Charles Awurum is a versatile Nollywood actor. He is also one of the highly rated comedy mongers in the movie industry. The award-winning thespian, in this no-holds barred interview with MERCY MICHAEL, talks about his profession, how he handles female fans, his marriage and more.
COULD you tell me why you changed from playing serious roles to comedy?
I came out of the university as a versatile actor. I hate being stereotyped into a particular character. So, at a point when the comedians were really doing some great works, I told them that I could do comedy. When I came into this industry, I was acting serious movies. Even when I said I could act comedy, they said I won’t fit into it because of my looks. But I told them a comedian doesn’t have to be deformed. As an actor, you can play any role. It was by force that I got into comedy. Then, I had to get my friend, Sunny Nnaji, to give me a role in his movie. So, he gave me a two-scene character in Long John.
Would you say acting comedy has been a blessing in disguise?
I would say it is a blessing in disguise. It has shot me up quite alright, but I need happiness in the acting world. I need to be acting so many types of roles. It is taking me a lot to tell people I can still go back to what I used to do. But you know that once you do something well, they will want to keep you there. I’m not happy being stereotyped as a comedian. If you need to survive, you need to act. So, for now, I keep doing it until that time comes when I will show the world that whatever comes my way, I can do.
Talking about comedy roles, is it that you were funny naturally and people just didn’t know until you got a chance to prove it in Long John?
I’m not funny. Whatever I do, I do it as the role demands. I try to build myself around that character so that people will see it as that person and not as Charles Awurum. And once I get out of that character, I become Charles Awurum. People see me and they want to see me behave the way I behave on set. I’m this type of person that likes a quiet life. Inasmuch as I like making friends, I am not that person who comes and shouts everywhere I go for people to notice me.
Before you joined the league of the big names in comedy, did you have any fears?
In acting, I don’t have any fears. When I used to do stage productions, the crowd was my motivation. When I came to do Obiora, I was taken out from nowhere to somewhere to play the lead as Obiora. I came from Imo State to Lagos State, but I was not afraid, though stars were gathered. That was why I was able to carry the character. Even at the National Theatre then, people were waiting for my downfall at the rehearsal. But when they saw what I did, I made friends with everybody. That was when some executive producers asked why I didn’t want to come to Lagos and stay. I lived in Lagos before I went to Imo State. I was born in Lagos. So, coming back to Lagos, there was no problem.
What have always been people’s reactions at first meeting with you?
When I got into this place, you saw how a guy shouted; so, that is how most people do. But when you grow in a certain industry, you get used to all those things. Those people are your fans. They are the ones that make you who you are. When you see them that way, it makes you feel that people like what you are doing. Doors open for me because of what I do. People are happy seeing me. Before I entered the movie industry, I had done so many stage productions- before I went in for Theatre Arts in the university.
Has there ever been a scenario where you had to tell off a fan?
Yes, there was a time a boy called me and I was like, ‘Am I your mate? Acting aside, if you see me outside, will you talk to me? If I was not an actor, would you just accost me like that?’ But I try not to overdo things. But sometimes when I get annoyed, I bring myself down to just warn the person and leave.
How do you handle your female fans?
We interact with women and you know women show more love; and in showing you love, they can do certain things that would (pauses). But you look at them and make sure you don’t make them feel bad, no matter how you look because I didn’t create myself and you didn’t create yourself either. I embrace everybody who comes my way, whether a man or a woman. But I know where to draw the lines and when it gets to that point, I take myself away from that environment.
Are you married?
I am married with three boys.
What kind of life do you live at home?
I try as much as possible, because I don’t stay at home every time, to make sure that I keep a good family. You must not laugh every time. If you play every time, your children might grow up and become something else. I laugh at times. Once I’m not on set, I go back to my house. If, for instance, I finish a production at night, the following day, I’m going back to my house. Once I’m not working, I make sure that I’m with them.
I have a happy family. I have a good wife and my children are just growing. One thing you have to know is that a wife makes the home. But a man gets the house.
How has your wife been handling the fame?
I remove my wife from the eye of the public. That’s one thing I do. Unless it is very necessary that we go out together, you won’t find her with me in public. My wife has gotten used to my work. At first, there was a problem. Initially, she was happy when she came in, but somebody went to tell her something and she started listening to my phone calls. But after some time, she stopped.
What made her stop worrying?
You see, in a family, it’s either you use a soft hand or a strong hand. You must use something to make your family because what you build out of your family is what you get. If you think, yeah, let’s leave everything like that, you will come back home and be unhappy. And when you leave your house unhappy, you don’t gain much outside. Even business will not come. Naturally, money will run away and jobs will not come. The secret of my success is actually my happy home, my wife.
How long have you been married?
It’s getting to nine years.
What has kept your married for almost a decade?
One, I love my wife. Two, I removed her out of the public eye. Most people don’t even know her, unless I show her to you. Three, I have control over my family. Four, I make them feel happy. Another thing is that I have told my God I don’t want to have a broken home. And I don’t think anything can make me break up with my wife because it is the children that will suffer.
What are the things you have in the pipeline?
I have a company, Magic Lens Pictures Limited, where we produce movies. We do awards, not an artiste award, but awards for excellence for those who have done something for Nigeria. It’s biannual. We organised a show two years ago. We are planning the second one and we are trying to involve the First Lady, Patience Jonathan. Already, we are in talks with her. We have so many things in the pipeline. Magic Lens Film Academy is setting up a school, where actors, actresses can be trained. And very soon, that will kick off. And our next production will be after the awards.
Have you always wanted to be an actor?
Yes, I wanted to read Law or Theatre Art. There was a time I wrote to Village Headmaster that I wanted to be part of them. I was very small then. My happiest time in life was when they sent me a letter with NTA letter head, inviting me to come. I didn’t go because I was small and there was nobody to take me there. So, I kept on doing church dramas. I was part of the drama and debating society in school. When I watched Langbodo during FESTAC 77, I was impressed with the level of acting and one person that moved me then was Sam Loco Efe. From then, I made up my mind to be an actor. And when you are thinking of these things, you never know that one day you will be with these people. So, the first day I was with Sam Loco and I flashed back at Langbodo, I was happy. I went to the university at an old age. I finished my secondary school, started work with the Art Council and was doing a freelance work with the Imo Broadcasting Corporation. From there, I went to the University of Calabar, where I read Theatre Art. Then, I did Obiora. And thank God I performed fine, as people said. That was how I continued and went into the movie industry.
