One of the hottest chics in the Ghanaian movie industry, curvy actress Juliet Ibrahim’s profile has taken a new turn. No doubt, the actress has a lot going for her at the moment. First it was her movie, The Number One Fan, which attracted a lot of buzz both in Ghana and Nigeria. And quite unexpectedly, the actress became controversial over her statement on OJB’s health issue.
JIB, as she is popularly called, was recently in the country for the City People’s Award where she picked the award for Best Showbiz Celebrity Foundation. In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, she talks about her career, family, amongst other issues.
IN your own opinion, why do you think you won the award for the Best Showbiz Celebrity Foundation among other nominees on the list?
Thanks for the support. I believe the award was based on merit and opened to the public to vote. My team had several voting campaigns online that enabled my fans vote for me in the four categories I was nominated in.
My foundation won that category because my fans who voted know and have been following the foundation’s work closely since we were launched in 2010. I give God the glory and I thank all my fans and colleagues who have supported my foundation from the outset. We are here to try our best and put smiles on the faces of the less fortunate ones suffering from kidney cancer and kidney-related diseases.
In recent times, your profile has soared obviously because of the controversy that followed your comment on the OJB health issue. It would seem like the whole episode is a blessing in disguise after all. What’s your take on this?
That’s quite humorous how you put it. I haven’t seen any soaring difference in my profile after the minor incident I had with the public in which I was misconstrued. I believe I explained and clarified myself on the Sugar and Spice show with Rose on NTA, hence I will like to reserve all further comments on such a sensitive matter. We are all focused now on the speedy recovery of our very own OJB and I plead with the media to please let bygone be bygone.
How true is it that you are planning on relocating to Nigeria, and why?
I don’t really need to relocate to Nigeria because since 2006 I have been in and out of Nigeria like it’s just at the back of my house. It’s just 45 minutes away by flight.
Whenever I am needed for a job, an event attendance and whichever business that is beneficial to my brand, I am always a flight away. I have a Nigerian management and I can always be contacted through them. I recently issued a statement about some Facebook scammers who have been using my name to scam people online.
Are you going to be relocating with your family?
I own businesses in Ghana and I am not ready to just opt out and leave all of that behind. My son is in school in Ghana as well as my entire family and it is my home. I really do not have plans of relocating forever to Nigeria.
I could relocate partially if my job requires that of me but will always fly back home to be with my family and check on my House of Glamour boutique in Accra, as well as my foundation and production house called Jewelz Productions.
What was the attraction? What made you say “Yes, I do” to your spouse?
We dated for sometime before he proposed. So we already knew ourselves very well and what we wanted and how we felt in each other’s company.
Why is it that you are never spotted rolling with your other top actress colleagues in Ghana? What is the relationship like between you and them?
I’m not quite sure what you mean because I am known to always be rolling with my colleagues both in Ghana and Nigeria whenever I have the chance to step out or hang with them at events. My Instagram page is full of photos that can prove how much of a socialite I am and how much I love hanging out with my colleagues whenever we meet.
Married with a kid, how does your husband react to your constant absence from home?
He is busier than I am. If anyone should ask that question it should be me. He understands and I am very understanding so we live a stress-free life.
What is motherhood like for you?
Motherhood is the best experience a woman can ever have. My son, Jayden, is the greatest thing that has happened in my life. I am loving motherhood more and more every day.
Acting wise, what are the things in the pipeline for you?
I recently produced my first movie called The Number One Fan and I am set to premiere it in September in Lagos. It stars AY the comedian, Yemi Blaq, Emmanuel Mensah , Kofi Adjorlolo, Zainab, Keitta, Selly of BBA fame, Prince David Osei , KC Ejelonu and so many more. I can’t wait for it to be out.
Acting definitely is not what puts food on your table. How have you been able to be there financially for your relations or others who seek your assistance one way or the other?
I have had a beauty parlour since 2003, way before I started acting. Now I run a boutique which is your one-stop shop for everything trendy and fashionable, a modelling agency and my production business. You can say I am an all-round business woman.
How daring are you when it comes to playing romantic roles?
I am an actress, hence I am versatile but I still know where to draw the line.
How did you come into acting?
I was called up for an audition in 2004 after I had recently won a beauty pageant, Queen of Languages. I went for the audition and I got the lead role. My first movie was Crime to Christ.
Can you share some of the pains and gains of being a celebrity?
Pains; you have no privacy. The public always have an opinion on your very own life and how you live it. There is unnecessary envy and hatred from people who do not have the slightest clue of who you are and the real you.
Gains; making people happy all the time by doing what you do best, opportunities that come along once in a while and being a leader that so many look up to.
Where do you have the most fans, Nigeria or Ghana?
I can’t really compare now, but when I started acting back then in 2005 till 2009 my fan base was more Nigerian.
With your complexion and body structure, are you a full-blown Ghanaian or half-caste?
I am mixed race. My father is Lebanese.
Tell us about your growing up
My childhood was a rollercoaster ride. I was born in Ghana on the 3rd of March 1986 to a Lebanese father, Mr. Hussein Ibrahim, and a half Liberian/Ghanaian mother, Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Ibrahim. I am the eldest of three siblings: Sonia, Nabil and Nadia. I was raised in Ivory Coast and Lebanon.
I grew up travelling a lot with my family and, being raised in different countries, I am multilingual. I speak French, Spanish and English. After my pre-education in Lebanon, I had my senior high school education in Ivory Coast before returning to Ghana where I attended the Ghana Institute of Languages to perfect my English and Spanish. After that, I enrolled into the Ghana Institute of Journalism to study Marketing and Advertising. I still have plans of furthering my education at Gimpa University.
Regarding your career, where do you see yourself in the next five years?
In five years time? My name would be on the lips of everyone and I would have expanded my acting career to the international acting industry.
What’s your take on the Ghanaian movie industry?
We are growing and improving by the day. We still have a long way to go but we learn everyday and we will surely get there.
How do you handle male admirers?
I’m a married woman and I tell them just that.
What are your likes and dislikes?
Likes; I love it when people around me are happy, I love to impact life positively and to help others if it is my capacity to do so. I also love travelling, love working and love calm and serene environments. For my dislikes, I totally abhor liars and fake people. I also hate disappointments.
What’s your favourite vacation spot?
That would be Paris and Miami
What is your beauty routine like?
That’s easy. There is no magic to it; I drink a lot of water, try not to eat after 6pm to maintain a great figure. I also try to be happy always and try not to dwell on trivial and petty things. I use makeup only when on set or when attending events and I try as much as possible to keep my skin as healthy as I can. But I can’t do without my Mac feline eyeliner and a lipstick or lip-gloss daily.
