People started taking note of
Nse Ike –Etim after her role as
Ramsey Nouah’s wife in
Reloaded. And just when fans
were still catching their breath,
she played another pulsating
role in Guilty Pleasure. As it is
now, Nse is making her mark in
the almost over crowded
Nollywood and we find her
irresistible, hence this interview.
How does it feel to live in
Abuja and be amongst the
top ten actresses in Lagos?
It’s the grace of God ; though I
am living far away from the hub
of Nollywood, I am still
recognized. Somehow, I have
been lucky enough to be called
upon when there is a new
movie. If I’m fit for a role, I
would be called. If not, other
actresses would do it.
How did you get your role in
Reloaded?
It was practically imposed on me
by Emem Isong and I am
thankful to her because if she
didn’t do it, I probably wouldn’t
have been considered for acting
again. She went on and on,
telling me I could do it and I
went in there and I did what I
had to do.
Was it your first?
Yes,after a decade.
Where were you?
I was in a different industry. I
was into banking, I was also in
the Media, and into fashion as
well. I did a lot of things,
sometimes I can’t even
remember everything.
Why were you jumping from
one place to the other?
Like they say, when you go
through fire, the outcome is
always beautiful, just like a piece
of gold.
Why did you leave in the
first place?
To go and get beautiful
( Laughs)
But then, a lot of people
would have given all they
had to get into Nollywood,
why did you leave?
I think when you are trying to
discover yourself, you are
constantly searching for
yourself and when you are
doing that, you want to be
satisfied with whatever you are
doing. It’s not new to move
from place to place but at the
end, what you achieve is greater
because it is then you’ll know
what you want and your worth.
Sometimes, people ask, why am I
here? It is a question everyman
should ask himself… why am I
on earth? Is it just to be an actor
or a presenter? I can confidently
stand and talk to anyone from
any industry because I have
been everywhere.
Have you found what you
are looking for in acting?
Yes and it is quite satisfying. I
found it and I am enjoying it
immensely.
Where are you from?
Akwa Ibom. I am Edidiong.
Is there a bit of Omotse,
your role in Guilty Pleasure in
you?
I think there is a bit of it in
almost everybody. If you try
some people and they don’t
respond, the day they’ll respond,
you won’t believe it. So, there is
always a point people get to and
they can no longer hold it… they
just spill it out. So, that was the
challenge Omotse had . She was
tired of her ever-busy husband
and the best way of handling
matters no longer mattered. We
were only trying to repeat what
happens, it has nothing to do
with my person. I think all I did
was to become the character at
a point in time.
Why are you always acting
the role of a disadvantaged
housewife?
Do you think being an
housewife is an advantage? I
don’t think so. I’m glad you’ll
agree with me that the woman
didn’t go out of her way to
cheat on her husband,
something pushed her to it. I
don’t know why I’m always
playing that part, or why I was
chosen to play that part. If I
delivered, I am glad.
Can you do some of the
things you did in Guilty
Pleasure in real life? Like, if
you don’t get what you
want from your husband,
can you go outside to get it?
Since I have never been married,
it will be hard to put myself in
her shoes right now and
imagine it. So, when I get
married, I can answer your
question.
Not even ‘I can never!’ or ‘I
will never!’ why?
You see, when you say words
like, I can never do it and you
finally did one day, people will
criticize you and call you all sorts
of names. I am not saying I am
going to do it but my saying
‘never’ is not a good thing. I will
pray to God to direct my steps
and not to cheat on my
husband. It’s the only way. I will
pray for him not to go astray
because he’s human.
Do you believe men can be
faithful?
Yes. I believe that the man who
knows God can be faithful. It is
a tough course because there
are too many beautiful women.
I pity men, but yes, they can be
faithful and it’s happening.
Are you saying a man can be
married for 20 years and not
cheat?
Yes, it is possible. The thing is,
we do not examine ourselves
enough to know how far we
can go.
Have you ever had a very
faithful boyfriend?
Yes. This is what I have grown
to believe… he and he only can
tell you the truth but what I
believe is that he was faithful.
Does your belief measure up
to 100 percent?
Once, I believe a person, I believe
him.
Do you believe that women
can be faithful?
Yes, I think we have a better
threshold to hold on than men.
It is more difficult for men but
easier for women… plus a
woman needs an excuse to
cheat, a man doesn’t.
Have you ever had an excuse
to cheat?
Like I said, I won’t answer this
question until I am married.
What’s happening with you
and Fred Amata?
I once granted an interview
about Jetta Amata, the producer
and director of Amazing Grace.
They’ve been my friends for
over 13 years. In fact, when he
introduces my sister to people,
he says “that is my best-friend’s
sister”. I was shocked when I
read in the paper that because a
campaign was run for a
colleague, Fred Amata when he
was in Celebrity Takes 2 that I
was dating him .
Even Yemi Blaq sent me a
massage to vote for him and to
canvass for votes for him . I felt
bad because I couldn’t even
reply that text massage telling
him that, I am sorry I can’t do
anything for you on Facebook,
my manager is already using
Facebook for Fred. After all that
support, a national newspaper
decided to mention that I have
been dating Fred Amata for over
13 years and I mentioned it to
them. I don’t even have Fred
Amata’s number. I was looking
for Fred’s number thinking that
was it possible for that
newspaper to have sent me his
number?
