Anita Joseph
With a curvaceous body that is the envy of many, fast rising actress and model Anita Joseph surely has an edge over most of her contemporaries in the industry. However, aside acting, which she began in late 2004, Joseph is also a singer and dancer and hopes to release her debut effort very soon.
Since her emergence, the fun loving thespian has displayed her acting prowess in over 20 quality movies and intends featuring in more, especially on the foreign scene. Interestingly, her most challenging role so far is the monster hit Titanic Tussle, which is still being talked about and enjoying rave reviews from both pundits and critics. All these notwithstanding, the linguistic graduate from the University of Calabar, Cross Rivers State, maintained that her best is yet to come and promised never to rest on her oars. In her first ever interview with me, the actress with the Jennifer Lopez’s look-a-like hips spoke on a wide range of issues bordering on both her private and public lives.
Enjoy the interaction!
Two years ago and even last year, you were very hot in movies, but in recent times much has not been heard about you, why?
I did not go anywhere, I have been around and doing my thing in Nollywood. If I have not been in movies in recent times, it is as a result of the strike embarked upon by marketers in recent times too. But now that they have called off the strike, my fans will begin to see more of me in movies. Again, most of my recent jobs are not yet out, they will be out very soon.
Which is your most recent movie in Nollywood?
That should be Beyonce and Rihanna from the stable of Simony Production. This year alone, I have done more than five movies. The Beyonce and Rihanna movie has a musical storyline and because I also sing in real life, I played the role of a singer in the movie.
What year exactly did you come into Nollywood and who brought you in?
I came into Nollywood fully in late 2004; one of my very good friends brought me in. She used to be an actress. My first movie was titled The Good Samaritan and directed by Obi Madubogwu. But prior to my coming into Nollywood, I was actively involved in modeling and was also very slim then. I was more into calendar, billboard and poster modeling then; in fact, I started modeling since ’99.
Do you still model?
Yes, I still model, but now more into acting, dancing and singing. I soft-pedaled a bit from modeling when I started adding weight.
So, you stopped watching your weight?
Not really, I think the weight came with growth and I love it because I’m now curvier. I’m not overweight or obese, I sincerely love my physique now than then.
Since you started acting, like how many movies have you featured in?
I have acted in over 28 movies and some of the popular ones are Spiritual Challenge, Desperate Billionaire, Titanic Tussle, Tears in My Heart, Breaking News, and a whole lot of others. Among these movies, Titanic Tussle remains my most challenging alongside Tears in my Heart. While on the set of the former, which was very challenging, I was also busy shuttling from another set. Again, in that movie, my main role was to kill my husband and it was not easy doing that. In that same movie, there was a scene where I hung myself because the props man made a mistake that nearly cost me my life. It was also the first time; I would be playing the role of a widow in a movie.
In the former movie, I was a killer who went on killing spree in the movie, but in real life I cannot even hurt a fly. In all of these, Bandit Queens was the movie that brought me out. Desperate Billionaire also did, from the stable of A2Z production. I also played the lead role in Bandit Queen, which was produced by Cosnoris International. I have also landed close to five lead roles in all my movies.
What do you hate most about your life as a model?
Gush! I don’t like wearing swimsuit and bikini, they have a way of revealing my big bum-bum. It was one of the reasons I did not contest in Miss Nigeria, Most Beautiful in Nigeria and all the other beauty pageants. But I love modeling minus all these things I just mentioned. I also love the long and short skirts, the cat walking and the rest of them.
But why do you like dressing skimpily?
My dressing skimpily depends on the occasion or where I’m going at a particular time. In a nutshell, my occasion determines what I wear.
So how do you cope with the roving eyes of men when you dress skimpily and provocatively?
Even when I wear long skirts and cover my cleavages men still harass me, because I’m a beautiful woman with well-endowed curves.
Who and who told you, you are beautiful?
God and the people around me tell me that always. I sing, act, dance and model, but singing comes naturally first for me.
An average of how many toasters do you encounter in a day?
I don’t know and you don’t expect me to keep a tab, the truth is that men disturb me a lot on a daily basis. But truth is that in a day, if a man does not talk to you, you would definitely feel bad. Sometimes, some of these men are pests but I know how to handle the pest and stubborn ones among them.
Why not tell us more about yourself and background?
Well, I’m Anita Nwamaka Chinwe Joseph, I’m from a family of ten comprising of seven girls and three boys, and I’m the ninth child. We are from Nsugbe, Anambra State and I grew up in different places in Nigeria. I have a diploma in Linguistics from the University of Calabar, but currently I’m an undergraduate at the University of Lagos studying History and International Relations. My late mum was a Customs officer, while my dad is a businessman. My mum died in 2005.
What do you miss most about your late mother?
I miss her and everything about her, when I went into acting she really encouraged me and was very happy with my choice of career.
How about your dad, did he support your romance with Nollywood?
