Toyin Ladepo bagged a degree in Dramatic Arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The actress, who had a sojourn in the United States where she worked with the US Army, recently returned home to shoot Okanjuwa, a Yoruba movie starring Richardo Agbor, Kola Oyewo and others. She had an encounter with HANNAH OJO.
Glancing through the timeline of her Facebook page, one forms the impression that Toyin Ladepo, a.k.a Adunni Alapa Dollar, does more than fit into the sole description of a delectable lady. She’s a woman of many parts who combines the duty of a wife and mother with a demanding career in acting. Many will also be dazed to learn that Toyin is a brave woman who possesses knowledge in weaponry and combat, having served in the US army.
A woman of elegant style and effortless grace, Toyin recalled how she got the nickname, Adunni Alapa Dollar, a name which resonates with her admirers in social circles. “The nickname Alapa Dollar was given to me by a big brother and mentor, Kola Oluyemi, the son of late Chief Wale Ogunyemi. Adunni is actually my oriki, from my maternal family”, she recalled.
With a degree in Dramatic Arts from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Toyin is quick to announce in a confident tone that she was inspired by the late Chief Wale Ogunyemi to study acting. “When he performed ‘Eye of the World’, I was a little girl and I was curious about the drama poster on his car. I asked some questions and I was hooked”, she said, tracing her journey to the world of make believe.
Although she had a stronger writing skill, the constant affirmation by people that she is a good actress also helped sealed her fate as a thespian. Asked to choose between the stage and camera, Toyin quipped that she feels at home on the stage than on the screen. She added: “I love the stage. On the set of Okanjuwa, in all the scenes I shot with Dr Kola Oyewo, I felt like his student again. I felt like we were back in OAU, Pit Theatre, performing ‘Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again‘, written by Late Prof. Ola Rotimi. I had played Liza alongside him, as Lekoja Brown. The stage demands so much from you; there is no chance for mistakes. Once it’s “light”, you give your best and keep giving it till the end.”
Not one to hide her feelings about people, she confessed to being challenged by the works of others. Crediting Rogers Ofime as the person who gave her a push into movie production, she listed the likes of Rykardo Agbor, Kunle Coker, Dupe Jayesinmi, John Njamah, Ernest Obi, Dr Kola Oyewo, Kunle Afolayan, Funke Akindele, Kareem Adepoju (Baba Wande), as people who inspire her.
Launching into movie production, the affable actress released a trailer for Okanjuwa, a recent movie which was received to a wide acclaim by fans on social media. According to her, the soon to be released movie is a serious drama depicting the different socio-political challenges encountered in the society. “It is quite different from the usual drama we watch on TV. It is well scripted, there is less improvisation, more structured dialogue and the Yoruba language is richly showcased. The movie will hit the market before the end of this year”, she submitted.
In an industry bedeviled with many challenges; it will not come as a surprise that shooting a movie in Nigeria after a long spell abroad, there would be experiences of failed expectations. “We still have a long way to go in the area of professionalism. I must tell you that there are very good performers out there, who are professionals, who do things right, who mentor you and try their best. At the same time, there are people who try to fleece you, and who try to ruin your hard work. All in all, you have to remain focused and try to be the difference.”
Having combed through the demanding terrain of weaponry make believe, it’s almost a close call to label Toyin as a fierce ambitious woman but a closer look into her personality portrays a woman who is sold to nurturing family values.
Although she has been getting invitations to other film projects, Toyin said she has had to decline the offer to be part of other project because she is nursing a young daughter.
Married to an ex- journalist, Mr Biodun Ladepo who works in the US army, Toyin is presently based in Accra, Ghana, which is the recent posting of her husband. Is she not worried that the distance could have implications for her acting career? To this she responded in the affirmative, saying it is difficult to maintain a career in Nollywood while she is based in Accra. “In anything you do in Nigeria, you cannot afford to be far away. You have to be present to get anything done. I have a Facebook page that is active for my fans”. She added.
Apart from keeping up with fans, Toyin also uses her Facebook space to call out discriminatory behaviours on women and family issues. On her stance, she maintains that she is not an activist but just opinionated. “If I feel strongly about something, I let my voice be heard. One of the things I have spoken passionately about is marital sex; men are always blaming the women for not being ‘hot’ in bed. While hot is subjective, not all men can claim to be good lovers.”
Probed further on how she met her husband in the US; Biodun Ladepo, who currently serves in the US army; Toyin stated with candour that knew she was going to marry him the first time they met.
“We met through a mutual friend and it was love at first sight. I knew I was going to marry Ishola the day we met. Don’t ask me how I knew, I just knew (smiles)”. On how the relationship has been sustained so far, “she cited genuine love, patience and understanding as the building force. “Relationships have their ups and downs but with genuine love, patience and understanding, we have been able to stay together in love, mutual respect and friendship.”
Reflecting on her sojourn in the US, Toyin said she was forced to leave Nigeria at that time because she felt lonely.
“My four siblings were in Texas. I was greatly motivated to leave because I was lonely and I thought I could be happier around my siblings. In my naivety, I abandoned a quest to have a career in broadcasting and took the offer of ‘greener pastures’. Though I am grateful to my mother for going to lengths to make sure I was given permanent residency in the USA, I quickly found out it was not that easy to blend, my foreign accent, my imbibed culture, and the adaptation to the different society.
“After two years of being miserable, I enlisted with the United States Army, where I trained as a medic and a practical nurse. Becoming a soldier was not an easy feat; there were tears, gas chamber, physical and psychological exercises, more tears and then more tears. Lots of weapon knowledge and show of bravery. The Army is great, one of my greatest achievements”.
For a woman who has had her fare share of life experience; what would be her advice to young talents eyeing stardom in the movie industry, despite the poor pay?
“The pay is indeed poor. The problem we do have in the society is these unreal pictures of unimaginable wealth and stardom pushed on the social media. It is a fantasy. When I talk to aspiring stars, I tell them to be original and be hard working. It is only through hard work and due diligence that you can become a star. It is not by the pictures on social media. It is by self-respect and humility”, she submitted.
For a professional thespian who did not only study acting in an institution of higher learning but has also experience life on stage, one wonders the extent to which she can ‘bare it all’ with a character of the opposite sex while interpreting a movie script? To this she responded: “Since I do not act in pornographic films, I cannot bare it all. I had to kiss Rycardo Agbor in Okanjuwa, it was a pleasant experience. That is how far I can go. Not more than a kiss”.
The clip generated mixed responses with some people hailing Tonto while others condemned her.
