Why is that?
I have learnt a lot of things from her. Sometimes I look around when I have challenges with something or when I see people struggling with something and I just say to her, why are you not into this thing too? My mother has been the one teaching me how to go through with a lot of things. I still learn from her.
Was there any point in your career when you felt like quitting?
I had thought of it. The way I saw it was that I would go into producing, not quitting acting finally. All I know is that I have to be relevant in any thing communication.
Educational background
I have a Diploma in Public Relation LASU. That was some years back. I have not gone back to school since then.
Why is that? Don’t you want to further your education?
I want to, but there is no time. Acting is a full time job. For you to want to study, you need to have the time too. By God’s grace I will be going back to school this year. That is my heart desire, because I know Diploma is Diploma and Degree certificate is Degree.
How do you intend to do it, knowing you have a busy schedule?
Others have been doing it so I have to create time for that too. I know I can do the same too.
How do you relax?
I love to stay at home and read a lot. And another thing I do is to go to church. I dey go church o. I am freaking committed in my church. Everything they do in church I am there. I don’t club, neither do I drink nor smoke. I spend my time in church and at home sleeping. I also love reading and visiting friends.
Is your son with you?
Yes, and I had him when I was a teenager.
How were you able to get custody of the child?
That was easy for me because the father was not always around. He was always busy traveling out of the country.
Why did you decide to get married to someone based abroad?
Don’t worry about that. That is my personal case. Thank you.
How many movies do you have to your credit so far?
I have lost count, but they include Breaking News, August Visitor, One Love, Unforeseen, Beautiful Faces, Overheat, Twilight Sisters 1&2 and lots more.
