9jaNollywoodstars

A prolific playwright,dramatist,and man of culture,was born in Oru Ijebu in Ijebu North Local Government area of Ogun State over 40 years ago.He is the sixth child of his family and hails from a humble background.He had both his elementary and secondary education in his home town and obtained a Grade Two certificate from the Teacher's Training College in Oru,as well as a diploma certificate in Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan (UI),Oyo State and currently running his degree course in Mass Communication at the Olabisi Onabanjo Universin Olabisi Onabanjo studing Mass Communication.

His coming into acting was not by accident but the environment where he grew up influenced his artistic career.He was brought up in the setup and because of festivals here and there then,he used to be very involved,not as an idol worshipper but involve in activities like drumming, dancing and some other things.When he realised he could do it to make a living,he never hesitated to go into it fully.He got into the industry by sheer interest.

He started so early in life,over 30 years ago,under the tutelage of the late Mukaila Adebisi,the manager of Oloko Theatre Group.After his training,he worked briefly with the late theatre arts professional,Dele Ogunsanya,who influenced his artistic career.Since then,he has worked with different professionals in the industry.He first thinks of the job before accepting any script or role.He is more into Yoruba production than English films as there is no way he can do away with his culture, part of which is to render assistance,sometimes,even if the script is not all that good,he doesnt't run away from it.It's a fact that not every script can be good and for someone like him,who is culturally blessed,he prefer to contribute his own quota to make it good.

Odule rarely features in English movies,even though he speaks good English.He is more into Yoruba films because he started with Yoruba productions and English is actually dominated by the Igbo.He says he is not condemning them but cannot go and beg for a role.If any script is handed over to him to come and interpret,he believe he can do it effectively,no matter what language is used to write it.

Though growing up was hectic for him as an orphan but today,thank God,the Almighty,for His mercy.His source of Inspiration comes from those that inspired him into the industry - like Kola Ogunmola and Hubert Ogunde.Those are legends in the industry who paid their dues in the industry.Odule is the current national Vice President,Association of Nigerian Theatre Practioners (ANTP).He used to have a group,but not any longer.

Nollywood diva, Rita Dominic was the centre of attraction on Saturday 11 October 2008 as gistmaster hosted her to a lavish reception at A-list celebrity hangout, Swe Bar in Lagos, Nigeria. Rita emerged the best dressed actress after a poll conducted by gistmaster on the internet. The actress had a filled day as paparazzi serenaded her with camera shots, amidst the glitz, glamour and popping of champagne.

Rita rode in a luxury car provided by one of the sponsors, Mr.Tony Prest, CEO of Prestel communication and owner of NIRE Prest, operators of the hottest luxury boat cruise in Nigeria.Jibola Olubiyi of Swe Bar was on hand to give Rita a warmth welcome into the bar considered as the hottest spot for silver spoons in the country.Tosyn Bucknor, a key partner in the Rita Dominic’s event also got many things fixed, thereby ensuring a grand outing. I must not underestimate the contributions of Cornel Udofia.He was all over the place.

She was the closure of all eyes as she went round exchanging pleasantries with everyone present at the ceremony.Actress and up and coming singer,Anita Joseph celebrated the actress with her performance to the delight of the guests,which included Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA)actress of the year award winner,Kate Henshaw,Michelle Dede,Noble Igwe,Kemi Otegbade,IBAN girls,Abiola Aloba and Rita’s manager,Mildred Okwo.Rita was elated as she was formally presented to the press as the winner of Nollywood best dressed actress opinion poll.She expressed her joy and optimism that Nollywood would continue to grow.She also disclosed that her late mum influenced her sense of style.

Funke Akindele used to be the girl next door with an OND in Mass Communication from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic,all that changed when she took part in ‘I Need to Know’, a soap opera on student and AIDS.Ever since she has been taking her chances and playing it big in the movie industry.

She is one of the most sought after actresses in the Yoruba movie genre at the moment.She was recently alleged to have been arrested in London for a drug related offense.Here is the star actress….

