I Can Never Act Nude

Mercy Aigbe2

Mercy Aigbe

A year after releasing her blockbuster, Gucci Girls, popular actress Mercy Aigbe speaks with NEHRU ODEH about her career, her thorny road to stardom and her forthcoming movie, Komfor

Tell us about your acting career..

My acting career started in my teens, when I was really very young. I was still in secondary school and I used to be part of the drama group at St. Francis Secondary School, Maryland. So I had seen a little bit of acting. Since then, I have always known that I have this thing in me, that I have the talent for acting, relating with people and all that. But when I left secondary school and wanted to further my education, I actually wanted to study theatre arts but my father refused because, then, he belonged to the school of thought which believe that acting does not put food on one’s table. He did not see acting as a profession. He actually thought one should just take it as a hobby and not a profession. So I had to go to The Polytechnic Ibadan where I studied accounting. On completing the Ordinary National Diploma programme, I was supposed to go for the Higher National Diploma. I can say I am a stubborn person actually, I love to do what I want to do. If at the end of the day I regret my actions, I like to take responsibility for them because I feel it is part of experience, part of life. So instead of me to go for the Higher National Diploma programme, I actually “rebelled” against my father. I opted to study theatre arts. I actually studied theatre arts at the University of Lagos. For me, I started acting professionally in 2006; but before then I had been acting way back in school.

What movie gave you your break?

The first movie that brought me to limelight is Ara. It was produced by Prince Wemimo Olu-Paul, a producer based in Ibadan. It was a Yoruba movie. But before I did the Yoruba movie, I had a couple of soaps. I had done one or two English movies. But it was Ara that gave me my break. After Ara, I started getting scripts from Yoruba producers and before I knew it, I became more prominent in the Yoruba genre of Nollywood.

Mercy Aigbe
Mercy Aigbe

How has studying theatre arts helped your career?

It helped me to have the professional backing. I am a thespian. I know my job. Studying theatre arts has made me well-grounded. I know the norms, I know everything about the profession inside out, and that knowledge has really helped me to be a professional to the core.

Do you think if you hadn’t studied theatre arts, you would have become the star that you are now?

I don’t know actually (laughs), but being the kind of person I am, I know I would have still pursued my dream because I am a goal-getter. When I make up my mind to do something, I do it, irrespective of whatever anybody says. So since I have always known I have that talent I am sure I would have still pursued my dream, whether I studied theatre arts or not. But it is just that studying theatre arts is a plus for me.

When you were in UNILAG, did you think you would act in the movie industry?

Of course. I actually studied theatre arts because I wanted to be an actress. One thing is to have the talent; another thing is to be knowledgeable in that field. So I have always known I was going to end up as an actress but I just wanted to know the job. Apart from just having the talent, I wanted to learn the norms, in fact, everything concerning the job so that it can actually help me to be 100 per cent professional.

Growing up, who were the stars you looked up to in the movie industry?

Way back when I was in school, I used to love Sola Sobowale. She is a firebrand. I used to love the way she embodied her character when she is on set and the way she interprets her role. I used to love Mama Gee (Patience Ozokwor) because she is my kind of person (laughs). She comes across as a no-nonsense woman, and that is the kind of person I am. I used to love her because she is fantastic. I also love Omotola. She is actually a role model because she has proved that you can have kids and still be sexy and beautiful; you can be on top of your game and still be married. And she has been able to do all these things still married. When I actually wanted to go into acting, some of the things my father said that was actually working against me was that I should name 10 actresses that are married. Aside Joke Silva then, I could not name anybody because Omotola was not married then. And my father would say: “As per Joke Silva, even because she is a bit mature; name the younger generation?” He added that a lot of them have broken homes. He had a very good point. Omotola, over the years, is on top of her game, she is fantastic; she is still very beautiful after four kids, and she is still with her husband. I love her. She is my role model.

You are not Yoruba. You are from Edo and a big name in the Yoruba genre of the Nigerian movie industry. What is the secret behind that?

Actually I was born and bred in Lagos. It is just that before I started acting in Yoruba, I was not so fluent. I remember a day I was on set, I think Abbey Lanre was directing and I started speaking Yoruba. He asked: “Why is this lady speaking Youba like an Igbo girl?” My Yoruba was not that fluent then. But because I love my job, because I had a passion for what I was doing, I had to learn on the job. I think I am good at learning languages. So, over the years and all that, I learnt on the job. And with the kind of person I am, as I told you before, I am a goal-oriented person. If I want something, I want it. The way I am, whatever it takes me to learn any language, if I have a script and I have to act it out and speak that particular language, I will go all out to learn it so that I can give meaning to the character I am playing. I actually learnt to speak the language fluently on the job. And thank God now I am a pro (laughs).

