Olaide Olaogun is an actress and TV presenter. In this chat with TOPE OLUKOLE, she speaks about her career and how she came to limelight. Excerpts:

There is a notion that you must be sexy before you succeed in entertainment, how true is this with you?
Well for me as a person, I don't believe in that and as an actress, it doesn't work for me. All that matters to me is talent and self confidence. Although there is the false impression that you have to look sexy and as such, some people tend to go half-naked in a bid to get noticed, this kind of dressing or the so-called sexy look will take you nowhere if you lack talent.

Which of the productions brought you into limelight?
It was Super Story

Which series of Super Story?
It was Omoye. That was towards the end of 2005. I played the role of Rachael, Omoye's best friend.

How did that experience affect your life?
I started having more friends, and more fans, nothing really changed except that I now have more toasters. You asked me why I have more friends. One of the reasons is that even when I know I am not going to date you, I will keep you as a friend because I might need you some day.

That means you are manipulative...
No, not at all. All I am saying is this; if I don't date a guy, it doesn't mean we should become enemies because I might be useful to the guy later and vice versa.

Are you a go-getter?
Well, I think everybody is, but I would not do certain things because I want to achieve my goals in life.

Do you take no for an answer?
I will try harder if you say no to me. But if the door refuses to open, I will try the next one.

Do you think being a woman is an advantage when it comes to getting what you want in life?
Not in all cases, but in life, you should remember that women get more favours than men do, and nobody can change that.

Between television soaps and movies, which do you prefer?
I don't have preference for any. I love both; because as an actress, you only pray for more jobs. So any one that comes, once it can pay my bills, I'll do it.

As an actress, what is the most difficult thing you have had to deal with?
Without doubt, it is the stress of interpreting roles; it really is

In your personal life, what is the most difficult thing you have to deal with?
I wouldn't lie, it is the press. They make life unbearable for me. For instance, I can't give up things like my 'road fries', you know things like dundu and boli, now I can't go to buy.

Why?
Because when you guys see me buying these stuffs, you say oh! She is broke and all that, forgetting that these are things I have loved even before I got into showbiz. You guys should learn to remember that before stardom, we had always been normal young people who live everyday life.

Who is the best co-star you have worked with?
It was in one of the series of Super Story, titled A New Story, where I played the lead role as Juliet. I worked with this great guy called Toyin Ogunnaike, and till date, he remains the best person that I have co-starred with.

What made him your best choice?
Because when I got on set, he made everything come to me in the most natural of ways.

Will you date a fellow entertainment practitioner?
Me? I can't. Never.

Why?
Because I have heard and I have seen that it doesn't work. So, it doesn't make sense to even attempt it.

You featured in a movie recently, can you tell us about it?
The movie is called “Ateyinbo” meaning 'present past'. It is a story that deals with the very sensitive issue of rape, and I played two roles.

A story on rape and you are a young woman, did you take anything away from that set?
On a professional level, it brought out a lot in me since I had to play two roles. The story just left me thinking and until now, I can't still understand why some men rape women. If you want a woman, you should walk up to her and tell her what you want. If it works, fine, and if it doesn't you move on. There is this scene where the character I played had to be raped and goodness! I felt like I was being raped in real life and I couldn't help but ponder on the pains that rape victims go through.

Great acting you experienced in Ateyinbo. Did the movie also offer you your highest pay?
I was well paid, but that wasn't my highest pay.

Which has been your highest paying job?
Thanks to God, I have been paid in millions in this country and that was my modelling job for Lux. When I was the face of the product, I was handsomely rewarded.

That means you don't regret the choice of showbiz?
Never, not for one day. I am very happy doing what I am doing.

Now let's go personal. Your first kiss in life, what was it like?
Hah! Must we go personal? Well, since you asked, I would answer you. It was heavenly. You know when you are in secondary school and you go to parties, you do this devil's basket thing where you pick a piece of paper and carry out the instructions on it. That was how my first kiss came about.