Why did you campaign for
Fred?
My manager campaigned for
Fred and she asked for my
permission and I told her that
Fred was my friend, and truly,
he is. He is one of those people
that wanted me back in the
industry and I would say I am in
the bank. They used to feel bad
about it. I think publicity is a
good thing, at least they are
putting my name in their paper.
But a lot of people thought
you and Jetta were dating, is
this true?
He’s a good man ( Laughs), but
we never dated. Ubong is my
good friend, I can’t deny that.
Do you also remember that he
did a job in Benue state that I
wasn’t part of? That’s what
friendship is but if he was my
boyfriend, I must be there.
How was growing up?
I grew up like every other
normal kid. It was fun though… I
grew up around Nigeria. I was in
Zaria at a time. I attended the
Federal Government College,
Ilorin. I furthered my education
at the University of Calabar and
I have a Bachelor of Arts in
theater arts. I used to have a TV
show many years ago.
You seem to be restless.
Why?
No, not that. I have also worked
in different radio stations and
even had a programme that was
aired round the country. I also
went into banking to prove a
point to my mother. My mom,
though was supportive in every
way, wondered why I chose the
career I chose and she thought I
wasn’t stable. So, what I did was
to go into banking for a year
and a half. It was interesting
and granted me a bit of stability
which I think still works for me
till date. “If I no get money, I no
fit die”.
I have been exposed to the
intricacies of these things. It is
not working hard, it is working
smart and other things like that.
I went into fashion as well, but
it is amazing that I always run
from what I love to do best
which is cooking. A friend of
mine kept insisting that I should
take it up as a business and I still
thank her for that word of
encouragement. Now, I review, I
write, and I am into catering. I
am acting too. All these things
are artistically inclined.
Aside Guilty Pleasure have
you been getting more jobs?
Umm, yes we have been doing
fine.
Recently?
Yes, I just finished Spiral Band
with Emem Isong. You see the
thing is about the story. I’ve
always said I’m not going to do
this kind of job, I’m not going to
do this I’m not going to do that.
I want to be like this, I want to
be like that , but hey it’s
Nollywood.
Let me quickly ask you about
Guilty Pleasure. It is as if
your life depended on it .
What’s your take on that?
It did. So we acted well; thank
you. (Both laugh)
An actress whose name I
won’t mention once said to
The Sun that sometimes if
“you’re on set especially for
a week or two and had to
play a romantic role you’re
like sexually aroused.Is that
true?
I don’t know if it is a positive or
a negative thing but I think an
actor will get to a point in his
life where acting is acting. If I
am going to kiss someone and
make it look real, I’ll have to
paint the picture of the man I
would probably want to kiss or
maybe, my fantasy man. I’ll
make him look beautiful the
way I want him to look and I’ll
kiss him.
Are you saying emotion is
not involved?
Emotion is involved, because
you want to play your role well
but as soon as you finish, it’s all
over because the emotions
show through the eyes and the
camera is going to pick it so,
you’ve got to be in love at that
time.
How did you get into acting?
I stumbled into it. I went for an
audition and they were like, we
don’t have anyone for the
Adanma role and I offered to
play it for free and that was it.
Did you actually do it for
free?
Yes, I did it for free.
Have you found genuine love
before?
I guess if I have found it before,
I would have been married
because I wouldn’t have let it
go.
Is there a lucky man around?
To have that is more than being
lucky (laughs).
Are you saying you’re single,
available and free?
I don’t use those words.
Why?
That is because I can never be
available. I would rather say I
am single.
Are you looking for love?
You don’t look for love, it comes
to you. When it comes, I’ll let you
know.
Why do you love working
with Emem?
She’s a cool and nice person.
We’ve been friends for years .
Why haven’t they asked me if I
was going out with Emem?
( laughs).
What’s you view on
lesbianism?
I think everybody should live
their lives the way they want.
Anybody who wants to be
anything should be. People
should live and let live.
So are you saying there is
nothing wrong with
lesbianism?
I’m not saying there is
something wrong with it,
neither I’m I going to condemn
it.I am not going outside to
condemn anyone and judging
anyone The same God we
worship still keeps His people
alive , still loves them and gives
them grace. So who am I to
judge anybody?
Have you ever been
approached by lesbians?
No, I don’t know what they look
like . I know a guy has called me
before,… he said he saw my
picture in the paper, that he
wants me to be his girl friend.
Are you pretty?
No I don’t think I am.
You don‘t think you are
pretty?
No, not at all.
What were you taught when
you were growing up about
sex?
The first thing my mum told me
was that “if a man touches you,
you carry belle”
That is a lie?
No, she just said so, you know it
was a word of wisdom… and
every thing like that. Later she
was like, I think as a growing
child you need to learn about
sex.
Do you frown against sex
before marriage?
Yes I did, but in the world we
are living it will stop.
Does that mean you don’t do
it?
Does that mean I don’t have
sex? I’m not a virgin but my sex
life is private .
What is the most challenging
role you’ve played?
I think Omotse in Guilty Pleasure
was still my most challenging
role. There’s also Spellbound in
which I had to be kissing
Desmond .
Which Desmond?
The same Desmond. My roles
have been challenging really
because they required a lot of
initializing and rehearsing.
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