What were the challenges you faced when you were still trying to master the language and perfect your art? And how were you able to break into it?

I have been really lucky because when I came into the Yoruba movie industry, they all accepted me, they supported me. The people I met in the Yoruba movie industry are so fantastic. They are warm. They don’t want to know where you are from; they are not tribalistic. As long as you are good at your job, they  give you the opportunity. I am not the only Edo lady that is prominent in the Yoruba movie industry. We have about three or four other people that are non-Yoruba and are doing very well. That is to show you that in our movie industry, we don’t care about where you are coming from. You can be Hausa, you can be anything; if you can speak the language very well and you are good at your job, which is even the most important thing, they will accept you. So, I didn’t encounter any problems when it came to them accepting me, because they actually welcomed me with open hands. And it has been fantastic.

Can you mention the titles of some of the movies you have acted in?

Just as I have mentioned before, I have done Ara, the movie that shot me into limelight. I have done a lot of movies. I have done Afe Aye, Abimbola. I have featured in Oba Asa, Odaran Mini, Owankansanmi Da, Hajia Jeminat, Gbebe. I have lost count of the movies I have featured in.

Which of your fellow actors have brought out your acting best?

This is a tough one. I have acted with a lot of fantastic people. But when it comes to love stories, I like to act alongside Yomi Fash-Lanso; he is a fantastic actor and it is wonderful being on set with him because a lot of times he does some things that are not even in the script that you will have to be very intelligent to catch up with him. So, he challenges me when I am on set. When I am watching such movies I actually see myself at my acting best. So when it comes to love stories, I love acting alongside Yomi Fash-Lanso.

Are you saying you are always at your acting best when you act love stories?

No. I can’t say love stories are my best because when you are acting love stories they are not challenging; and I love challenges. I love to play the kind of roles that people would watch and they are like wow! I love roles that are challenging, that bring out your creativity. So when you are watching it, you will be asking yourself: is this really me?

What inspired Gucci Girls, your blockbuster?

I actually wanted to correct some ills in the society, that is, the way some girls live their lives. But the truth in Gucci Girls is that when someone is, in your own understanding, doing to you what you think is bad, that person might just be your angel in disguise. The movie actually teaches that you should think deeply most of the time, don’t just conclude all the time when someone does something bad to you. You never can tell, God might just be averting something, using that person. As they say, every disappointment is a blessing in disguise. So, that person might just be an angel in disguise. When I wanted to produce that movie, when it was time for filming, the character I played was a bit challenging because I am a married woman. My director asked me whether I was sure I could do it. “Is your husband not going to talk? Is your husband’s family not going to talk?” he asked. And I told him that is what I wanted to do. Those are the kind of characters I love playing. So when I am watching the movie, I am excited seeing myself playing these kinds of characters. Thank God I played the character because they wanted me to be the good girl in the movie. And the response has been awesome. When the movie came out, a lot of people really loved it.

Mercy-Aigbe
Mercy-Aigbe

After that, have people been seeing you in a negative light?

When my husband actually saw the movie, he said: “Ha! You did up to this?” During filming, I asked someone to record it on my phone. So I showed him. But I think the one I showed him didn’t show so much. So, when he actually watched the movie proper, he said “Ha! You did this? Please don’t do this kind of movie again!” (laughs). And I said I won’t. People have called me to express their appreciation. A lot of people didn’t believe that after being married  I would be able to do that. But I am a professional. My husband knows my job and he loves my job. I am going to do all it takes whenever I am playing a character to actually convince people to see that character in me when I am on set. So, I think people have really come to appreciate that. They say, oh Mercy is good. There is no character she can’t play.

How long did it take you to produce the movie?

We shot Gucci Girls in 10 days.

Where is it set?

Lagos.

So far, have you had any experience that you regretted?

Now, I can say no. But when I wanted to start acting, there was this particular incident. I went to a location I think for more than two weeks and when I was going home I was paid N2,000. I shed tears profusely. You know then I already had a car and my own small business. I had a cosmetics shop then. I was already doing well. For me to be paid N2,000 for more than 14 days; that is an experience I cannot forget. And it has really helped me because it just shows that I have paid my dues. It has made me a stronger person because after that experience I was actually discouraged and thought of not going into acting. My mind went back to what I went through before my father eventually allowed me to act because I needed to convince my dad that at the end of the day I didn’t make the wrong choice. So that was actually what happened. And that is an experience I can never forget.

