Kogi State born Halima Abubakar is, no doubt, one of the promising actresses in the industry. The beautiful actress, is now making relevant contributions in the fast-rising entertainment industry. In this interview with Adunola Fasuyi, she leads us into her world, including the many controversies surrounding her personality and sexual harassment in the industry. Excerpts.

Halima
How would you describe your background?
It was fantastic, I could not ask for a better experience than the one I had. I grew up in Kano State , where I had my education, from primary up to tertiary.

How did the environment you grew up in influence you?
It made a better person of me because I lived among beautiful hearted people who have become my drive today.

Why did you choose this career, or did it choose you?
I love the word entertainment, I'm amazed with the world of entertainment, so naturally I became an actress and model, though I dropped the latter.

Tell us how it all started?
Well, I met Francis Duru in Kano . He came for the Night of a Thousand Laughs. That was many years ago. I went up to him and told him I wanted to be an actress. He gave me some addresses and told me to go there whenever I was in Lagos . When I eventually came to Lagos , I went for an audition. I didn't get any job, so I had to go back to Kano . Much later, I came back and was able to get a job. Later, I started playing lead roles. My first lead role was actually Sisi in Gangstar Paradise. When I started acting, I didn't think of any other thing; it was just acting that was on my mind. So, I had to act just because of the love I have for it and not because of any other thing. I started watching movies when I was very young and I grew up wanting to be like those people that I watched. In Kano , what we watched were mostly Indian movies. Thereafter, I started watching Third Eye on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA). That was how I fell in love with acting.

And how do you cope as one of the 'outsiders' in the movie industry?
Oh yes. Even when they wanted me to leave, I refused. I guess I have this die-hard spirit. I don't believe in quitting. I try very hard to stay and be myself. That has kept me going in this industry since then.

What would you personally consider your major achievements in life?
My life alone is an achievement, knowing that I'm alive is enough and it's a big achievement.

What are your plans for marriage?
When the time is ripe I will get married. I don't want to jump into it. I still have time to study my partner for a lasting marriage like my parents who have been married for about 33 years. I look forward to having such a union because some of us now are impatient, intolerant in marriage. They prefer divorce and I don't want to tag such title to my name. Anyway, if I see somebody I have a strong connection with, I will get married. I am not saying I am young; probably I am being childish about the whole thing and I'm not taking this issue serious. But I tell you, when I meet somebody I know is good for me, nobody will tell me to get married. I would want to spend the rest of my life with that guy and when that happens, you will all hear about it.

Can you marry a white man?
I can marry anybody that I choose to marry as long as I love him and he does too.

Are you seeing anyone at the moment?
Yes. I am in love or do I say lust, whatever you call it. I am seeing somebody anyway.

Aside acting, what other talents do you explore?
I have so many talents deposited in me. I sing, write poems and also play football.

You are no doubt well sought after in Nollywood. What's next for you?
I have big plans ahead of me but it's still being planned. At the moment I am having fun with my career and I am really happy about it for now.

What are your regrets in life?
They are many oh! Ah, I can't even start listing them now. All the controversies. I wish they never happened. I wish people didn't get to hear all those negative things, which were lies anyway. Again, some of the friends I had in the past, I wish I never had them. I shouldn't have been seen with them in the first place. They soiled my name but that is past.

Are these 'friends' in Nollywood?
Oh, yes. Some of them are there. They say one thing in my presence and they go out and say another thing behind. I don't want to talk about all that stuff in the papers. I want to let bygones be bygones. Some of the scandals came from people that know me. A lot of those people are no longer my friends anyway. I later got to know the part they played in the whole saga. I really don't need such friends any longer. I don't want anything to drag me down; I would rather drop that issue for now.

What would you have become if you had not been an actress?
Oh! I would have become one of the Super Falcons as a footballer.

What would you not be caught doing?
I can't be caught smoking; I dislike it with a passion.

How do you cope with pressure from your numerous male admirers?
I smile when I am supposed to and I react when I'm provoked.

You're one of the most controversial actresses the industry has ever produced; how do you ward off the heat from public?
Ah! Controversial ke! Me? I am a good girl oh, and I just live my life the best way I can.

