Ebeye
She’s got the brains; she’s beautiful, bold, and ready to mesmerize Nollywood with her acting skills and attitude. Amazingly, the allure of the klieg lights made Amanda Ebeye abandon a career in international studies and diplomacy, which she studied at the Benson Idahosa University, Edo State, for Nollywood.
Barely a year in Tinsel town, Ebeye is steadily climbing the ladder of success to the admiration of industry watchers and her evolving fans. Interestingly too, with a wondrous sub lead outing in Fidelis Duker’s blockbuster, Senseless, the starlet from Agbor, Delta State, is fast gaining the confidence of top moviemakers within and outside our shores. In fact, she was recently in Ghana, for a sitcom already making waves on the West Africa sub-region. In this riveting chat with Azuh Amatus, Ebeye bared her youthful mind and also spoke on other germane issues.
Enjoy the interaction!
Who is Amanda?
Well, Amanda Ebeye is a young and focused lady, from a family of five; we have four girls and one boy, but I’m the first child and still in my early 20s. I’m a graduate of international studies and diplomacy, from the Benson Idahosa University, Edo State. I’m looking forward to my NYSC soon. We are from Agbor, in Delta State, and I speak my language very well.
As a fast rising actress, when and how did you come into Nollywood?
Surprisingly, I came into Nollywood last year December, on my own, nobody brought me in. I’d wanted to study theatre arts in school, but my dad said no, I now promised him I would do what he wants, but after that I would go fully into the industry. But while trying to come in, I met and sought advise from a couple of people like Keppy Ekpeyong and few others. He really encouraged me.
Which was your first released movie when you breezed in last year?
It was a movie titled The Weeping Tiger, from the stable of Afam Valentine Valucci. And after that I have done a couple of other jobs like Royal Messenger, Senseless, and some others. Altogether, I have featured in close to a dozen movies.
Among these flicks, which would you say has been the most challenging?
The most challenging so far has been Senseless, from the stable of Fidelis Duker. I played a vital role in the movie; it was also a sub lead and I had to do a lot in the movie.
What was it like, the first time you faced the camera?
Sincerely, I was not fidgeting the first time I faced the camera, as a kid I have had the opportunity of being in front of the cameras during debates and plays. Even at a time I presented in front of the camera as a kid.
Prior to your joining Nollywood, were you a fan of Nollywood?
Yes, I was a big fan of Nollywood and very passionate about it too. I used to watch a lot of Nollywood movies and also felt they were doing a great job.
Those days, who were the stars you looked up to as role models?
I really liked Bimbola Akintola, Iretiola Doyle, and Onyeka Onwenu; they have always influenced me.
But have you been privileged to work with any of these great thespians?
Yes, I was privileged to work with Bimbo Akintola on the set of Senseless and it was lovely and memorable. I also hope to work with the other two.
Did your parents endorse your coming into Nollywood?
My dad has never really been in support of it, even till date. But, I think he is accepting it gradually. He has seen me on Images, a soap, and smiled. My mum has been totally in support of me. My dad is an engineer, while my mum is a fashion designer.
As a new face in Nollywood, what would you say has been the major challenges?
The major challenge was getting into the industry, for me that was not easy initially. It wasn’t easy penetrating, but gradually, it is getting better.
Also, meeting the right producers that would bring the right jobs was not also easy.
Sexual harassment is rampant in Nollywood, have you ever been a victim?
Emmh! To be sincere, it has never happened to me but I have heard of it. But again, I feel its normal, because it happens everywhere. I feel that sometimes, it is the artistes that promote these things. You can harass anybody with the way you dress, look and behave. Everybody has a fault in this. It is the way you put yourself that you will be treated. They know the people that want it and they go for such people, but it is not limited to Nollywood. People should also see Nollywood as a profession and not where they go to because they want to make their faces popular.
And what if it happens to you?
If it happens to me, I would take it calmly but again, it also depends on my mood too. Whatever is the case, I will take it with all maturity and let the person know I’m not interested.
As a rising star, what stands Amanda out?
What stands Amanda out and makes her unique is that she knows her onions. I know what I want in the industry…
What do you want in the industry?
I want to have depth in the industry, when someone can say I like what she does and she knows what she is doing, she is a good actress and knows how to interpret her roles well. She has been able to educate me and I have learnt through her movies. Since youths are interested in watching, why not use your acting to educate them. I want to reach out to people and that is my ultimate goal.
In a nutshell, what else got you attracted to Nollywood?
First of all, I have always had it in me to do the make-believe thing and educate people through my movies and to some extent; Nollywood has been able to achieve this for me. Movies like Living in Bondage, which I watch always as an educative flick also got me attracted to Nollywood. I learn from them and also correct myself. Above all, I have always had the drive to act.
In your quest for love, has your young heart ever been broken by a runaway lover?
Ehm! Yes, I have, but that was a long time ago, but it’s a personal thing I would not want to talk about in public.
Okay! But how did that make you feel when it happened?
Sorry, I don’t want to talk about it, because I have since moved on with my life.
As a young lady still in her early 20’s, do you have a love life?
Not at the moment.
So, in essence you are single and unattached at the moment?
Yes, I am.
Why is it like that, or is it based on the heartbreak we talked about?