How does it feel being one of the most celebrated actresses at the moment?

It feels great. I am really happy about it and me thank God about it. I really appreciate it.

When you started out, did you ever dream of coming this far?

No. All I had in mind was that I love what I am doing. That is why I keep doing it, because there is a spirit urging me on. It is a talent and God says whatever talent He gives you, do not bury it; always exhibit it and that is what I am doing. I never knew I was going to go this big.

You trained as a Lawyer, but you don't practice. When did you decide to dump law for acting?

I won't agree with the word dump. I only put it aside, just because acting is my first love. Acting is in me. I sleep it, I drink it and the urge is there to keep doing my best, entertaining people, the more you do it, the more you want to keep doing it. For now acting is the main thing in my mind, maybe later I will pick up law practice.

What took you to the top?

Its hard work, dedication and prayer. And because I always had it all at the back of my mind that this is what I want to do, and my mum always said whatever you are doing do it well because you don't know the one that will take you to the top. I was always hard working, dedicated and above all, prayerful and focused.

What is your comment on the public impression that actresses always sleep their way to the top?

It is really painful. People keep saying that they have to sleep with some one to make it. Left to me, I don't believe that and I can say it authoritatively that I did not sleep with any body to get to where I am today. What I did was to keep doing what I know how to do very well and at the end of the day, it pushed me to the top.

Have you ever regretted taking up acting?

No. Though when I started it was not easy. I was frustrated. I felt I may not have been in the right place. But something kept telling me, don't forget, this is what you love doing so don't give up. So I wouldn't say there was a time when I regretted acting but I would say there was a time when my spirit was down.

When was the first major break in your career?

That was the first movie I produced, Ojo Ketala. I just did it and it sold massively.

Have you ever experienced any embarrassing moment since you shot into limelight?

Not really. Except when my speed was low, when there were obstacles and oppressions. People felt you can't do it, that there were better people that can do it and all that. But I got my head high and I thank God I am there now.

Have you experienced any negative media report since you started out?

I experienced one lately. It was really sad. It actually broke my heart because there was no iota of truth in what I read about myself. I cried, I felt really bad because it brought down my reputation.

Where was Funke Akindele beginning from the first week of July till now?

I was in Nigeria, recording, working on my project.

But we read in a magazine that you traveled to London and you were detained for drug-related offenses?

You read about it in a magazine that does not practice journalism in the right way. I was shocked because the period they said I was arrested, I was in Nigeria. So I don't know where they got such a terrible story. I was not even contacted to find out the truth about the story before they went to press. I believe in ideal journalism. I fu get such a story, you have to call the person to confirm or debunk before going to press. So I was shocked to have read it in a magazine that Funke AKindele was arrested in London while I am still in Nigeria, hale and hearty, working hard to satisfy my fans out there.

What do you think could have informed such a weighty allegation?

I wouldn't know and I am still surprised. I have taken the right steps towards it.

How many times have you visited London recently?

I have visited London only twice. The first time was when I bagged Afro-Hollywood Award. That was in October 25th, 2007, at Hilton Metropolis Hotel. I was given an award as the Best Supporting Actress 2007.That was my first time and I spent just ten days. My second time was June 4th, 2008 and I spent just six days there.

The publication also alleged that you overstayed in London?

You can see what I am saying. They are not even sure. I was surprised when I read that I was arrested because I over stayed in London. I spent just six days. They are not even sure of them selves. It was rubbish. I am using this medium to tell my fans now, I am in Nigeria, hale and hearty, nothing happened to me. I am working hard right now to satisfy my fans and earn a living. I, Funke Akindele was never arrested or stopped and searched and I never passed through Heathrow Airport. I passed through Gatwick when I went to London. I don't know where they got their information. I am really sad about it.

Despite your denials that there is nothing to the close relationship between you and your marketer, Olasco, some people keep saying something is actually brewing between both of you?

