Nollywood actress, Genny Uzoma, has upped the ante since receiving her first acting award plaque ever as Feale Revelation of the Year at BON Awards 2015. In this interview with Seunmanuel Faleye, the Imo-born beauty talks about acting, relationship and sex.
How significant has emerging Revelation of the Year at BON Awards 2015 been to your career?
Winning the BON Awards 2015 has made more production houses and brands to sit up, take notice of my brand and realise that I actually have something to offer. I get more movie roles; I get more recognition from my colleagues and even the public in general. I can’t wait to be approached to endorse a product.
What major challenges do you think are peculiar to female actors?
Some would say it’s the sexual harassment from the producers/directors, some would say tribal discrimination, others would argue that there are lots of females in the business with more springing up daily. I would say the challenges we face in this industry concerns both gender. Challenges like bad scripts, getting brands or sponsors to invest in us, piracy and so on.
Two actresses recently fought on set, with one biting the other. Have you had fallout with any actor on set before?
Fall out with a fellow actor? I’m a lover not a fighter. Things like that scare me shitless and I try to avoid any issue that might escalate to a fight or trading of words. It’s just not classy.
Have you had to turn down a script?
As an up and coming artiste, you are advised to accept almost all the scripts that come your way so as to get your face out there. But for me, it’s not the number of movies I shoot, but the quality. So, yes I’ve subtly said no to a couple of scripts and some I couldn’t take up because I was engaged in another project at the time, and a couple of others because the pay was way too poor.
There are insinuations that female actors sleep with politicians and others to augment what they earn from acting. What is your take on that?
That’s a tricky question to start answering. I plead the fifth on this.
They say up and coming actresses cannot keep a serious relationship because of the demands of the profession. Do you have a relationship?
That’s untrue. Actors are humans and still find time to date and get married. An understanding partner that accepts that you love what you do will encourage you. It makes you happy. Being in entertainment doesn’t mean you have to mess up. Other professions have their demands and require 100% commitment too. Listen, you even get to see your girlfriend or wife more if she is an actress as opposed to being a banker because our schedules are very irregular, except if she’s out of town to shoot, in which case she spends a month tops and comes right back to base, in a normal circumstance that is. Am I in a relationship?, I don’t like talking about my private life to the media, but, I’ll tell you this, I’m seeing someone and he’s a modern man who understands completely what I do and supports me at it.
What is your take on dating a fellow actor?
I wouldn’t date a fellow actor. It works for some but not me. Actors actually get quite jealous of their colleagues despite the gender. I realised that to my astonishment. If it’s going well for this person, the other would get depressed and vice versa. More so, actors are narcissistic in nature. I need someone I can go home to, a civilian if you will. After all the craziness we face, someone that keeps me grounded like my man does.
If you have your way, what part of your body would you love to change?
Trust me; I wouldn’t change a damn thing about me. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m very secure and comfortable with the body God and mama has blessed me with. Whatever flaws I have even make me prettier and beautiful.
When was the last time you had sex?
Are you seriously asking me that? Ok, I’m celibate for now, if you must know. It’s not that hard for me to abstain from sex.
What do you look out for in a man?
A man I can have a decent conversation with and learn from. A man that teaches me new things, a man that makes me laugh so hard, a man that overlooks and not stuck up on perfection or normal, because normal is boring trust me. A man that is not poor. I won’t live on him; I can take care of myself, but I like to be pampered sometimes you know. What woman doesn’t?
What is the craziest gesture you ever got from a fan?
A marriage proposal.
If you were not an actor, what would you be doing?
A Tailor certainly; I would be a fashion designer. I like fashion, I like clothes, I like looking good. I remember when I was nine years old I blackmailed my parents into buying a sewing machine for me. It’s still there in the family house. Perhaps I could take it up as a hobby if I can find the time.
What are the three things you cannot be caught dead doing?
I cannot manage trios when I decide to retire my celibacy because I love attention. Secondly, not having WiFi, because, I love being connected to the world. Lastly, not checking up on the human I love most in the world.
Who is your actor crush?
My actor crush will be Deyemi Okanlawon.
Can you name your best three favourite directors in Nollywood?
Ikechukwu Onyeka, Kabat Esosa and Desmond Elliot.
What should your fans expect from you in the next half of 2016?
My lovely fans should expect releases of movies I’ve shot. More movie projects, other projects too, because, I’m an all-rounder. You never know. I’m being very optimistic.
