Ijeoma Thomas: I can’t accept nude scenes for any amount
…nollywood’s new entrants shouldn’t offer producers themselves for roles
Nollywood actress cum producer Ijeoma Thomas was born under the strong, influential, and heroic Zodiac sign of Capricorn, a self-styled marriage, counsellor. In 2009, she had her first movie production followed by another hit in 2018. Her dad hails from Abia State, Umuahia to be precise, which makes her a bonafide daughter of the God’s own state, and her mum an indigene of Ebonyi State.
The beautiful thespian has lost count of how many movies she has featured in since she mounted the Tigers back in 2004. She has constantly been engaging herself with thrusts that exhibit her imbued acting skills.
This eloquent and down-to-earth Nollywood Diva, Ijeoma, often picks up a vocational plan that sometimes spans a year, and in return, it makes her not available for suitable roles in the make-believe industry. Some movie producers who know and appreciate her fecundity wait for her poignant yet alluring acting dexterities to spice up their movies to the delight of viewers.
Dead End, The Anointed Bride and Family Gang were among the movies that brought her to the limelight.
The 5.10 ft tall actress also took various scenes on the set of’ Silent Cry’, ‘To Love a Master,’ ‘I Hate That You Are My Wife’, ‘Agony of Truth’, ‘A Trip to Dubai’ and ‘How I Found Love.’
The versatile actress who took the lead character on the movie set of My Kids and I, who also displayed her talents on the set of Brotherhood and a couple of blockbuster movies took a few questions from CREEKVIBES OLUWADAMILARE DANIELS. Excerpts;
What was growing up like?
I was born in Ibadan, had my secondary school education in Lagos and tertiary in Enugu.
Where are you at the moment?
I am in Abuja.
Is there any special meal you eat to maintain your accentuating beauty?
Hmmm, I don’t joke with the gym though, but I like to taste different varieties of food, I am not selective.
What are the characteristics of your ideal man?
Laugher, anyway a very nice person and he must be truthful.
When should your fans be expecting your wedding invite?
Are you for real? (general laughter) please Creekvibes let’s don’t go there.
Alright, no problems.
While in the university did you have any enunciating lecturer arrestment, and how did you handle it?
Of course, that happens but, I am a very stubborn person, when I make up my mind on something I don’t want to do; I won’t do it, you can go on and fail me for the course, I don’t care.
How did you get off the randy lecturer’s grip?
I was able to be myself, and not do what others are doing to get high scores.
When they kept pushing and discovered I wasn’t carving in, they had to move their adulterous desires elsewhere.
How many countries have been to?
I wouldn’t want to mention names, they are all beautiful, calm and peaceful places, it is just that when you are there during the cold season, you will regret what you are doing there.
Will you consider relocating out of Nigeria?
Not really, I don’t think I will want to relocate out of my country, but I will always visit and come back.
After graduation where have you worked before taking the big dive into the movie industry?
I have never worked for anyone.
Did you start acting while in the university?
Yes, I started acting before I gained admission into the university.
You must have started acting at a young age.
I used to be a kid actor but not anymore.
Who and what brand have you modelled for?
I was at Miss Gateway Pageantry, and I came third, but I would prefer to be a face model, some modelling outfits are coming but their prices are too low for me; it will make no sense to me after passing through rigorous moments of getting prepared for a modelling job, and be given a peanut afterwards.
Are you also open to vixen roles?
Yeah, I am open, of course.
Have you done anyone before?
Yeah, I did one with Terry G, back then in Lagos.
Can we say you get your accentuating beauty from your mum or dad?
Hmm, from both of them; because they are both good-looking.
Do you encourage liposuction?
Haaaa, what do you want me to say to that? (One) I won’t say I am in support of it or not, we are all adults, we know what we want, it is not a bad idea if someone is feeling that she is not looking the way she wants to but, what I don’t like about it, is the increasing death record of people indulging in BBL, did you hear about the one that went to Turkey? It was pathetic. So I don’t know what to make of it, people should think very well before taking that bold step.
