I’m not under pressure to marry – Ebube Nwagbo

*says most things written about me are false

Ebube Nwagbo was our guest in Vanguard recently. The talented actress who has been deliberately absent from the movie industry for sometime now has returned with a new self-produced movie to her credit. In this exclusive interview with Showtime Celebrity, she takes on issues regarding her absence & return, career, scandals, love, and the nuances that are idiosyncratic of Nollywood.

BY ROTIMI AGBANA,IYABO AINA & ADERONKE ADEYERI

What have you been up to recently?
Well, I’ve been working, though I’ve been away for some time. I was in the United States but I’m back now, I’m working on the premier of my new movie Not Enough. So, that’s what I’ve been up to recently.

How busy have you been since your return to Nigeria?
I’ve been very busy lately, trying to cover up for the time lost. So, I’ve been working a lot, you know I said I’ve been away for sometime but I decided to come back to do what I love doing, and since I returned its been work, work and work. I’ve been recording my second movie as a producer as well as doing other producers’ work. Right now. I’m working on the release of my second movie.

Why were you away?
It wasn’t planned, but at a time I decided to take a break to think if Nollywood is what I really wanted to do. At that time, I took some personal decisions, I took time to reflect on what I really wanted to do and I had to leave the scene for a while to concentrate on some other personal things, which I’ve done and I decided to come back again to do what I love to do.

Since you’re an actress, musician and business woman, were you confused that you had to take time to figure out which you really wanted to do?
Yes and no. Yes, in the sense that my hairline was taking a lot of my time since it was new, I needed time to work on it because I wanted it to stand; I didn’t want it to just fade away like that. I wanted it to still be there even after I’m gone, it’s something I want to still be relevant even after I’ve left the scene, so I needed time to do that. Then, the singing aspect was something I was just trying my hands on; I wanted to try my hands on something different. Some people might be asking when I’m going to release another album, but when I get the inspiration I will. Right now, I’m concentrating on my movies. Going off the movie scene was something I needed to do to be able to sort out some very personal things, to reflect on myself and what I really wanted to do.
                                     

*Ebube

Having made up your mind, did you think the best way to come back to the movie industry was as a movie producer?

Not really, before I thought of producing my own movie I’ve done quite a lot of movies for other producers, but I felt it was time for me to do something for an industry that has given so much to me. I didn’t think it was the best way to come back, I just felt I should come back in a different way, I had to do something people would remember. I’m trying to play something different from what I’ve done before now, I’m trying to do more challenging and endearing jobs, better jobs than what I’ve done before. I’m trying to work on myself; I’m trying to become a better person because to whom much is given, much is expected.

By virtue of your status in the industry, why did it take so long to produce your own movie?

Because I love to do something and do it well, I’m an actress first before a producer, I believe whatever one has to do, you should have passion for it. You shouldn’t just do it because everyone is doing it, you need to be totally prepared, mentally and otherwise, it has to be a total package before you go into anything. So, I needed for the time to be right for me because I don’t do things because everyone is doing it, I go into something because I want to and I must do it very well. Yeah, everyone produces movies but I wanted to do something different and be proud of what I do. I want to do something that in ten years’ time people will sit down and watch and be happy that something like this was produced.

Having tasted acting and producing, how would you compare both?

It’s crazy, if you look at what comes with being a producer I’m sure nobody would want to become a producer. I prefer being the actor, like you just come on set, get the diva treatment, you do your thing and you go home; that is what I’m used to, but as a producer you have to do the whole job. It’s crazy, it’s hard, it’s difficult but the good part of it is when the movie comes out and you begin to reap the fruits of your hard labour, the hardwork, the sleepless nights, the stress you put into this thing, that’s when you feel happy. From my experiences in Nollywood, the success of a movie lies in the hands of the producer. At the end of the day, it’s rewarding, but as an actor you don’t have to go through all that stress.

You produced your first movie Smile Again in 2013, how would you compare it to your new movie Not Enough?

Well, first of all, I love to tell family stories and that’s what Smile Again was all about, likewise Not Again. I love to tell stories every family can sit down and watch. I love to tell stories my pastor and even the pope can sit and watch. I want to tell stories everybody can sit, watch and learn something. Smile Again was a family story, but I did that just commercially, it didn’t go to the cinemas, but with Not Enough, I tried to do better than what I did before, that shows growth. From the response I got from my first movie, which urged me on to do better than I’ve done before. People still talk about my first movie up till now; I want the same thing to happen with Not Enough, even in 10-years to come.

Aren’t we seeing any sex tease or sensual scenes in this movie? 

The story is not centered around sex, if there was need for us to include sex scenes it would have been subtle so that everybody can sit and watch it and so that we won’t have issues with the Censors Board. But trust me, you’ll find other things that will blow your mind in the movie.