Nollywood diva, Jennifer Akudo Oguzie, has always had camera in her face. In fact, acting runs in her blood. Her dad played the role of Bruno alongside Gringory and Zebrudaya in the TV sitcom, New Masquerade. Also, popular highlife musician, Bright Chimezie, was her uncle and she was always at his concerts and recordings.No wonder, Oguzie is making it big both locally and internationally.
he actress was recently in Nigeria and she opened up to The Entertainer. Excerpts:
What are you doing in Nigeria?
I came down here for different projects. First for a film, I am one of the producers, executive producers and also a cast in it. It is titled, Mirror. The director is Neville Ossai and he is also the writer and producer of the same project. And we are collaborating to make sure we make a standard quality film that will be viewed in the Diaspora.
What is Mirror all about?
Mirror is a story of a young lady who sees things before it happens. It entails everything that happens in her life, the good side of it and the bad side as well. It is a funny twist to the story, so I would encourage everybody to lookout for Mirror, and when we unveil the twist, we will actually see what happens toMirror and how it transpired to best friend, Betty.
Is it a Nollywood film? I
t is an international, Diaspora film, made out of Nollywood.
Who wrote the script and who are the film cast?
Neville Ossai wrote the script, and the second version of the story, The Twist, I collaborated in writing it. APART
from myself, other stars in the film are Uru Eke, Femi Jacobs, Eyinnaya Nwigwe, Dr. Greg Obi, Nefi and Neville Ossai. myself, other stars in the film are Uru Eke,
from myself, other stars in the film are Uru Eke, Femi Jacobs, Eyinnaya Nwigwe, Dr. Greg Obi, Nefi and Neville Ossai. myself, other stars in the film are Uru Eke,
When are we going to see this film?
You are likely going to see Mirror in theatre sometime next year, but definitely it will be at the festivals at the end of this year. We are going to submit it to top festivals and we hope to have it at the AMVCA Awards and other awards here in Nigeria too.
How would you describe your stay in Nigeria?
How would you describe your stay in Nigeria?
It has been an exciting experience. I would not TRADE Nigeria for anything. This is a place where I feel very welcome, very loved. It is a very fruitful country where you plant the fruit and you watch it grow. So, I have planted the fruit and I am ready to watch it grow. I had a very interesting time and also watching a lot of my friends declaring their political ambition. It is a plus to me because there is a part of me too that loves politics. I also love watching people grow in that territory. So, I enjoyed every minute I am here. Also my director, Mr. Obi Emelonye, who featured me in one of his blockbuster films, Last Flight to Abuja, is also on the verge of making his new hit television series, it has about 100 episodes, and I have been invited to be a part of it. So, I am going to go back to Hollywood, recreate myself and come back for the project. The entire project, I believe, will be shot in Ibadan. I can see your son, Obama, is already speaking Igbo.
Nigeria for anything. This is a place where I feel very welcome, very loved. It is a very fruitful country where you plant the fruit and you watch it grow. So, I have planted the fruit and I am ready to watch it grow. I had a very interesting time and also watching a lot of my friends declaring their political ambition. It is a plus to me because there is a part of me too that loves politics. I also love watching people grow in that territory. So, I enjoyed every minute I am here. Also my director, Mr. Obi Emelonye, who featured me in one of his blockbuster films, Last Flight to Abuja, is also on the verge of making his new hit television series, it has about 100 episodes, and I have been invited to be a part of it. So, I am going to go back to Hollywood, recreate myself and come back for the project. The entire project, I believe, will be shot in Ibadan. I can see your son, Obama, is already speaking Igbo.
Is it as a result of your coming home?
It is actually not. From the day I gave birth to my son, it was a decision that I make that Igbo shall be his first language because in the society that we are in today, parents and families ignore their origin, their dialect and speak English language. English language is fine but when you have your own biological son speaking your indigenous language, words cannot express the feeling as a mother when you look into your child and he said, “Mama ele otu idi” (meaning ‘mummy, how are you’). That is the best thing I can ever give to my son, to make sure he can speak, read and write Igbo. As long as I live, Obama shall speak Igbo.
When actually did you start acting?
I started acting as a child way back in Nigeria in the early ‘80s. There was a TV show called ‘Kiddies World’ and that was how I started with my sister, and our dad who was a comedian encouraged us. Later, I started doing stage plays. In 1996/97, we did Stubborn Grasshopper; it featured Ramsey Nouah. My dad was one of the actors that played alongside Gringory and Zebrudayah in New Masquerade.Though, he is late now, he played the role of Bruno in that television series. Since I knew him as my dad, he was acting and had traveled a lot to various parts of the world like London, United States of America, Argentina etc.
I have always had cameras in my face, so it wasn’t strange for me. Like I said, my dad was into entertainment. Bright Chimezie, one of the popular musicians, was my uncle and we were always at all his concerts and recordings. We grew up dancing and spending time in front of the camera. We were always in front of the camera. That was how I developed the passion for acting and the love for film.
I have always had cameras in my face, so it wasn’t strange for me. Like I said, my dad was into entertainment. Bright Chimezie, one of the popular musicians, was my uncle and we were always at all his concerts and recordings. We grew up dancing and spending time in front of the camera. We were always in front of the camera. That was how I developed the passion for acting and the love for film.
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