Nollywood actress cum scriptwriter, Ruth Kadiri believes that life is simple. For her, the attraction to the world of the arts began from her secondary school days. DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI engages the thespian on issues surrounding her personality and the inherent controversies.
WHAT has been keeping you busy lately?
I just finished a movie in Ghana titled Jack and Jill. It is a cinema movie.
As an actress, what do you look out for when accepting movie roles?
As an actress, the script is very important. Every script I get has to have depth. I should be able to understand where the writer is coming from. It must pass a message and should have a character for me to wear.
Could it be that you are this choosy because you are also a writer?
I think so. I say no to a lot of scripts not because I am better than them, but because as a writer, there are some things that I cannot just compromise.
As a writer, how do you get your stories done in a way that it is accepted?
Every writer wants a script that everyone can relate with. It is a gift. It is just like asking Tuface how he does his voice to be able to sing and make people accept his songs. He just sings and it comes out nice. I don’t know, I am not good at lying. It just comes natural.
As a rising actress, what is it like working with A-list actors?
It is not like there are special experiences working with a kind of people. I work with different people and it is always a different experience each time. At the end of the day, it is you. I don’t feel like I am working with anybody, from the A-list to the entire crew. I don’t have any kind of complex working with any kind of person.
But to some people, it is an experience to be treasured for life…
Someone like Uche Jombo is like my mother. There is a difference between working with someone that you love and respect and an actor that has probably been there before you. Working with her is something I always pray for. I love her person. If I want to talk about her, I can write five pages. But for someone I don’t know from Adam, who comes on set to work, I just do my thing. For me, it is not about who I am working with but my script. I have written more than 30 scripts.
How have people accepted your scripts?
You have to ask them to know. Better still, you could watch one of my movies, and tell me what you think.
It is not easy doing two projects at once. How do you juggle school and acting?
I am used to it now. When I started, it was difficult combing the two but now, it is already a part of me.
What attracted you to acting?
I have always loved acting and entertainment generally. It’s been something I have always wanted to do from Secondary School. I love the job. I have been here for a very long time and I have been able to learn and experience a lot of things. I can’t really say this was when I started because it’s been long. But I thank God for the experiences I have had as a girl. It’s in the industry that I also learnt how to write, so basically I am grateful.
Like you stated, you have been here long enough but your name just started ringing bells; why now?
I really can’t say. You know that when you plant a tree, it does not start as a tree. It is a gradual process and at the end, it becomes visible enough for people to see. I think it’s God and the things I have been doing. No matter what you do or have been doing, if you don’t have that extra touch, that thing that only God can add to make you who you are, you won’t get anywhere.
You said you won’t be caught dead in some places, does that mean you don’t party or socialize?
I don’t go to clubs. And when I attend events, I am always feeling lost. I go for an event and I am supposed to be on the red carpet, I will be looking for where it is. I am not an outgoing person. I know where my people dey go nah. Where do I have the time? I am a writer, I have to think. So most time I am in my house sleeping and eating.
As a star, one would expect you to be seen mixing with your colleagues
I am working on that. I won’t lie, I don’t go out. So far I try to use the few times we spend working together to maximize it. And it is when you try to be everywhere that you get into trouble. Sit in your house, what are you looking for friends for?
But how do you get acquainted with your colleagues on set, when you don’t mix?
I know a lot of people. I can’t stay at home and shoot now. You don’t need to have to spend your entire years with someone before you can be friends with them. So when you are working with somebody, it is either you connect or you don’t. The time I work with them is enough. When you go to the office and close, you go home. You don’t want to mingle with your colleagues to the extent that after the close of work, you follow them home. If you do that, then something is wrong with you. People don’t know when to draw the line. I have my private life at home and I have my work life. They are not the same. Who dey see me? You no go see me. The only time you see me is when we have to shoot.
Does that mean you don’t have friends in the industry?
I do. I have people I communicate with. That’s just me. That is the way we were brought up. You can’t tell my mom you want to go and visit a friend. Are you mad? The day my mom caught me at my friend’s house, she gave me the beating of my life. E be like say I thief. I think it helped me. You need serenity to be able to sit down and put pen and paper to work.
Don’t people refer to you as been snobbish?
You know some people really think I am. Even me sef, I don’t know if I am. But I am not. If you live with me, you will know that I am not. Who has time to be snobbish? I will just tell you abeg, my sister carry your wahala dey go. It is when you snub, that you think others are doing the same.