Looking back at your early beginning, how did you feel when you went for audition for the first time?

When I actually came fully into the movie industry, there is a place called Winnies at Surulere where we go to get information about where there is any casting or auditions, and later we also go to the National Theatre. It wasn’t easy because I had to fuel my car, go round and round. Sometimes you go for auditions, you get selected. Sometimes when you are selected you have hope, but at the end of the day they might not use you. It wasn’t easy actually. But because I just wanted to do it, I was persistent. I kept going and going. There was even a particular one I got picked and I had to go for that audition that same month for about three or four times. I had to read to the director, I had to read to others. And I actually thought they had given me the role because they kept pestering me to read. And eventually when the day for shooting came, they gave the role to somebody else and I was given just a scene in the movie. I cried because I had actually thought I had gotten the role because of the way they kept calling me persistently. They gave me so much hope, asking me to come and play alongside the star I was going to be working with and rehearse with the person. I was happy thinking that I had got the role at last. But when film making started I found out that the role had been given to somebody else. But if you don’t give me the opportunity to express myself, when will I become a star? So it was discouraging and challenging. But I am happy today. I think those kinds of experiences are good for someone to pass through because they make you a stronger person.

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There must be a huge difference between the days when you were paid N2,000 and now…

Of course! (laughs).

How do you assess scripts that you would like to act in?

Any time I get called up by producers, I always tell them to send me the script first, so I can read the script. Aside the fact that the script has to be very good, the character I am playing has to be okay with me. Aside the script, the kind of people I am working with is very important, especially the director, the GOP. I ask for their names and I call them to confirm whether they are on the job. But most times when you have a very good script and you get on location and you are not working with the right hands, that is, people who know what they are doing, at the end of the day, a fantastic script would just turn to crap.

You’ve gone beyond N2,000. How much are you paid for your roles now?

I am not going to tell you how much I earn. (laughs) . But to God be the glory I am doing well and I hope to do better.

You also produced Osas, a departure from the Yoruba genre. Did you face any challenge producing the movie?

That is why I actually love Osas. Osas is very close to my heart because I created that character, up to her way of dressing, her make-up and everything. I thought everything up and created her. Osas appealed to both my Yoruba audience and my Benin fans. I wanted to do a movie that I can still stay in touch with my people in Yoruba. I didn’t want to be popular just in Yoruba; I wanted my people to also know me. And Osas gave me the opportunity to go to Benin to shoot. I speak Benin; I still speak Yoruba and pidgin. The movie is fantastic; I love the character. Osas is not totally a Benin movie; we spoke Yoruba in it. In fact it is predominantly a Yoruba movie but I had the opportunity to speak Benin because Osas is a Benin girl that actually came to Lagos. So she had an opportunity to speak Yoruba, Benin and pidgin. I love the pidgin language; so I was able to express that also in the movie.

Why do you always play the lead character in your movies?

(Laughs) Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t know whether I should say I am selfish. But the thing about script writing is that when you create a character in your stories, you always feel that you are the only one that can give it the best because it is your story. You are the one that actually visualized it; you are the one that knows how you want that character to behave. That is actually my own reason for playing those characters. For instance, there is a movie I did, Hajia Jemilat. It was also challenging because I am not a Muslim. I am not familiar with their termnologies; I don’t know how to read the Quran. And Jemilat was a young Muslim girl that wears hijab and reads the Quran. It was challenging for me. I wanted to play that character because it is my story; I know how I wanted Jemilat to be. I would have easily got an actress that is a Muslim, but I love challenges. I wanted to play the character and put it out there and let people see it. So most times when I am writing a story and I already have that particular character in my head, giving it out to someone else is not so easy for me. I always believe that I am the only one that can actually give it my best because I already know what I want in my head, the nuances and mannerism of the character.

Why do you like acting challenging roles?

I like it because it is exciting. When you are on set and you are playing a character you have never played before, it opens up that creative spirit in you. It is fun because it makes you discover a new you. I just love playing it because when you are playing a character you are familiar with, it is boring because it is easy for you; you just glide in and glide out of that character. But when you are playing a character you have never played before, it is adventurous and fun; especially when you are able to play your best. And when you are watching that movie you will be surprised at how best you played the character. Playing challenging roles is actually fun to me.