It is normal for girls to have heartbreaks; it was not a big deal. It happened a long time ago. Right now, I’m so attached to my career that I really don’t have space for a guy right now.
For how long have you been lonely?
I have not been lonely; I have just been keeping to myself.
So, for how long have you been keeping to yourself?
I started keeping to myself since my 400 level and that’s more than two years now.
In keeping to yourself, are you insinuating we no longer have good guys in Nigeria and even Nollywood?
I don’t know anything about having good guys in Nigeria and the industry, but I’m not just interested in any guy within or outside the industry now. But sincerely, I hope to get attach soon.
How soon will that be?
I don’t know, but pretty soon. But I’m also not looking or searching for.
Since you are not looking, how would the guys know you are single and unattached?
I am not giving them the come on sign, when it is time, the right person will see me. I don’t have to flash green light.
What qualities would you be expecting from Mr. Right, whenever he comes your way?
I’d like my ideal man to be caring, to be very determined, because I’m also determined. I would also want him to be a very forceful person, because I could be very petty. Someone that would always push and propel me to greater heights. I want my guy to be hardworking and God fearing, good looking, but the inner attributes matter a lot.
But at the moment, are you okay by just keeping to yourself?
Yes, I am and it does not weigh me down.
Can you marry an actor?
No, I can’t marry an actor, even though they are good, I don’t think I can get attracted to an actor. I have never gotten attracted to one and I don’t think I can.
I don’t want to settle down with an actor, that’s just it.
How soon, in fact, at what age do you intend getting married?
I don’t know yet, but I have to achieve something and know I’m there before getting married. I am not God.
Do you believe in love?
I do.
Even with the heartbreak?
The heartbreak was not a major thing, after then I have had relationships.
Like how many?
Sorry, that is another personal question; I would not want to talk about in public. I sincerely do believe in love because it exists.
Are you romantic?
I don’t know, that is for him to say, as soon as he comes.
When exactly is he coming?
I don’t know yet.
As the first child, are your parents not perturbed about your single status?
No, they are not.
Don’t you think a lot of people will have the impression that you are a lesbian, based on your single status? Or are you one?
This is Nollywood and people think and say a lot of things. The fact that I’m not ready to get attached to the opposite sex does not mean I’m a lesbian.
Everybody have his or her own opinion about things. But you can’t call me a lesbian when you have not caught me in the act before. It’s a free world and everybody has the right to think what he or she wants.
What if tomorrow, your reluctant dad tells you to quit acting, are you going to obey him?
I can’t quit acting. My dad can’t just do that, besides I will make him understand reasons I can’t quit acting. Truth is that I know how to make my dad bend.
Deep down, are you sure you can handle the challenges that come with stardom?
Sure, challenges are everywhere, in all facets of life. Your strength and ability to face it will determine your kind of person. Everybody face challenges, even those up there, they did not just wake up and find themselves there. As a rising act, I have to face the challenges squarely and let it know that it has no way, no bearing to stop me from moving ahead. With determination you will always achieve what you set out to do.
So, in essence, you have jettisoned your discipline in school, for acting in Nollywood?
For now, I want to give my all to acting. I have never thought of giving my discipline in school a chance, I only think about acting and Nollywood now. If I have a chance for a second degree, I will opt for theatre arts.
You are single and no doubt pretty, so, how do you cope with advances from men?
It’s a normal thing for every girl to have a lot of men coming after her.
Like how many approach you in a day?
I don’t know because I don’t keep count. They come when they come.
What do they usually tell you, get them attracted to you?
Please, I don’t know, because most times, I don’t even listen to them whenever they come around me. In fact, most of them tell me the normal lines they tell everybody, you are fine, you have got lovely eyes, you have got this, you have that. Nice body, sexy and other rubbish. Of all the talks I have only listened to a couple of people that told me one nice thing: you have brain. And that actually made me feel like a queen. I love it when I hear I have brain. May be, because if I lose my mind, I lose myself. Not the physical attributes, sincerely, my brain is my number one asset – and I am glad I have it.
You just breezed in from a Ghanaian production, tell us more about it.
Yeah! I went to Ghana to do a sitcom. A Nigerian based there invited me. We were four girls chosen from Nigeria to feature in the sitcom. The experience was lovely. The production was lovely. And it was also my first time to act in Ghana. I spent close to four months there.
Financially, was the production worth your while?
It was very, very okay and I intend going back soon. The outing was an eye opener for me.
As a rising actress, are you fulfilled?
I can’t say I’m fulfilled yet, but I’m gradually getting there. I see myself climbing the ladder of success soon in Nollywood, because of my looks and what I have upstairs.
Often times, when guys compliment you, how do you feel or react?
I hear it all the time and my mirror tells me too, but I also say thank you.
In the next couple of years, where are you headed?
In the next couple of years, I know I will definitely be at the top of my career. I would have had a lot of depth, touch lives positively and be a role model to the youths. In having depth and achieving all those, I don’t want my face to be in all movies and poster jackets. I want to achieve all that I set out to prior to coming in.
As a bold and courageous lady, what can move you to tears?
Failure and not heartbreak, because I recover very fast from it, trust me.
First published, October 2007.