Debunk or confirm the alleged romance between you and a hotelier called Festus Ugochukwu who was said to have bought you a RAV 4 Jeep?
I don't know anybody by that name. Though I have been in Enugu for a couple of times for shooting and we have used a lot of people's homes, even hotels, I can't remember meeting anybody called Festus Ugochukwu, a hotelier. As for the Rav 4 Jeep, I bought it with my money and not the said Ugochukwu. It's not a new thing because a lot of girls buy bigger cars. I don't know why mine should come from a man. It's my 5th car. I'm surprised they are celebrating the Rav 4 jeep which I bought with my hard-earned money. No man has ever bought a car for me, but please if there is any man who wants to buy me one I would gladly accept it with prayers ( Laughs!)

You're also rumoured to have dated a lot of big boys on the Island ; can you clear the air on this?
Island big boys! Me, Halima? Check the record very well again; I don't think I have ever dated any guy in Lagos . I don't date Lagos guys.

Have you ever dated any actor?
I haven't in my life.

Why are you always at loggerheads with fellow actresses?
At loggerheads with fellow actresses! I am too polite for that. Though, I don't fall fools gladly, I'm a do-me-I-do-you kind of girl.

Did all these nasty reports about you affect your career?
Oh, yes they did. A lot of producers didn't want to work with me. They used to see me as a very decent, quiet girl. For them to read such nasty things about me, it was very shocking to them. It took me some years to convince them that I can act very well. I am not all about snapping pictures and modelling. I am still trying to convince some of them. I refused to quit the industry like I told you before. That consistency sort of helped me out, I have built relationships again.

Your impression about Nollywood generally?
Nollywood is massive industry right now and has beautifully written her name on the global map when it comes to entertainment. All we need do now is to come together as one and be each other's keeper. We are getting there no doubt. Film scripts, production and so on are daily improving. We are reckoned with globally. It's a good plus for the industry.

Is there gender discrimination in Nollywood?
There are times you are given a role and producers decide to change the character to a guy, although when the script was written the role was meant for a girl. I have worked with someone that changed a role. He probably felt I could not do it but at least he should have given another girl a chance instead of giving the role to a guy. To me, that was not good at all. To some extent, what a guy can do in the movie world, a lady can do. I am not one of those people that say 'what a man can do, a woman can do too', but at least, there are some things a man can do that we ladies can do too. So, I think we should be treated equally.

What about directors asking for sex before giving you a role in a movie?
That was many years ago. In fact, some people had to pay money to be auditioned. Thereafter, he was asking people to sleep with him.

Were you the only one he singled out?
No! He wanted to sleep with virtually all the girls that came for the audition. Anybody that compromises with her body in this industry will definitely crash. But right now, I have not worked with anybody that is asking for sex for roles. If they do it, I will talk. I am working with very beautiful people now and I am proud of them.

What challenges have you faced in pursuit of your career?
I have faced a lot actually. Apart from the gender discrimination and working with some very difficult directors, there are some other little hiccups that one faces in the industry. Just burst that.

How many movies have you featured in since you started?
I would say I have tried. But I don't think I can count the number of movies I have done. I don't think they are up to 1000 though.

You once went nude with your picture on the cover of so many magazines; how much would you be paid to repeat that now?
Nude? Are you sure? I don't think any amount is enough to do that.

How about your nude pictures splashed on the pages of magazines in 2001?
I modeled in a magazine in 2001. As a model there is no limitation to be a professional, but due to our level of civilization it was celebrated then that I posed nude. I don't think I will model in such a manner again because I'm more mature now. It was childishness and an adolescent stage of my life and I wouldn't wish to face any of such challenges again. The challenges I would love to face now is marital life and my acting career. Though a lot of people are still doing it, I wouldn't, because acting is my first love. It really delayed my career for a long time and it happened when I was about to complete my studies at Bayero University, Kano. So, I left the industry in 2004 for four years to get an education and then come back in 2007 when I was ready and mature enough to face challenges.

Who really is Halima Abubakar when she is not acting?
Halima is a home girl; I am a sit-at-home-drink-Gari-and- roasted-fish kind of girl.

Now that you are a star, are there things you no longer do?
I don't see myself as a star. In any case, there is nothing I used to do before that I can no longer do. I have not allowed the so-called stardom to get into me in any way. If I want to stop on the road and buy N10 groundnut, I will still do it.

What is your religion and how strong are you?
I am a Muslim and yes oh, a hip-hop Muslim. I actually finished reading the Koran, nobody should try me o. My religion is in my heart. I don't have to carry it on my face; that is hypocrisy. My beliefs are there. I am indifferent. I make my hair and wear good clothes. I want to look good in as much as I'm serving God.