Her first appearance in home movie was in Breaking Point in 1996 after which she featured in some other movies both in the English and...

Yoruba genre. Her limelight, however, came in Gbenga Adewusi's movie, Lepa Shandy in 2002, since when the name has stuck to her like a glue. She has also been on stage in Madam Tinubu, Murky Waters and a host of others. She has since received a number of awards, including Olu Omo of stage, merit and recognition award, award of excellence, AfroHollywood Award (UK) as best upcoming actress, the latest of which is the Most Supportive Artiste (Female) awarded by the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners in March, 2009. Folashade Omoniyi-Kassim, a native of Osogbo, Osun State, but married to an Ijebu man spoke with YEMISI ADENIRAN on her sojourn to the showbiz world, how she came about the nickname, Shade Make-up and, her view about the decline of stage production and how the movie industry can be moved forward.
Where are you from and what was your growing up like?

I am a native of Osogbo in Osun State, the State of the Living Spring. I mean my father, a retired army officer hails from Osogbo but my mother is from Sierra Leone. I grew up in Lagos as I attended Ire Akari Primary School, Isolo; Isolo Comprehensive High School, Isolo before proceeding to the University of Lagos to study Data Processing. I grew up under a very strict tutelage of disciplinarian parents who wouldn't indulge in any manner of carelessness or indiscipline whatsoever. Remember my father is a retired army officer, so there was simply not any room for any misdemeanor whatsoever. However, growing up was the most blissful of my life. I loved school, love beautiful things,looking good and treasured the wonderful guidance of my parents. We played and had fun like every other kids, tripped out for all manner of shopping and got disciplined as normal children would.

How did you get into acting?

I think I was guided by God Almighty because, much as I had the flair to entertain people from childhood, I never thought of taking it up as a career. I studied Data Processing as I was conscious of the fact that we are in the world of Computer and Information Technology but, here I am today with the fame of an actress. I actually joined the industry as a model in 1995 after which I went to train as a make up and costume expert by Olori Peju Sanuga. It was while I was doing this that I extended my tentacles to acting which to everyone's surprise came as a bang.

Which of the movies brought you to limelight?

I think it was Gbenga Adewusi's movie where I got the name Lepa Shandy. Since 2002 when the film was acted, I had not been able to struggle out of the name. I am sure that a lot of people don't know me by my real name other than Lepa Shandy. Unfortunately, I could not get fat, may be that would have let me off the hook. All the same, I really appreciate God for His mercies because if not for his grace for the movie, who knows, may be no one would have known Shade Kassim. That is why we must always appreciate God for whatever He gives us and in whichever manner He has made us. He does not make mistakes and always have reasons for making us look the way we look. That time, I was very thin and never knew it was going to be advantageous as it finally did. Definitely, if I had been bigger, I wouldn't have stood out for that chance which I termed as one of a life time. Anytime I am alone and the thought of those periods came flashing back, I never stopped imagining the power of all-knowing that God actually and only possess.

How did you come about that name, Shade Make-Up?

It was after my training as a make-up expert and I started practising that people, my clients, called me that name. May be for their approval or impression, I wouldn't know.

What do you consider before accepting a script?

A lot of things have to be considered. For instance, I look at the quality of the story of the character. I consider the role I am to take up and whether it is challenging or not. If it is not challenging, I can be discouraged because I like challenging posts. It is always good to be versatile otherwise, playing the same role may make one very boring. Another thing I look at is the production team, how serious and professional they are.

Is that why you have not been frequent in movies these days?

Not really, but I can actually get choosy. I take it upon myself to pick the kind of people I act with and the kind of role that I particularly take up. It is not about being in every movie because I don't want to disappoint my fans. Besides, you know I am also into modeling and make-up bits, all these I combine with my status as a married woman.

Have you ever had to play a character that needed some of your natural traits?

Yes, and this happens quite often. There are times when I play a character which incidentally tallies with my natural person or an experience that I had passed through before. It only makes it more original and without much effort. This happens to everybody and that is why you see some people standing out at times in some acts. This does not mean that a person acting any negative role well is particularly a bad person or in that particular light. Ability to also interpret a role and put it into action like a real life thing is an attribute of a good actor or actress. A good actor must be able to adapt to any role given to him at any point in time.

How do you rate the level of professionalism in the movie industry?

Honestly, I will say it is relatively on the high side when compared to what we had in some years back. As far as I know, I mean speaking as an actress, professionalism means ability to perform your duty and ethically too. By and large, I would say there is a lot of improvement but then there is also room for development. As it is found in every industry, there are the challenges of having charlatans and fake practitioners here and there, but then, there are ways of getting them sieved like we have in the Bible. With a lot of seminars and on the job trainings here and there these days, I guess we are improving and a lot of other developments are being put into place.

How have you been able to stay out of controversy and especially avoid scandals up till now?

I think it is absolutely by God's grace. Personally, I am not too forward and really don't hang out that much. Except strictly by invitations, I don't go out. I keep to myself a lot even when my job dictates otherwise. I am self-disciplined and treasure a good name a lot. As far as I believe, I don't need any controversy to keep a face or my career. I am someone's daughter and wouldn't want to soil my family's name. Ultimately, I think it is basically by the help of God because those who are enmeshed in controversies are not particularly bad or worse than those who are not. Controversies are really unavoidable for celebrities, we only need to be careful not to generate any. Meanwhile, the media also need to help greatly in this regard, they should take the pain to verify every information before splashing the stories on the pages of their newspapers. I am not trying to teach them their job, I am only advising them to be more professional and cautious in their duties. Keeping out of controversies is not an easy thing but I guess, God has been in charge.

You have been part of the stage production before. Would you agree that the success of home video is connected to the misfortune suffered by stage play?

Anyone can say so and I actually believe so too. But one thing is clear, the home video is a saving grace to the entertainment world. Without the home video, entertainment would have been dead in Nigeria. If home video had not been there and theatre lovers had no avenue to satisfy their urge need, it would have been a disaster. Despite the fact that the home video is yet to be what it is supposed to be, its presence has ensured that there is a form of entertainment for people who love the art.

Where do you see the movie industry in the next five years?

Oh, very far. The sky is simply the take off point for us. The exposition gets new everyday and new ideas also come in, artistes are getting better by each movie they produce and the entire scene is quite thrilling. Right now, Nollywood has come to be reckoned with even overseas and we are making more positive impact on Nigerians. No longer do people detest going the way of acting as they now perceive it as not only booming but a respectable career.

What about the issue of sexual harassment that many believed has plagued the industry?

What about it? Those who claimed to have been harassed sexually, must have positioned themselves in that position. I mean, people don't get harassed anyhow. You must have comported yourself in a particular manner before someone would come around to harass you. Meanwhile, the issue of sexual harassment is not synonymous to the movie industry alone, it is everywhere, every sector.

What do you then advise?

For adults? They ought to know what is right from what is wrong. It is unwise to be crying out when the head is already cut off.