Inyama
Newly wedded star actress, Victoria Inyama–Okri, announced her presence boldly in Nollywood almost ten years ago, on the set of Glamour Boys, courtesy of Jeta Amata. However, and prior to storming Nollywood, the Arochukwu, Abia state-born screen dazzler was already the darling of TV buffs with her wondrous and scintillating role in defunct Ripples, from the stable of Zeb Ejiro.
As constant as the northern star in the thespian profession, sexy and ravishingly pretty Inyama further raised the bar of her flourishing career when she enthralled movie buffs alongside some Nollywood best in that monster hit movie titled Silent Night. And ever since, she has continued to soar to greater heights like an eagle.
In this interview, the Creative Arts graduate of University of Lagos, who has been on sabbatical from Nollywood for almost three years, opened up on where she has been and things that have kept her busy all this while. The mother of one also spoke on how she found true love in a foreign land, among other germane issues.
Enjoy the sweet interaction!
You recently had your white wedding, congratulations.
Thank you and thank you.
Your wedding took many by surprise. Was it a pre-planned stuff?
Aah! Maybe, a lot of people were not expecting my wedding because probably, they feel actresses don’t deserve to wed, but truth is that things have really changed. Actresses are getting married now and also staying happily in those marriages. And it is a good thing that I’m one of them.
How does it feel being married?
It’s lovely, wonderful and every woman’s dream to be married but then it becomes more interesting when you are truly married to your kind of person. Somebody you are really and truly in love with.
You suddenly disappeared from Nollywood since 2003 and relocated to London. Why?
I didn’t disappear! (General Laughter) I went to London that year for the Afro-Hollywood Awards and decided to stay back after the awards. Meanwhile, I had graduated the previous year from the Creative Arts department of University of Lagos and was asking myself the next thing to do. And while in England, I met this very nice guy by name, Godwin Okri and we started a relationship. A property solicitor; he started teaching me about property and mortgages and that really got me enthralled and now I’m gradually learning that through him and studies. I’m now studying conveyance in London.
So, in essence you went for the Afro-Hollywood and got stuck with a Nigerian who eventually became your husband?
Well, if you say that, my husband is a British. No, I didn’t get stuck; I only fell in love with him. Besides, there was no need for me to come back, what was I coming to do? Mind you, as a woman, I have to do something else for myself aside acting. I don’t want to live a life I would start regretting in the future. I think I settled down when it was time for me to do that. Wetin dey outside?
So, how did you meet your husband?
I met Godwin Okri in London. He is the solicitor… So, on the night of the awards, he was the one that presented my award to me and that was how the whole romance started. Again, a week later, one of the lawyers in his office invited me out for a drink and we met again and we started chatting.
Could you still recollect the exact words he used in proposing to you?
Emmm! He came home from work one day and took me out for a shopping and wanted to buy me something and it was really expensive and I told him no because it was unnecessarily expensive. He immediately looked at me and said, I would love to have you as my wife and I was like who was this one deceiving.
Why?
Sincerely, I never believed him then, maybe because he is a very serious minded person. His career and office work are always on his mind, a very, very busy man, which was why I didn’t take him serious.
On your part, what actually got you tripped about him?
A lot, first, he is a God-fearing man, which is very unusual in guys of these days. He’s also very intelligent, it’s not easy owning a firm in London and Manchester alongside a property company, all these don’t come easy. And how he juggles all these, I don’t know. He is blessed and very hard working. For me, there is something special about my husband. He also treats me like a queen.
Prior to meeting you, was he one of your fans?
No! He doesn’t even know much about Nigerian movies; one of his lawyers handles Afro Hollywood awards and not him. Prior to meeting me, he’s never watched a Nigerian movie he wasn’t just interested. I started introducing him to movies when we met. All he watches are news, property news and football prior to our meeting.
When was the last time you starred in a Nollywood movie?
I think it was in 2004 and that was Chico Ejiro’s movie, he shot in England, but before jetting out in 2003, I did two movies, Supreme Ladies and one other.
As a married actress, do you still act?