People will keep writing or thinking of things like that, especially when they see a female and a male doing something together and they are successful. They want to know why they are so close. Why they are so successful? There must be something between them. But I keep saying it, there is nothing other than between me and Akeem Olatunji Balogun. He is my marketer, he is someone I respect so much. Without God and him, there is no Funke Akindele as far as my production is concerned.

How does his wife see you?

I don't have any relationship with his wife. I just know that he is married with children.

What is Funke's perception of men?

(Laughs) Men are necessary evil.

What is the most painful thing a man has done to you?

Let me just say I think I have a very good shock absorber. I take every thing as it comes. I believe God has a purpose for everything in life. If a man does anything terrible to me, I believe God wants him to. I believe with that God wants to take me to a greater height.

You keep telling us you will soon get married, when exactly are you settling down?

Very soon. I just have to tell my fans to keep praying for me. Man proposes, God disposes. They should just keep praying for me. All I know is that I will get married and have kids and live happily ever after.

But you have never told us about your man, is he in Nigeria or abroad?

He is a young responsible man living in Nigeria. He works here in Nigeria, he is a business man from Abeokuta, Ogun State.

What is his name?

He is simply Lanre.

How would you describe him?

He is loving, God-fearing and a friend.

What is his perception about your job?

He loves my job without bad publicity. He felt bad about what was written about me and took the right step.

That means your guy is involved in the battle?

Yes

Get to know more about bossomy movie star,Foluke Daramola,

Q: How did you find yourself in acting?
A: I started out with a talk show on DBN before I went to the university. Later, I moved to AIT on Our Time.It was while I was at AIT that I met Uncle Tunji Bamishigbin, who took me into Palace. He actually introduced me to acting. It wasn’t so strange or difficult for me, as I had always appreciated movie actors. Besides, I used to speak to myself in the mirror while alone in the room and from there, I concluded that I could actually express myself and expand my talents.

Q: How many movies have you produced or directed on your own?
A: It will be difficult for me to mention all the ones I have been part of because they are very many, both the English/Igbo and the Yoruba ones. But for the ones I have produced and directed, we have Oriojori, Emi, 50/50, Ta ni ki n fe, Nkan Meta and a whole lot of them. I also write and sell scripts

Q: Which of these brought you into limelight?
A: I wouldn’t know, but I will say with me, my acting came with fame. I am just an ordinary girl walking on the street as Foluke Daramola and when I was in the cast of Palace, the same Foluke became celebrated. All of a sudden, people from Encomium just picked some of my pictures from Uncle Tunji and splashed them on the pages of the magazine. So, you see, my acting actually came with fame. But sincerely I was lucky to have been brought up by Uncle Tunji, who wouldn’t allow me minor roles like my peers.

Q: What are the pains of fame?
A: A whole lot. For instance, one is deprived of privacy. You have to act as a role model, learn how to comport yourself at all times. All the same, I think it has helped me to build my life into something worthy of emulation. Though one can’t be perfect, I still try as much as possible to be myself.

Q: Besides acting, do you do other things?
A: Yes. I produce, direct, present and do business like selling baby dresses and jewellry.

Q: From your own assessment of the returns from television soaps and home-movies, which one would you say pays more and is actually worth all the pains?
A: Both have their pros and cons. Then, I’ll say the soap-opera came with fame, while the movies came with more money. But now, both are almost on the same level because the soap operas, the good ones I mean, are currently offering better money.

Q: Have you won any awards before?
A: Yes, about three. I won the Upcoming Actress, Afro-Dublin Awards in 2003/2004 and the Afro-Nollywood Award in London in 2006, which is the most recent. I also won awards while in school. For instance, while in the university, I was the best Students’ Union Government, SUG, Executive as the Director of Socials. And as a youth corps member, I won the most sociable corper award. It could have been more, but for my marriage and its dictates.