Would you like to play the kind of daring role you played in Gucci Girls again?

Why not? I am a professional. Of course, I will.

Why did you start producing movies?

I think my love for storytelling actually inspired me to start producing movies; because I discovered that I had stories in my head that I wanted to tell. I had stories that I felt people can actually watch and learn from and at the same time be entertained. I believe that movies should be able to correct some ills in the society. I believe that when people are watching movies, even if it is a comedy, which doesn’t have a theme or a message, while they are laughing, it should be able to change lives. For instance I showed Hajia Jemilat at the National Theatre. After the showing, a man came outside shedding tears, saying “this is what actually happened in my home. I wish my wife can watch this movie.” The movie touched the man and I was elated because I had achieved my aim. I would have easily written those stories and given them out for people to produce but I just felt that I am the only one that can turn it into a film. I can turn my story into a film and it will still not change anything; it will still be as raw as the way I see it. I think that is what actually inspired me to start producing movies.

How was it on location while shooting Gucci Girls?

It was nice because the people I worked with on Gucci Girls were people I had worked with before. I have Doris Simeon, Iyabo Ojo and an upcoming actress named Tope Osoba. And my director was Abbey Lanre. We had all worked together before. So it was just like a family coming together and doing their thing. I had worked with all the members of my crew before.

Was Gucci Girls inspired by a real life experience? Do you think people behave that way in real life?

Of course, there are girls that behave that way. I am sure. But it is a fictitious story I created. I have had lots of girls coming to me and saying, Aunty, that your movie na wa o; especially university girls. I wanted them to watch and learn something.

What inspires your stories?

Happenings around me; things that have probably happened to people that I feel I should make into a movie and what people can watch and learn from; things I can help avert or prevent in my own little way. At times I have stories that are true life experiences.

You mentioned Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde as one of your role models because she is married and doing well. As a married lady who acts and also produces movies, what peculiar challenges do you face, given the fact that you also just spoke about how your husband reacted to Gucci Girls?

Yeah, my husband was like so you did all these. But my husband is a fantastic person. He loves me. He knows that I love my job. He knows the extent that I can go. But when it comes to acting nude, I will never do that. But he knows when it is normal; of course I will do it. You know the kind of society we are in. So as a married woman you can’t go all out. And also I have my husband’s family whom I am also married to, to protect; because in this part of the world, it is not just your husband you are married to, you are married to the whole members of the family. So I have to respect them. And I have my kids. I have a grown-up girl who is in a secondary school, and I wouldn’t want to pass the wrong message. So those are some of the challenges I had to put into consideration as well as other people’s opinions. When I want to play a particular character, I think about how my husband would feel. If the movie is obscene, I would stay off it because I don’t want a situation when my daughter would come and say, Oh mummy my friends said you were nude. No I will never do that. She is a girl I have to set good examples for.

What does your husband like about your acting?

I think my husband says that he likes the energy I put in when I am on set. At times when he is watching my movies, he doesn’t see Mercy at all. He is like this is not my wife. So for my husband to be that convinced  means I have a pass mark. It is like he knows I am hard working from the energy I put in when I am on set. When I am working, I know I am working. The energy, the zeal I put in when I am on set; that is what my husband loves most about my acting.

As a beautiful actress, does your husband feel uncomfortable about your career?

I don’t know. I think you should ask him that question. I am not in the best position to answer that question. My husband knows me, he knows the kind of person I am and he trusts me. I know he trusts me. That is why he just lets me do whatever I want to do; because he knows the kind of person I am.

After Gucci Girls, have you produced another movie yet?

Yes, I have a movie that will be released on VCD very soon. It is titled Komfo.

What is the movie about?

Komfo is actually a serious movie. It is about a young lady who offers to help someone and at the end of the day something happens. It shows a mother’s love for her child and how far a mother can go to keep her child.

What other things are you doing?

We are working on Osas Reloaded, the concluding part of Osas. I have shot a bit of it in the United Kingdom and very soon I will finish my shooting in Nigeria. So my fans should watch out for that. I also have a traditional movie. I am going the extra mile. As I told you, I love challenges. I have never acted a movie in which I spoke the real typical Yoruba language because I am not a Yoruba girl. But now I think I have passed that stage of normal Yoruba language. I want to go further by producing a traditional Yoruba movie where I am going to speak the core Yoruba language. I know it is going to be challenging but I have been working on it. And I have been learning the language. My dialect director has been taking me in the language. My fans should watch out for that.

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