Nollywood actress, Halima Abubakar, is one of Nigeria’s finest acting talents. Having spent over a decade in the industry, she has grown a large fan base over the years and has received national and international recognition for her work. The Kogi State-born actress shares her passion with Adetutu Audu
YOU hugged stardom with a picture baring your cleavages. How do you feel, looking back now?
It was just an advert, a picture I took for a laundry company advert. It was just an audition picture where I was wearing a bikini. Back then, it was big deal in our society, but, nowadays, it’s a common thing, because ladies put pictures like that on their DP (Display Picture) and nothing happens. I actually did not know the press was aware of the picture in Lagos because I spent most of my time in Kano then and those magazines hardly circulate in Kano. It was my father who saw the write-ups and you can guess what that would have meant for me. Funny enough, I ended up not getting the job for which I snapped the picture because of the controversy that surrounded it. It got to the level that people were using the opportunity to ask me to do nude scenes in movies. Many producers were now writing scripts based on nudeness for me but I refused. I knew if I started that trend at that point in time, I won’t go back. I have seen one or two movies that people are becoming daring and all that. I just look back and laugh when I think about all the things I have gone through in life.
Would you say it affected your career?
Oh, yes it did. A lot of producers didn’t want to work with me. They used to see me as a very decent, quiet girl. For them to see those pictures, it was very shocking to them. It took me some years to convince them that I can act very well. I am not all about snapping pictures and modelling. I am still trying to convince some of them. I refused to quit the industry like I told you before. That consistency sort of helped me out. I have built relationships again.
Where did you develop your passion for acting, knowing that most people from your religious background would not?
I started acting when I was in my teens. The awareness then was not that much. People didn’t really know much about movies up north then. It was after the millennium that people started taking note of the movie industry. In short, when I started, I didn’t have a problem until people started making a big issue out of nothing. Even things that should not elicit any reaction, but because of the way those things were blown out of proportion, people were forced to take note and that brought controversies and bad comments from people. Basically, I don’t think it is a problem. When you are given a job to do, I guess you are supposed to do it very well.
You have really had your fair share of controversies; people would have expected you to go under, going by all the scandals.
Some people would have built ten houses out of those controversies. Well, I don’t know if I am controversial. I am a very good girl. I don’t set out to bring controversy to myself. I just go about my life in a normal way. If you think that is controversial, I don’t have anything to say to that.
You are also crazy about tattoos. Apart from your chest region, where else do you have the tattoo?
A couple of places. I am sure you don’t want to find out.
How lucky have you been with your relationships?
I have had very few relationships; I had a boyfriend that died in 2003, and after that I think I have been in two solid relationships, people might say that it is a lie, but if anybody knows of any other one, he or she should come out and say it. I have had only two relationships, and I realise that these days people are getting headaches over when I will marry and all that, are they going to live with me when I get married? Are they going to put food on my table when I get married? Will they come and live with us? So, I won’t get married because of what people are saying. Some of them don’t even have a relationship. They just hate us because we are actresses, is it our fault? So you don’t bring your frustrations into my own name. Most of the rumours on the Internet are all lies. Some don’t even read the interviews before they comment, when they just see someone’s name, they just scroll down to the comment, and they don’t even know what you are saying on the Internet.
Do these things get to you?
No, there are things that I do that I would appreciate a commendation, but people don’t do that. You find out that the good things you do, people don’t read about it, what they want to read about is an actress dating this and that, an actress smoking. When you say this person is doing charity, they don’t get to highlight that. They highlight the rumours they hear, and not what they see or know. If they don’t see pictures, they complain; when they see, they say you are advertising what you are doing. So I have given up on trying to convince people, I’ll keep on doing what I want to do and forget about what people think. I see a lot of people fighting over my age, and it is silly, because at this time people don’t lie about age. How old was I, when I came in, how old am I now? People say Halima should keep quiet; she is older than she is claiming.
Having been in the industry for this long, you must have broken new grounds. Can you sharewith us?
I made my debut as an Executive Producer in a recent movie, Mistresses, which starred myself and Ghanain actress Yvonne Nelson.
Can you tell us more about it?
It’s about a group of friends who all have individual private lives. It is basically the stress that goes through every normal relationship that we put together as a movie for entertainment and to learn one or two things about the other side of relationships. And to the people that relationship is meant to be private in nature and fulfilling; so the story is just meant to teach us lessons about relationship, basically.
How impactful would you say you have been in the industry?
Of course I am treasured; my contribution is highly felt. You can ask my president and my fans can tell. I have contributed in discovering a lot of stars; we don’t need to go into the details because we all know. And I don’t need to be the highest paid actress to know that you have touched lives but knowing that you have is a joy you have within, I can’t share it.
You are passionate about charity. Why?
Halima Abubakar Foundation for the Poor. Actually, it focuses on people that don’t have food. My concern is that a lot of people are hungry, so aside from giving them money, we can buy a bag of rice and share it to them. Food and water generally are my interest because I was hungry once, so I know a lot of people are hungry too.
Your family were affected by the Boko Haram insurgency recently. How do you feel?
I do not support any crisis from any angle at all. They have business with the government, not the individuals, so I think they lost focus of what they were doing. I am still pained, my business and family were affected. We are just going to pray to God to keep guiding and protecting everyone.
What is your most expensive fashion item?
My wristwatches. I love wristwatches. And rings; I love rings. It’s amazing when you hear the amount some of these rings cost. I love accessories a lot.
What dictates your dressing?
I like being different. I want people to look at me and say, “yes, she has a style,” even if it’s weird. I don’t have to come out wearing a mini-skirt like every other person. I can’t come out wearing something that won’t allow me breath well in order for people to look at me and say “oh, she’s a fashion icon.” I’d wear 16 colours if I choose to as long as I’m happy about it. I love colours. Look around, there are always colours. See, I painted my house purple. I was almost going to paint the gate red but then people stopped me.