Q: Is it true that you are the second wife of your husband?
A: In a way, it is true

Q: How do you mean?
A: His first wife is dead. But that happened before we got married. I have never dreamt of being anyone’s second wife in my life. It has never been my idea of fun. Myself and my husband grew up together. Both families are friends. He was like my elder brother and we attended the same church until we moved from Anthony to Ogba. Then, we lost contact.
Along the line, he got married and lost his wife. We met again in 2001, dated briefly, but not very seriously.
He and my elder brother, now deceased, were close friends. It was in 2004 that we became more serious and got married. Being a second wife is actually against everything I believe in life. To me it is like living in a fool’s paradise. My mother lost my father, when she was only 36 years old. She had the chance to re-marry, but she did not. She stayed single to take care of us and this she maintained till date.
Some may have their reason for doing it, maybe for their lack of interest in younger men, for some religious belief, but for me, its not my idea of fun.

Q: How have you been combining your role as a wife and the demands of acting?
A: Well, it has been very challenging. It has also been exciting as I see my kids and husband. It has actually not been rosy, but it’s worth all the pains. A lot of times, we artistes fail to realise that we should bow out when the ovation is loudest and go backstage. Many cannot differentiate between real life and showbiz. The life behind is the real life. You can’t always be the star, everyone has their time for fame. For instance, the way they call Bukky Ajayi is not the way they call Foluke Daramola and the way they call Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Joke Jacobs is not the way they call me. It goes on like that and it is, therefore, imperative for us all to prepare for the backstage very well and promptly.
This is why you see me spending more time with my family than what I spend out there. I try to build my home now, so that I’ll be able to say I enjoyed my showbiz and also enjoy my home.
Now, my family life takes about 70 per cent of my time and my job takes only 30 per cent. It is simply all about having to balance the two. The experience has helped me to be more realistic and of course it has also made me to be more mature and focused. I wouldn’t have been able to cope, anyway, without God’s strength and the understanding of my husband. But I wouldn’t want to take this for granted.

Q: To what would you ascribe your swift rise in acting?
A: Humility and respect aside, my acting talent has been my potent asset. My mother, being a teacher, always told us to be respectful.
Again, as a Yoruba girl, who also appreciates our culture, I relate with people with humility and respect. God also wants it and preached it in the Bible.
It helps me to get along with people and to retain me in the minds of people, especially those relevant to my success. This doesn’t mean that I don’t aspire to be better; I’m also ready to learn and to take correction.
Uncle Yomi Obileye, one of my godfathers, once instructed me to always put a smile on my face even in the worst of situations just to continue to appeal to my fans.
You can imagine how difficult this can be, when you are just having a row with somebody beside you in a car and a fan suddenly screams your name on the street. But it is just part of the game. This is also required for my husband, a politician gunning for a councillorship seat, needs me to get along with all cadres of people.

Q: Do you extend your humility to your husband and to people at home?
A: I sure do, but you should know that a woman will always be a woman. He is a caring man and sometimes, I take this for granted. I would tell him sorry only when the situation gets very very bad. In most cases, I want him to offer the apologies. We both can be stubborn at times.

Q: Do you still go for auditions?
A: Not anymore, only when I have double-cast roles.

Q: Have you ever been harassed sexually and what is your opinion about its association with the industry?
A: Sexual harassment is everywhere. It is not exclusive to the movie industry. As far as I am concerned, if you don’t want to be harassed, you won’t be. I have said it before that when I started showbiz, it came almost with stardom, but not with money. And by the time I started home videos, I had paid my dues. Once you see that you are not getting jobs, you go home.
You need not to hang around there as if your whole life depends on it. You don’t have to present yourself as being desperate, otherwise people will take you for an unusual ride. You need to carry yourself with dignity. That doesn’t mean you cannot have emotional attachment to people in the industry. Your decision to date somebody is not the same thing as being sexually harassed. People should know that it is not every role they can play.

Q: When was your happiest moment?
A: It was the day I got married. Whenever I remember the day, I easily forgive my husband of whatever offence he has committed. You know a woman’s wedding day is most appreciated. Even when I remember what you press guys did on that day, I usually let go of your bad sides after the event.

