Nollywood star, Ngozi Nwosu, famously called Peace, has remained relevant in the nation’s movie industry, more than two decades after she launched her acting career. But there was a kind of twist in her hitherto inspiring tale when she was laid up with a kidney-related ailment. As expected, it was a trying period for her. But God intervened in her plight, as she was literally rescued from the vice-like grip of death. Today, the fair-complexioned acting delight is back to the profession that has given her fame and fortune. Her new looks even easily betray her peace of mind. In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, the actress speaks on life after the ‘storm’, among other things.
YOU don’t seem to have any trust in the Health Insurance scheme for Nollywood practitioners, do you?
When you hear Health Insurance scheme, what comes to your mind is that you are ‘covered’, no matter the nature of your sickness. But it becomes a different ball game when you now realise that you have to pay a certain amount of money, even though they will still tell you it doesn’t cover this or that. So, what am I paying for? I might as well go to a hospital, pay from my pocket and move ahead. Even tuberculosis and diabetes that are treated free-of- charge in most government hospitals, some HMOs (Human Maintain Organisation) will tell you that you are on your own.
Are you fully returned to acting?
Well, I have been on some locations. But as it is now, I have to take my time. It is no longer the tough roles for now. I do jobs that I know are not too strenuous. Jobs that are challenging have a way of taking a toll on you physically; so, for me, nothing challenging for now. And to God be the glory, I just got back from location some two weeks ago. It’s a gradual thing for now, but I will be back. If I don’t know my limit, after all I have gone through, then, it means I’m crazy. I know what I ought to do and what I ought not to do.
How long do your fans have to wait before you get back to your good old self? They have come to know you to play some very cantankerous characters like Peace in Fuji House of Commotion.
I am still active. But as I said, I can’t do any strenuous job for now on health grounds. If you look at me, you will see that I am wearing a pair of sandals. But this is not me; it is for health reason. When I am okay, I will be back to myself.
In those turbulent moments, what was on your mind?
In those turbulent moments, I wasn’t thinking of having this or having that. It was a prayer of staying alive and I just want to give Him the glory. Looking at me today, you will never know that this is the Ngozi that the whole country gathered to pray for me. And I am happy that their prayers were not in vain. A lot of people went through what I went through and they didn’t live to tell the story. Some didn’t go through half of what I experienced and they are gone. Some just slept and they never woke up. So, in everything, one should give thanks to the Maker, the Creator of heaven and earth, which is God.
You are a very fashionable person. Do you miss wearing some things you used to wear back then?
Yes, I’m very fashionable. But if you look at me now, I am an orobo. There are no two ways about it. It is because of my health. I am an exercise freak, but because of my health, I cannot exercise for some time now. By the grace of God, when I’m back to myself fully, you will see the Ngozi you know.
You still look really radiant; so, how do you handle male advances?
How will you handle it? You have to be cheerful. It’s only a dead meat that doesn’t have admirers. So long as you are in the public eye, men will admire you. You are bound to be admired by the good, the bad and the ugly. It’s for you to say, ‘Thank you! It’s all good! It’s well.’
Who is your ideal man?
My ideal man, frankly, is a man that has the fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom. If a man doesn’t have the fear of God, forget it! Every other thing you are doing is rubbish. And between you and me, how many men have the fear of God?
What about the physical attributes?
I believe in the school of thought that says if you want to eat frog, eat the one that has eggs. I love men who are handsome and brainy. If you are ugly and you’ve got something upstairs, you are welcome. But I don’t want a fine man without brains.
Is that the reason you are still single?
No, there is no complete being in life. It’s just about knowing what you can put up with and what you cannot.
Would you say, ‘Yes, I do’, if you find the right person now?
Yes, of course! Why won’t I say, ‘Yes, I do’?
You are in your 50s; so, what are your wishes?
My desire is that the Lord should keep me and the usefulness that He has given me should not depart from me; that God should grant me the wisdom to know Him better and that He should always guide my footsteps.
When are you going to produce your own movie?
That’s something I’ve been doing. I was the producer of Onga Seasoning, a radio programme, for four years. But I have not produced my own movie before. The only movie that I know I have co-produced was the one I produced with Okechukwu Ogujiofor and K.O.K, after Living in Bondage. For me, it’s one thing at a time. I don’t believe that because everybody is producing, then I should produce. There is time for everything and when it gets to that time, I will produce mine.
How would you rate the administration of the AGN under Ibinabo Fibresima?
I must say Ibinabo has done exceedingly well for herself and as president of AGN, unlike the past leaders. Although no one is perfect, she still has one or two things to do.
What areas would you want to see some improvements?
Oh! There are so many, but it is not something we can be talking about today.
How do you unwind?
Sometimes, I go to my friends’ places and hangout. Sometimes, I’m at home; and when I’m home, I stay glued to Telemondo. My home is my comfort zone. The truth of the matter is, when you watch Telemondo, you will find out that nobody is perfect. You see their mistakes, but they have good stories. In Nollywood, you will see our mistakes and we don’t have good stories. All our scriptwriters have gone to bed. They are busy recycling stories. I mean there is no substance in most of our movies. And that’s why I don’t really watch Nollywood movies these days.
How do you start a regular day?
A regular day, for me, is when I wake up. Immediately I rise from the bed, I give thanks to God. I take a cup of coffee and then, I drink water, so I can remove all the waste products from my system. A lot of people do not know that when they wake up, they should drink, at least, a glass of water.
Among all your movies, which one would you say you hold dearly to your heart?
Well, I would say the beginning of Nollywood industry, which is Living in Bondage. Though it was produced a long time ago, it’s a movie that has stood the test of time.
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