Yes, I do. Truth is that I have not acted in recent times, offers come always but they are eastern-based producers but because of my baby I have been turning such offers down. I don’t want to start inconveniencing or putting my baby boy through stress. It is too early. I would definitely partake in Lagos movies or productions but outside Lagos, no way.
Is your husband still in support of your being an actress?
Yeah! Besides, he knows I only act when I’m in Nigeria, I don’t have the time in England because over there I’m really busy.
How soon are you joining your husband in England?
Very, very soon. As soon as I finished sorting out my immigration stuffs I would jet out.
You now have a little boy, so how does it feel being a nursing mother?
Wonderful! It is the best thing that can happen to any woman. You don’t really appreciate yourself as a woman, until you have a child. The arrival of my baby has taught me how to be patient with people and even myself. I’ve learnt a lot with the coming of my baby.
While in London, did you miss Nollywood?
Emmh! Not always, except when I’m watching our home videos. I always tell those around me that I miss the fun, laughter, banters and location games. But I wouldn’t trade my life now for anything in the world, not even for Hollywood.
From your own observations, has Nollywood grown or still at where it was when you left three years ago?
Nollywood has really grown; I’ve seen a couple of better artistes, rising actresses like Nonso Diobi, Monalissa Chinda, Oge Okoye, Mike Ezuronye, Dakore and the rest of them are really making us proud.
In what areas do you think Nollywood should improve upon?
We still have a lot to do in the areas of technicalities, the sound and pictures in particular. Remember competition brings about, a bit of perfection, so people should be allowed to come in and help move Nollywood forward.
Then, you used to be among the “bad babes” of Nollywood. Are you still one?
Who says! No! A lot of people said I was bad because of my wacky movie roles but that does not make me bad. I can still act such crazy roles as long as my body is not going to be touched or exposed. (Laughs) Even though my husband might not complain because of his British background, I don’t think I can take up such roles. I have never been down with romantic roles as an actress I prefer the tough-talking roles. My husband still wants me to grow in my profession and still gives me all the necessary helping hand in my career. He criticizes me, packages me and doesn’t have problems with my life as an actress.
Foreigners, how did they view Nollywood and its practitioners while you were in London?
There are mixed reactions from foreigners, but majority of them encourage us and still add one or two suggestions. Again, with the way the western world is taking note of Nollywood, we would definitely go places. I’m happy and feel proud that I’m one of the new generation artistes that laid the foundation. At least, they earn good money now in Nollywood, money that is good enough to sustain you and make you feel okay.
Going down memory lane, which was your first movie?
Glamour Boys, by Jeta Amata, was my first movie and that was around ’95/96. But before then I was a TV star in defunct TV soap, Ripples. I played Tokoni, Barbara Soky’s younger sister. Jeta approached me when Nollywood came alive and that was how it all started for me.
From then till now, we would like you to assess Nollywood for us as an insider?
For me, it’s mixed again. Those days there was much discipline compared to now, you go for auditions and castings. And you are picked basically on how you perform unlike now. The negative side of it those days was that people don’t seem to respect you; they look down on you and conclude you are somebody with a low-life, a useless person that doesn’t want to be useful in life. But today, the average family wants one of their kids to be an artiste. Then, we were looked down on, but now, we are respected and seen as role models. You can hold up your head high now and say you are an actress and people would accord you good respect. Things have really changed.
Now that you are around, how do you intend getting back to mainstream acting?
Sincerely speaking, I’ve not lost my place and fans in Nollywood, anytime I step out my fans still rush after me. I’m not one of the actresses you’d see and start saying oh God her face is familiar. The moment you see me, you would know that is Victoria, you don’t have to look at me twice to think about my name. And my fans base is still increasing on a daily basis. A lot of people see me as a role model, and the only thing I could do is to live a kind of life that people would continue to see me as a role model. Marrying and having a child has taken me to another stage of my life that many young girls would aspire and look up. Like I told you, many movie offers are coming my way, but I can’t because they are all outside Lagos.
Did your parents endorse your going into showbiz, when you newly started?