Q: And the saddest time?
A: It was when my elder brother died. He was my husband’s friend.
This was in 1991, 10 years after my father died. The day my father died should have been my saddest moment, but I was only two years old and hardly knew anything.

Q: What is the craziest thing a fan has done to you?
A: Touching my boobs. He felt he had to find out whether they are real or not. Well, I also tried to slap him, but he ran away.
Would you like to comment on some of the negative stories about your marriage?
Yes, the first one came two weeks after my wedding. They said Foluke’s husband beat her up and then we were on honeymoon at Ibadan. We were actually supposed to be at Abuja, but I had a production that I had to finish. We were lodged at D-Rovans Hotel in Ibadan when the headline came. You can imagine how hurtful this could be. Aside this, there was another one that came from Encomium, saying I had a misunderstanding with my husband and that he had moved out of our home. Immediately we read it, we went to the publisher and my husband told him that if it ever repeats itself, he wouldn’t hesitate filing a suit against them. They apologised and we concluded that it was the price for stardom. It is painful because it never happened.

Q: Where do you see yourself in the nearest future?
A: I see myself in Nigeria, becoming established in my talk-show. I also see myself becoming a role model like Joke Jacobs, Olu Jacobs, Tunji Bamishigbin, Yomi Obileye, Jide Kosoko, my mother and my father.

Q: How fulfilled are you in your chosen career?
A: So far, I will say it’s been good. I enjoy what I am doing, but I wish to be back in the corporate world to actually practice what I have read.

Source: nigeriafilms.com

The Nigerian movie industry popularly called Nollywood and the third highest movie industry in the world has produced top actresses that have stood the test of time in the make believe clan. Some of them have been described as shooting stars that never fade as well as role models to upcoming actresses and other female admirers in Nigeria and beyond. Among these trail blazers are:

Liz Benson:- This top actress turned evangelist had her first stint in 1990 in the Tv Soap ‘Fortunes’ which was aired in 1993. after that she found her way into Nollywood in the movie ‘Circle of Doom’ where she played a minor role, while the movie ‘Glamour Girls,’ shot her to public eye. Today, this renowned actress, widow and mother of three is seen as a role model by many budding actresses.Like every star,Liz as she is popularly called has gone through a lot of topsy-turvy in the media Aside the devastating death of her husband,late Samuel G. Benson,the lesbianism tale and the litany of men linked with her are some of the issues that have kept the 43 year old thespian away from the movie scene.

However, this has not made her change her mind in Nollywood as she is currently serving the Lord and cooking something new for her teeming fans.

Joke Sylva:- She is adjudged the undisputed queen of the Nigerian movie industry. Aunty Joke as those who look up to her, call her was groomed in the UK before she returned to Nigeria. She had her stint into acting in the TV soap ‘Mind Bending’ in 1990, but shot her profile in the Yoruba film entitled ‘Owurolojo’ in 1993.Ever since, this mother and wife of renowned thespian, Uncle Olu Jacobs has upped the ante in the industry making it difficult if not impossible for others to reach.

Joke Jacobs,nee Sylva knows her onions in the movie scene, both on the stage and in front of the camera, she displays her dexterity and acting prowess to the delight of her fans. As a role model, she is and still remains the only actress in Nigeria that is controversy free.Her countless works both on stage and in Nollywood are sublime and always professional. Still thinking of which movie she has played in recently, then check out ‘30 Days’, directed by Mildred Okwo, and if you missed the stage play ‘Vagina Monologues’, then you have not known enough of this multi-talented screen goddess and one-time AMAA best Actress.

Eucharia Anunobi:- UK as she is popularly called by her numerous fans and admirers breezed into Nollywood in ‘Nneka the pretty serpent,’, but the controversial movie, ‘Glamour Girls 2’ was the flick that brazed her to limelight. It was in this movie that she acted an erotic scene with Zack Orji.At that time,the phenomenum called Nollywood was still in its gestation period,so people were shocked at her pluckiness to interprete such a role and to be candid, she did it so well.