Young actresses are said to be desperate. If given the right offer, would you act nude?
Actresses have been acting nude since day one, which one is the young ones. Like how much? Where would you sell the movie? Nude like my pant and bra? First of all, let me correct one impression. Censors Board would not approve any movie with a nude girl. For any producer to afford to pay one actor millions, it means they are ready to promote good sales. It means that film has to go through the Censors Board. If not they will not be able to sell certain rights. So this question of acting nude, I don’t know how they answer it. I will act nude. Where you wan shoot am?
What if it is just in pant and bra?
I told you I have been in this industry for long. And I have done a lot of films. People have seen them, so they should be able to tell if I can do it. These are the things that you people use to implicate someone. Oh, she says she can act nude. It’s different strokes for different folks. There are things that I can do and some I can’t.
Knowing you are so much taken by your work, how do you unwind?
I fit dey my house and be jumping on my bed. What do you think actresses and actors are? My house no dey itch me o. I rent am make I stay there, abi no be so? There is church on Sunday, there are so many things to do. I just don’t have a social life. I don’t go out. And I am always getting tired of driving in Lagos traffic.
Being busy, how do you intend to create time for the man coming into your life?
God has created a man for every woman. I don’t have to go out and start looking for a man. Though some people believe you have to go out there to look for a man, but I just believe that in my routine, everything will fall into place. Me wear my shoe and go and look for a husband, where do you want to look for him? You want to stand at Marshal Kilo bus stop? It does not work like that. It will just happen. I don’t believe in certain things. Sometimes my friends will say mama, let’s go out, you need to mingle. As a child, everything I have, I got it in the house. Of course I network on the phone. But do I have to go to the club to get a husband? What kind of a husband will I get there?
How do you handle the male fans?
I really haven’t had any bad experience with any of them. I see acting as a banking job. You go to work, close and go home. I don’t see it as a different life. If I am walking, I don’t even know if people are looking at me. It is my friend that will say, mama see they are looking at you.
But when you are in the public place, how do you relate?
I just say hi. And those that want to take picture, I allow them.
What’s your normal day routine like?
I wake up in the morning, feed my dogs. I used to have four. I don’t sleep at night, I read all through the night until 5am. When I am not reading, I am browsing and not just anything. I recently read about heart attacks and I discovered that the way females have heart attack is different from males. The symptoms are different. I do my normal chores and before you know, the day is gone. Sometimes I don’t come out of my room for up to three days.
As an African, what do your parents feel about your living alone?
My dad is not in the country, but I live with my mom. It is just me and my sister and my mom.
What was growing up like for you?
I will say I am a loner. I know I have responsibilities to keep. The relationship between my sister and I is wonderful.
Having a strict mother, how close are you to her?
She is my best friend. When you don’t go out, you will understand what I mean. If I was outgoing, she wouldn’t have been. I tell her everything. She knows she has raised a good child so she don cool down. By 6pm, if I am not home, my phone would start ringing. She will want to know where I am and who I went to see, even at this age.
What do you feel comfortable in?
A jeans and a top, but when I have events to attend, I love gowns.
Are you a designer-freak?
I have a friend who is and she is really beginning to influence me. She comes over, collects money and gets me things. I used to have just one bag and I use it until it is spoilt, then I get another one.
What can’t you do without?
Wristwatches, I love male wristwatches.
You seems like a tom boy
Yes, I used to be. (Laughs)
What hair style do you fancy?
I used to like just a simple side part. But a friend told me blond looks good on me and my stylist said the same too. So presently, that is what I have been wearing. And I don’t do make-up as you can see.
Does this have to do with your mom’s rules too?
No. My mom is my pet. She is beautiful. That is who I am. I am a boy. It is when I am shooting, that I make up. I just use a small powder because I was coming for an interview. So that, you will not say this girl has spiritual problem.
Would you describe yourself as homely?
Yes I would, but I am a fire person. I am placed under a curse. I am Pisces and Aries. The Pisces side of me is the calm side and the Aries is the fire side of me. If you live with me, you will know you are living with a bomb that is about to explode. I am in between. I just feel your home should be fun enough for you to live in it.
Can you cook?
I can cook very well, including African dishes. Is it my mom that will cook for you? If she does, she will remind you that she has entered the kitchen and you want to come and eat. You will just prefer she doesn’t cook the food. (Laughs)
Are you in a relationship and how do you create time?
Yes I am in a relationship. And you have to create time for what you need.
