Seen as a daring actress Oby Edozieh speaks on her love for the art and her reason for going underground. She spoke with Chibueze Okereke
There was a time that the name Oby Edozieh was heard and seen every other day but lately we seem to hear and see less of you, what happened?
There was a time that I travelled and when I came back it's only the person that calls me for jobs that I work for. Most of the time I work in Enugu and lately Abuja. I've been working but it's not like an everyday or every week thing.

But you will agree with me that there was a time that we see you in different movies. Did you at some point decide to go AWOL?
There was a time that every magazine and newspapers wanted to interview me, but I started avoiding them. You know that there are times that too much press is not good, so I started avoiding stuffs like that. I resorted to giving future appointments.

So are you against being celebrated?
Of course, not. But not like all the time. I don't like being in the press everyday or every week. When its too much, I don't like it.

You have been in the movie industry for a while now, so far would you say you are fulfilled where you find yourself now?
Hm, fulfilled with Nigerian Nollywood? We should be talking about getting to Hollywood, being like Hollywood stars. I love acting and I will keep acting till the last day. Even when I am old and losing my teeth, there will still be roles for old women and all that. About being fulfilled, you see their houses with comfort and swimming pools. In America with one good movie you can build a mansion and have solid cars and all that, but here in Nigeria, even when you do a hundred movies, you will still be managing your flat and other things.

What did you enjoy most about the year 2005?
I had so many nice times, events, occasions… I met people, nice people, maybe they are so nice that I can't place my hands on any particular thing, but the best thing that happened to me in 2005 is that I didn't die. Many people died in 2005 through the air crashes. I had come back from Abuja two days before the first plane crash.

And which of the airlines did you take?
I really can't remember but I think it was Sosoliso.

So, what was yourreaction when you heard of the plane crash two days after?
The shock… (Silence) of how many people died. I was like, did it really happen? You know, at first they said that there was no message, so the shock and the anxiety, everything was there. When I heard the second one, Hm, believe me, I cried. I don't know but tears were just dropping from my eyes. I couldn't utter a word. I started asking no one in particular what is happening. I cried and later I heard that pastor Bimbo Odukoya was involved. I don't know and I have never met her before. I have been to her church once. There was this one time that I was down emotionally and my TV was on and there she was. Her message that day really got to me, because I believe she was talking to me. In short, the second crash made me weep.

And since then what has been your disposition towards taking flights in the country?
My dear, I travelled to Owerri by road. I boarded a Chisco bus in the morning, something I have not done in like eight years. My friends were advising me to try Virgin Atlantic and I was like abeg, leave that. I got to Owerri in the evening and the next morning I was on my way back because I just went there to submit a proposal. After the trip I was sick for like two days from having to sit down for so long, when I am just used to sitting a few hours on the plane. But it's better to die and they see your body than the other way round. Did you see the first one that happened, many of the deceased could not be identified while some others were totally missing. That was the worst. I really don't know what will make me take flights again, maybe international flights, but no more local flights. Anywhere I am going now, it is by road.

The Nigeria movie industry, seems to be getting lots of criticism, such as prevalence of uneducated actors and poor film production. If you are to suggest a solution, what will you be telling us?
It's better now that before. If you go back and watch some of our old movies, check the make-up, costume and the general production and you will conclude that it's bad. But now it's better, but it's just that we are slow. If we take our time, we do these things (movies) in a hurry. We shoot in two weeks and look at the productions, they are nice, and there are some that you will watch that will appeal to you. So, if we put in more effort and take our time to make these movies, I assure you that we will get there. So, compared to when we started, there is an improvement.

Let us know that man that is making you glow so much?
(Laughs) Why I don't talk about my relationships is that, whenever you say something, they are always looking for something to hold on to. Most times I don't talk about it but the headlines still reads things like “Oby men this or that” but by the time you read it, you won't find anything in there. Why must I talk about a man that I am not married to? Why should I flaunt such a man? Everybody should relax. On that day when I am getting married, even when I am sending out my invitation card (I am not saying anything) it's only after I have said I do, then I can say this is my man. Some people are in the habit of counting how many men you have dated, so don't flaunt something when you are not sure of it and even when you are sure of it you still have to pray about it and not until you have tied that knot before you can actually say, yes this is my man. Imagine I flaunt a man and everywhere we go people see us together, by the time something happens which might not be a fault of yours and you guys split, then you start dating someone else, the counting then begins again. So that is why I don't talk about it.