My mum no, my dad yes. My mum thought I could do better things than acting. Though, today she is so much proud of me, again, I think she was biased with what people were saying about me and acting. Words like your daughter must have slept with producers to get movie roles were in vogue then. All these wrong assumptions and impressions got to her. Thank God I’m a graduate today.
In your up-and-coming days, did you encounter any form of sexual harassment from moviemakers?
Not at all. Probably because I knew what I wanted from the industry and then it was just few of us. But when the younger ones started coming up, they started getting desperate and beginning to think that what Victoria can do, they can even do better for less, that’s where the problem started. I’ve never been harassed sexually in Nollywood, it has never happened to me. I only hear about it. If it goes on, it is not the fault of the moviemakers but the desperate actresses.
As a married actress, do men still woo you?
I don’t go to where men see me, I believe you have to put yourself in a position, where a man would toast you for them to do that. You have to give room to those things to really happen. God forbids it happens, I will plead the blood of Jesus on their heads.
What is your advice for desperate up-and-coming actresses parading the length and breadth of Nollywood and scheming to be overnight stars?
It’s a tricky profession, for the more you look, the less you see. If you want to be famous, no problems but there are so many things involved in being famous. First, you have to decide the kind of life you want to have as a woman. Do you want to be a lonely frustrated super star, or a home super star that would go into someone’s home in future? I’ve always believed that the way you live your life tells at the end of the day. You could be crazy in movies and still be a decent person at home. A good person would always find a good person, because good spirits would always meet. Truth is that most actresses have had to marry out of desperation and at the end of the day the marriages are wacky.
Prior to becoming Mrs. Godwin Okri, was marriage on your mind?
Of course, I’ve always wanted to be married and live together with my dream man. It’s so much fun being married.
Are there things you are missing now that you are married?
Nothing at all! If I want to go out, my husband takes me to anywhere, if I want to go dancing, he takes me. For me, there is really nothing to miss.
What is the biggest plus marriage has added to your youthful life as a public figure?
You are at peace with yourself and spirit. You are no longer wondering how tomorrow is going to be like, that becomes the stress of the man now. Just frown your face and they would ask, what is wrong. As a married woman, you are complete and more confident.
As a married actress, where do you hope to be in the next couple of years?
As a married actress, I want to remain as I am now and maybe, go into property full time much later in life.
What are the things that drive you crazy in life?
My closeness with my God drives me crazy. I’m also excited about going to church. There is nothing I’ve prayed for that I haven’t gotten.
How old are you?
Sorry, ladies don’t tell their ages my dear.
What keeps you going?
God, He has continually kept me going. He’s been wonderful in my life. My pastor has also guided my spiritual life and growth.
Tell us more about your family and background.
I have lovely parents, mum is here and dad is based in England. I also have two elder brothers, an elder sister alongside another younger brother. We are from Arochukwu, Abia State.
How was your growing up?
My growing up was interesting; I started in the village and later moved to Lagos. As an actress, it was really tough convincing my mum to allow me spend days on locations then. Bad press nearly marred my relationship with my mum those days also.
Which among your movies made you a household name?
For me, it was Silent Night, by Chico Ejiro.
In what major areas do you think the government can come in and assist Nollywood to fully develop its potentials?
Honestly, we don’t even need the government; we have been doing it without them. We need to improve on our distribution network, especially abroad. This piracy thing is worst abroad; they are over pirating our works abroad.
As a newly married woman, what are the new things you have learnt from the marriage institution?
Just like you pointed out, I’m still beginning, this is just part one. (Laughs) As a woman in marriage, you have to have patience, learn to be obedient. I’ve also learnt that communication is very, very important in marriages.
Do you have regrets in life today as an actress?
No! As a Christian all that has happened in my life has turned out to be for my own good.
Are you still controversial as an actress?
I’m being misconstrued; I’m just blunt and not controversial.
Are you friends with Regina Askia now?
We don’t have to be, but if we see, nothing stops us from saying hi to each other. Most times, it is the media that blows these stories out of proportion.
First published, May 2006.