Today, this Nollywood Sharon stone has won many adherents and the number is increasing by the day after disclosing to the world how her husband Charles Egwu abandoned her and their sickle cell child. The top actress can boast of over 200 movies to her kithy and more are still coming.

Kate Henshaw-Nuttai:- This vivacious actress cut her acting teeth in Hints production way back in 1994 in the movie, “When the Sun Set,” since then, her profile has continued to rise in the industry.Many see her as a role model, a mother and a friend. With over 100 movies to her credit, Kate seems not to be done yet as the onus has fallen on her now after been crowned Africa’s number one actress by AMAA in the movie, ‘Stronger than pain’.

Before she got married to Mr Roderick James Nuttai and both having a lovely seven year old daughter named Stephanie, she had topsy-turvey affair with acclaimed Gospel artiste Sammie Okposo, that hit the rocks following some unprintable issues. This delectable actress is a role model for many budding artistes in the industry.

They both have tiny frames but they are giants in their chosen career.Aki and Pawpaw are the petit Nollywood stars who have turned their physical disabilities into creative tools in the entrtainment industry.The two actors,who are usually paired for roles in movies.

Aki
Chinedu Ikedieze (aka Aki)the older of the two was born into the family of Mr and Mrs. Michael Ikedieze Ogbonna.He hail from Iluoma Nzeakoli in Bende local government area in Abia State. After his primary and secondary education,he proceeded to IMT Enugu where he studied Mass Communication.Acting is a talent that God deposited in him right from the cradle.He satrted during his secondary school days,he was a member of the Art and Dramatic Society.He got his greatest opportunity in his first year(August, 1998)at IMT,where he met a friend whom he told his desire to become an actor and to discover more about the Nigerian movie industry.

As God would have it,the discussion coincided with an audition slated somewhere the very next day and he promised to take him to the place and the following day,they went to the venue of the audition at a popular hotel on Ogui road in Enugu.The audition was for a movie titled Evil Men 1 $ 2 and luckily for him,he got a role. That was exactly how he started and since then he have been actively involved in it.

He had his major break in 2000 with The Last Burial.After the movie,he went to Port Harcourt and people wanted to literarily steal him and this was before Aki Nu Ukwa, which eventually brought me to limelight.


Pawpaw
Osita Kenneth Iheme hail from Mbaitoli Local Government area of Imo State.
His parents are Mr Herbert Iheme and Mrs Augustina Iheme,he come from a family of five;four boys and a girl and the youngest of the five siblings.Like Aki,Pawpaw is equally the only member of his family who is short.He attended College Primary School in Abia State and presently studying Mass Communication at the Enugu State University.In 2001,he auditioned for a part in the movie Cold Blood and succeeded.He was then paid N5,000 for his supporting role and since then,he has been making waves in the industry.

The Nollywood twins met each other at an audition in 2001 and since then,they have become inseparable friends.Both of them said they are more like brothers than colleagues as they share the same flat,height,weight and talent,so either both of them are cast in a movie or neither.They first paired in Aki Na Ukwa and their performance in that film took them to the limelight.In September 2004,Aki and Pawpaw went to America’s New York Film Academy to brush up their acting dexterities.They are grateful for the opportunity fame has given to them to travel around the globe to meet role models like Will Smith, Eddie Murphy, and Gary Coleman among others.

The pint-sized Nollywood actors,Chinedu Ikhedieze(Aki)and Osita Iheme (Pawpaw) have been through a lot of heat from Marketers and Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) due to complaints by parents,they are concerned about the immoral roles played by Aki and Pawpaw in movies,claiming that it has negative influence on their children and be discouraged from roles that do not portray good morale to their viewers,especially the teenagers.This is because they are role models and ambassadors to innocent teenagers out there who think they are age mates.