Very, very well, my dad is a real showman and encourages me 100%. He buys and watches my movies before me. He also likes me wearing skimpy things. Above all, I still miss the motherly advice of my mum. While alive, she used to rehearse with me once in a while. Sincerely, I got my voice from my late mum.
It seems your passion for music is very strong. Do you have the intentions of releasing an album very soon?
Yes I am already working on that, it would be ready very soon. I want to combine Hip- Hop and gospel music together.
Since you like wearing skimpy attires, can you bare it all in a movie?
If baring it all means going nude in a movie or revealing parts of my sensitive body, I cannot. Though, I like short things, but I don’t think I can don a bikini in a movie. I wear short things because I feel free in them.
How old is Anita?
If you insist on knowing, Anita is 26.
Is she married or single and searching?
She is single and not searching, because there is somebody in my life.
Are the two of you discussing marriage?
Not for now and if he proposes I would politely tell him to hold on till next year.
What qualities endeared you to him?
First, he is God-fearing and prays more than me. He is caring, loving and we are both spiritual people.
Is he not scared of your life in showbiz as regards losing you?
He is somehow scared but knows I love him very much and we have been on for two years plus, he’s a Nigerian.
Let’s assume he tells you to quit, would you oblige him?
I can only obey him if we are married. Even at that, he must agree to assist me in setting up my own production company, so that I can be producing since he does not want me to act. I love the movie industry and entertainment in general.
Can you marry a colleague of yours?
If I love him very well, yes and nothing wrong with that.
Is there any particular actor you are tripping for and would love to marry or date?
I can’t tell you, what makes you think I will say that publicly.
As one of the fastest rising actresses in Nollywood, where do you want to be with your career in the next couple of years?
I don’t want to sound like the bandwagon but I sincerely want to take my career to planet
Hollywood and possibly conquer the world from that level. By the grace of God, I intend achieving that soon. I want to be among the most sought after actresses and entertainers globally.
In your quest at achieving all of these goals, what would you say stands you out?
With all sense of modesty, my personality stands me out. I’m just unique in my own special way and manners. In a nutshell, who I am stands me out.
How true is the story making the rounds that you club and party a lot?
Agreed, I do that a lot only with my boyfriend and nobody else.
But deep down, do you like partying and clubbing?
The sincere answer to that question is no, because I only party with my guy or clique of female pals and it is not always.
Based on your provocative dress sense, have you ever been sexually harassed by movie makers in Nollywood?
Harassment or sexual harassment is everywhere but I have not been harassed sexually in Nollywood. But if it eventually happens I think I know how to handle it. At least, I will take it calmly and it also depends on what you call harassment.
Who are your role models in Nollywood?
I respect all the great artistes in Nollywood, but see people like Bimbo Akintola, Joke Silva and Omotola Jalade as role models.
A lot of people also have the impression that you are very wild. Are you?
Maybe, because of the way I am and dress, I’m a very free person but at the same time very hard, especially to men. The reason is simple that many of them coming my way only want to sleep with me and do not want to have anything serious with me. Some crazy ones even walk up to me most times and say some silly and unprintable words to me just because they want to get in between my laps. I am mean to the extent of telling them face to face that I know they are coming just to sleep with me.
So, what do you want from men?
I just want them to stay on their own and leave me alone, their stress is too much. Enough of the bad boys, only the good guys should come.
How would you know only the good guys without assessing all of them?
I have a very strong natural instinct that helps me in detecting the good guys. Sincerely, my instinct has never disappointed me.
Do you think moviemakers have done enough for people like you, in the areas of exposure and challenging movie roles?
Some of them have and some have done nothing for us. Most prefer the stars to us forgetting that merging both of us would bring out the best in their movies. Some of them give us jobs while some don’t, believing that only the stars can deliver their scripts very well. Besides, if you don’t give us the chance, how do you expect us to grow and become super stars some day? Again, unknown to them, some of us learn a lot when we work with big names on set.
Which star actress are you looking forward to working with soon?
Joke Silva is my greatest role model. I have worked with the duo of Bimbo Akintola and Omotola Jalade on different sets.
In a sentence, how would you describe yourself?
I am a simple and easygoing lady who believes so much in myself, also friendly and does not like being taken for granted.
Most men that chase you, what do they usually tell you get them attracted?
I don’t know, maybe, you help me ask them, because most of them say rotten things. One recently walked to me at the airport and said, I like your boobs.
But for you, which parts of your body do you consider the sexiest?
My hips are very special to me and it comes naturally from God.
During your days in the modeling industry, did any agent harass you sexually?
It happened once and I handled it maturely because we are both adults.
In your quest for true love, has your heart ever been broken?
Never! Before the guy begins to misbehave, I would walk away. Mind you, that does not mean I have never been in love or believe so much in love.
How romantic are you?
I am a very, very romantic person and could also be very emotional too.
First published, June 2008.