This is January 2006, how many scripts are already begging for your attention now?
I know of two for now. I hope to start one soon but I have not yet confirmed when it will be exactly. Really I have not started working because it's only when there is money in your account that you can say work has started.

Which film of yours is your favourite?
Virtually all my works appeal to me. It's not because I am a part of it. But Opposite Love and Ruff Ryder remain my best so far.

What can make you stop acting?
Death. There is no other thing but death.

And what if your husband is not comfortable with it?
My man must be comfortable with what I do, because any man I am going to settle down with, there has to be love, trust, love and understanding. If my man says he doesn't like this job, which means that there is no understanding, meaning he thinks that actresses are loose as they say.

What attracts you to people?
Understanding. I prefer male friends to female friends because girls gossip a lot.

But some guys gossip too?
But it's more with girls. There is too much trouble. This one said and that one didn't say. So, for this, I avoid girls. It's only when it's necessary that I see you, with the exception of my married friends that are more mature and more reasonable.

What is your idea of friendship?
Friendship to me is unity, love and understanding. My female friends, aside the ones in the movie industry, before I can do anything for any girl it will be so hard due to past experiences, from some of the things that have happened in my life, it will be hard for me to go all out to help a female friend. Then, in the movie industry, perhaps I don't know what is wrong with some actresses, there are some you see and you xchange greetings with while there are some you ignore, even when it's obvious that they are your colleagues.

So how do you relax?
In my spare time, I listen to cool music.

What kind of music?
Sentimental. But really it depends on my mood. I watch movies, foreign movies , so that I can learn more and if there is any Nigerian movie that I have heard so much about, I try to get it to watch.

Of all the professions in the world, you could have opted for business and be going to and fro the world, why acting?
I graduated in 1999 and did my youth service in a bank. I read History and International Relations in LASU. I started acting when I was in year one and I have experienced the banking sector. Whether as a bank manager or even in the oil sector, I cannot work because if you work for somebody you will depend on your salary, but if you work for yourself, lets say as an actor, and you get three jobs in a month that means you have tripled your salary. Though, sometimes you might experience bad market, but the next month might not be the same. As a bank staff you will have no time for yourself but as an actress, you sure will still have some spare time.

What, then, will you say you have benefited from acting?
(Smiles and points to her beautiful apartment) Sorry, can you look around? It's not big but it's okay. I have a car, an account and other good things. Maybe if I didn't have some responsibility in my family, probably I'll be riding a jeep. But that is still coming soon, and sometimes I can walk into a bank and because of my person, sometimes I get quick service. At least, that is something.

Some of your colleagues say the gains come with pains, do you agree with that?
Yes, some newspaper headlines can be real pain….

Can you forget that for now, I don't know why you guys always want to crucify the press, I meant in other aspects of life?
Well, sometimes, you meet someone and you guys fall in love, later on he starts having doubts just because you are an actress and just because of the rumour that makes the round about actresses. I do not tag along when the person is not it. When somebody starts having doubts about me, I move on because if that can happen now what then will happen in the future? It just means that that person is not your man. And, again, you must know that some guys don't care. For instance, the way I dress and come out, some people might refer to me as Agbero, but your real man won't care because he knows you. Despite the dressing, deep down inside you, you know you are decent, and you are good.

Your status as an actress has put you in a class of an average businessman and not a salary earner. Based on this, is it possible that you can marry a man whose his earnings are lower than yours?
I can marry a man that stays in one room. If you can investigate and find out the men I have gone out with in the past, try and ask them, if Oby is the money-minded type. I don't date people because of their money. When I see a guy I assess you for some time and if I like you, I go ahead. A guy that lives in one room or a salary earner could turn out to be a billionaire tomorrow. All these people that have buildings all over the place did not have in a day. So, it's all about you meeting somebody and liking the person and it tallies, people like that will really appreciate you. I can marry anybody. Marriage is not all about money, because the money might be there today and no more tomorrow so what will you do then, leave? If the well-to-do man comes, fine, that is everybody's prayer, but if I fall in love with a guy that is just starting life, I will help him, but I cannot marry a lazy man.

What is the craziest thing you've ever done?
There was this one time I was walking on the street and I saw a man that looked like he was wearing a G-string, I became so curious that I told my friends that I was going to ask the man and they were like I should not try such, but I went ahead and asked the man and the man admitted saying “Yes, of course I am and I don't hide it.” Is this going to be part of the interview?

Yes.
(Screams loud) Well at times I could be very curious.

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