The death of Oba Funso Adeolu,the Alaye Ode of Ode Remo was announced last week by Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State in a condolence letter to relations of the late Oba and people of Ode Remo,noting that the Oba’s exit was a great loss to the traditional institution in the country as well as the arts in general.He extolled the departed oba on his contribution to the development of the modern Nigerian drama,described him as “a colossus in drama genre, a cultural icon of no mean standing and a traditional ruler par excellence excellence.”

The late Oba Adeolu was an old student of Methodist Boys High School,Lagos.Before he became the traditional ruler of Ode-Remo,he acted the role of Eleyinmi in the drama series,which ran on prime time for years.Many Nigerians would easily remember his role, especially for his many antics on stage.The late Oba Adeolu was the second in-command to Oba Ajelende in the drama series,which he starred in years after he appeared on the production of "Things Fall Apart" in Enugu.

He was a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University,Zaria and London School of Journalism (1962).He started his working career with the Federal Ministry of Education as an education officer.He taught at Kings’ College, Lagos.He left the ministry as Senior Inspector of Education in 1968 to join Texaco Nigeria Ltd,as area manager.He later joined the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation as a sports commentator in 1970.He transferred his services to the Nigerian Television Authority where he set up the sports department.He left the television to join Rank Xerox Nigeria Limited as the training manager from where he left to set up a private business in advertising, public relations and film production in 1977.His productions included the popular The Millers in which he played the lead role.

He was crowned the Alaye-Ode of Ode-Remo in 1990.A year later, he was made Justice of the Peace (JP) by the Ogun State Government.In 1997 the Federal Government honoured him with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

When alive,the late royal father was not well disposed to the phenomenon called Nollywood.And he had his reasons;First,he detested the low quality of the movies being churned out daily by producers,and secondly,he observed that many of the practitioners lack requisite training.It was a lot of self-interest,dedication,devotion and love for the art that motivated them more than the monetary aspect.

Toyin Aimaku is one Nollywood actress rising gradually to the top of the movie industry, especially in the Yoruba genre. She came on the scene about four years ago but her face has become prominent in many movies including Etanu and Lion of Magun series of Super Story.

The movie industry had gone sensational before Toyin came on the scene, but it wasn’t the bling bling and the razzmatazz associated with the show biz industry that attracted her. She says that the passion she had for the make-believe industry even as a young girl made her to become a part of it. The opportunity of becoming an actress came in 2004 when her uncle introduced her to Bukky Wright, a popular actress. Since then, Toyin has remained unstoppable; as she forges on and on. Though she loved acting, when it was time to fill the university matriculation forms, Toyin chose to study Marketing.

Toyin however said it had not been easy, confessing that stardom had practically made her live a fake life. She said, “You have to fake who you really are, you have to fake your lifestyle. I don’t have to lie about it that is what we do; we live fake lives. I used to be a very playful person, but this profession has turned me to be a reserved person, otherwise a lot of people will take advantage of you and say negative things about you. Let me tell you, we live fake lives. Indeed, her lifestyle has changed. To ‘belong’, Toyin said she now goes out of her way to shop at exclusive places; something she wasn’t doing when she was coming up.

Toyin is one of the very few actresses who do not have much scandal trailing them. She thanks God for that, and believes that she will not be involved in any scandal throughout her career. She says she try as much as possible to live a decent life so as not to bring any scandal to my person and she has no intention of acting nude, she can not be scandalized in that aspect..

She may not act nude, but when it comes to dressing ‘hot’, Toyin takes the lead. She is one of the actresses who are daring when it comes to skimpy dressing, and she can give men something to ogle after. Her status and her dress style, coupled with her career could account for the one thousand and one admirers she has.

Of all the millions of admirers that she has, she was able to single out one of them as her boyfriend, the main guy in her life. She says she has a boyfriend, he is doing well. He has asked her to marry him though he has not done that in the proper way. In any case, she knows they will get married. The boyfriend does not mind the incessant phone calls and numerous admirers that she has.She is so much in love with her guy that she can sacrifice anything for him, even her profession.