Will you want to take such a bold step in the future?
(Smiles) While are you asking me all these questions, if at all, I will sign it, it will be either death or alive but, for now, I have not made up my mind, in future, I could have a change of mind. I may want to take out some flesh, but I wouldn’t want to add ooo. For now, I am so scared of it.
What should your fans be expecting from you this year?
A lot of goodies, I will show more on their screens and they should support my quest for greatness.
What is your overview of the Nigerian Movie Industry?
I don’t want to go deep, so I won’t be discouraging prospective new entrants.
Whatever you say will be a kind of guideline for the newcomers.
The majority of the new entrants are the cause of what is happening to them right now, you can imagine a new entrant offering a producer and probably a director her body for just any role.
When we started it wasn’t like that, someone has to ask you out, and when you feel like you are interested you respond as the spirit leads.
Ladies go as far as paying for hotels where they want producers to come and spend nights with them. It is disgusting and it is also destroying the good morals of the industry.
I have seen a scenario whereby a lady came from Lagos to our movie location with all her luggage, what did she come to do? She only came to see the producer and at the end, she invited him to come and spend a night with her in the hotel room, she went as far as asking the producer for the hotel of his choice so that she could go ahead to pay, and wait for him.
The producer was even the one complaining; speaking aloud saying; ‘I don’t know you from Adam, how do I associate with you?’
They should learn to start from scratch, when I started, I started with “Waka pass roles.” These newcomers are so desperate, with the notion of what the lead actress has, I have, if she has money, I have more money, if she is beautiful, I am more beautiful. She has a car; I have a more expensive car, besides we are not even noticing their porches. ‘As you come na so you go, go.’
How many producers will you pay to get down with? Who are you? If your name is goggled will it appear? You won’t even be given a sub-lead role.
What is your advice for the new entrants?
The industry journey is a very long one, you may come in, and become a superstar overnight but, let the bottom line be that you did not sell your body at any point to achieve a greater height.
All they need is to keep pushing and erase dirty ideas like; coming to sleep with a producer or director for roles that will shoot them into the limelight. I don’t mean you can’t date someone in the industry, You can be talked to, and decide to fall in love genuinely, go ahead and have fun; enjoy yourself.
All the producers have a body where they meet when they get there and you meet up unfortunately, you will be a subject of discussion by then you will be disgraced and thrown out like a used tissue paper, all that will be left of you is to go and be speaking ill of the industry.
What do you do aside from your movie stuff?
I run a boutique and I also do some other things; that’s why I have been turning down suitable movie roles perhaps I will start to accept roles soon.
The movie roles are the ones searching for me because I have paid my dues.
What about the guys?
I saw a tweet that reads ‘Ladies in the movie industry are doing far better than the guys.’ My dear, it Is not true, we are all equal, people assume we actresses are prostitutes, it’s a lie o.
Don’t you think the guys also do gigolos; I have heard that on several occasions, some wealthy women run around some actors too and after a fun time they part with good money.
It could be that the guys have a lot of things eating up their finances but reverse is the case for a woman.
What do you need to tell guys coming into the industry?
He needs to work hard, someday he will get there, and he shouldn’t be discouraged.
Will you want to be in any TV reality show like BBNaija?
I don’t have interest in that, let me be on the lookout if, there is any other one, I may opt in.
Who is your favourite music artist?
(General laughter) Let me pick two; Davido and Wizkid, plus Kiss Daniel making them three they are all my favourites.
What about flavour?
Hmmmmm. Let me start again Flavour is cool.
How do you relax after a tedious day’s job?
I have a lot of things to relax with, a cold bath, a bottle of wine, and clutching my phone to catch glimpses of events that has happened within the past hours.
If you are been contacted for an epic movie and they want you for a nude audition ahead of the nude scenes, how much will you charge?
I can’t accept nude scenes for any amount.
