UN
Ambassador and Nollywood actress, Chika Ike knows her onions when it
comes to interpreting her roles in movies as well as engaging in buying
and selling. Having featured in several movies since debuting in the
industry nearly a decade ago, her dexterity in the interpretation of
roles has endeared her to most movie directors.
Recently, the 27 year-old actress showed her stuff in a multi-million
naira flick, ‘A Minute Silence’, where she was meant to pose for a
shot with a live python. In this encounter, she recounts the horrible
experience and explains why she prefers to keep her private life out of
her acting career.
You are already a brand after putting in nearly ten years in the industry. What is your staying power?
I can only attribute my success to God because without Him, I’m a
nobody. I’m also a sucker for hard work. I believe that in whatever you
do, you’ve got to put in your best in it.
In a highly competitive industry with multi-talented actors and
actresses, it is not easy. But I give God the glory, I’m a very
spiritual person. Without God, I can’t really do anything. I grew up
under the influence of my parents who inculcated the values of
discipline, hard work and tolerance in their children.
Would you ascribe your success in the industry to your excellent interpretation of roles and professionalism?
Yes, that is what I actually mean by hard work. You have to be very
professional in whatever you are doing in order to achieve success.
So, it is a combination of spiritualism, favour of God, hard work and professionalism.
What frightening experience have you had in the course of your acting career?
Basically, every job has its own hazards. Acting also has its own
challenges too. I have had a lot of experiences. As an actress, you have
to be at different locations. I shot a film recently that I was in the
forest for seven days. You know, the sight of reptiles and animals can
be very frightening.
There could be scorpions, monkeys and other dangerous animals hidden
in the bush but as an actress, you’ve got to put that behind you and do
the job. I just finished a movie recently where I had to pose with a
live python. It was the most frightening role I have ever played in
recent times. Carrying a python that can turn against you at any
moment can be very frightening.
What was going through your mind when you were carrying the python?
A lot of things went through my mind. I felt anything could happen
because animals are not easy to control. You can only try your best,
human being sometimes might not be able to control wild animals. I felt
the python was going to turn against me. Even when a colleague was
encouraging me to carry the snake,I was praying it didn’t to attack
me.
It was frightening; very scary. It took me a while before I could
carry it. People were like telling me not to be scared. I was like
running away but they kept telling me Chika, No! No, it won’t attack
you. Later, I agreed to carry it with one hand but the director
insisted I must hang it around my neck. I screamed and screamed , but I
finally did it.
It means you can do anything for money?
No, I will never kill for money.
What if you have a Hollywood script that you’ve got to act nude for a whooping sum of money?
I will not take the job.
A big sum of money in dollars sometimes is irresistible?
Honestly, I won’t do it. I will not go naked for any movie.
A lot of rumours are making the rounds about your crashed marriage, could you please put the records straight?
You see, human beings are terrible, but the issue is that as long as
you are breathing, people will continue to talk about you. Even if you
are dead, people will still talk about you whether positively or
negatively. Rumours will always come up, especially when one is in the
limelight. So, let them continue to talk about me, I don’t want to
talk about it.
But that will not help the situation either; is it not better
to put the records straight, or you have decided to move on without a
man in your life?
Basically, it is my private life and I don’t want to talk about it. I
think private matters are handled privately. So, issues about
marriages, relationships, friendships are personal, people are entitled
to handle their own issues their own way. So, I like to keep my private
life private.
Apart from acting, what other things do you do?
I have a foundation called Chika Ike Foundation which is geared
towards helping children on the streets, giving them hope and
encouraging them to become better persons in future. I launched it
officially in May 27, this year, where we organised a party for over
3,000 children in Lagos.
The party was themed “Educate a Child” and we gave out over 3000
Customized CIF (Chika Ike Foundation) school bags containing school
materials, T-shirts, lunchboxes, note books and snacks. It was held at
the Light Chapel playing ground.
It was fun galore. I visited public schools in Enugu and Delta States
recently and I’m planing to replicate the same in other states before
the end of this year. It has actually been taking my time, but I love it
because I’m passionate about it. Again, my fashion business: Fancy
Nancy Collections is another area that takes my time. The Lagos branch
is going to be opened soon. So, it has been a handful of activities for
me.
What inspired you into setting up the foundation?
I grew up in a neighbourhood where people could not afford the basic
necessities of life. I saw my mother helping them when they needed help.
I saw a lot of kids being exposed to violence, child abuse, peer
pressure. So I learnt from my mother’s generosity to the kids and her
gestures towards caring for others. I was close to them and I could feel
their pain. Since then, I told myself, ‘if I’m going to set up a
foundation, it has to be one that has to do with kids. That is my
passion.
Some of your colleagues have taken the initiative to premiere some movies. Are you thinking in that direction?
Yeah! It is good to be ambitious, and anybody that is ambitious will
think of doing something special and worthwhile in the industry. Of
course, I give them kudos for doing it and I’m assuring you that mine
will be out, hopefully very soon.
What are you doing right now then?
I’m currently shooting a movie in Enugu. We will finish the
production very soon. The movie is entitled, Kleptomania. It’s about a
girl that has a sensation and spur to steal. This was actually brought
about by a curse by her old mother while stealing her money to help her
own boyfriend. The old woman cursed her and she started stealing. At a
point in the movie and in the story line, she had an accident and her
legs were cut off. It was physically challenging.
Are you the lead actress in the movie?
Yes I am. I worked with Pete Edochie. It was a beautiful storyline, with lovely casts.
How much did it cost?
I really don’t know, but I know it cost the producers a lot of money.
If you put all the casts and cost together, it is huge. It is not easy
getting Uncle Pete Edochie and myself in a movie like that.
When is it going to be out?
Hopefully in March 2013.
If you look back into your life, would you regret any of your actions?
I don’t really like looking back at life in such a way because I see
everything you do in life as a learning process. I am not somebody that
would not try and later start skulking and wishing it had never
happened. Of course, I will feel bad, but I don’t allow that to weigh me
down. I just have to move on and take it as one of the lessons in life.
That way, it makes you stronger.
I have heard people call you African Sweetheart, why this name?
(Laughs) Of course I’m an African Sweetheart. I don’t really know why
they call me that but I believe I am one. Every African woman should be
a sweetheart. But I gladly take the name. Come to think of it, if you
look at me, you’ll know that I am a full blown African woman and I am
proud about that.
Source: Vanguard
