alongside RMD in the 90s, Bimbo Akintola has become a big
name who does things in a big way. You don't approach her
with your scripts unless you have big plans about it.
Controversial, some might say, but Bimbo describes herself as
easy-going but definitely not when falsehoods have been
peddled about her as a story running wide that she is in
desperate need of a husband.
She ran into our reporter on Boxing Day in Lekki where she
was part of the humanitarian institution who put together an
Xmas party for some orphanages. There, she opens up on
several issues concerning her. Excerpts:
Why did you decide to party with the kids?
Heart of Gold Hospice, that's why. There was Compassionate
Children's Home, there was Heart of Gold Hospice and one
other one here today. But it's actually because of Heart of
Gold, I go to Heart of Gold on and off. I have been going
there over the years and it's heartbreaking when you go there
and you see those children, it's not just a regular orphanage,
it's a hospice. And what Aunty, the woman who runs the
place does is that she makes sure they get the surgery they
need to stay alive. It's amazing, you need to go there and see
for yourself what it's all about.
What do you hope to achieve at the end of the day?
What I want to do at the end of the day is to raise money for
this orphanages, especially the hospice, they need money
because these children go for surgeries regularly, you can see
that some of the children that came here today have special
needs.
You are doing more of Yoruba movies these days than
English movies compared to your early days in acting, why is
that so?
I do English movies when I see good scripts. Hoodrush was in
the cinemas this year. Next year one or two will be in the
cinemas.
Are you working on any project at the moment?
I just finished Golden Penny Pasta Children's Kitchen, I
anchored that. Right now, I'm on break, finally.
Besides acting, what else do you do?
I do all kinds of stuff. I anchor shows, I do contracts for
documentaries and safety videos for companies. I do all kinds
of stuff.
When did you actually start acting?
I can't even remember. I'm so old that I can't remember. I
think it's almost twenty years.
What was the experience like, the first time you were on set?
I was too excited to feel anything else. I was just a bundle of
excitement. For me, it was great fun.
What motivated you to go into acting?
That's what I've always wanted to do with my life, especially
when I realised that it could be a profession. I went to the
University of Ibadan and studied Theatre Arts and then I
started acting.
How did you start?
While I was at school, I used to do stage plays and then a
friend of mine said, "Oh, Ola Fanni Kayode is doing a serial
on TV" and I should look in for someone to take a particular
part and I said "Okay, I'll go for the audition", and so I went
for the audition, if you could call it an audition, because I
went, saw her, talked to her and she was like "The part is
yours". That was it. That was how I started.
So far, how has the experience been?
It's been good and bad. I'm doing what I'm passionate about,
what I like doing, so that gives a lot of joy and happiness. But
one of the things I find most damaging about being an actor is
the press, I have to say it. It's like they have no idea about
how damaging some of the things they write about people can
be.
There are a lot of things happening in the industry, if you
want to write stories, write the truth, don't go forming stories
or listen to someone's stupid idea that has no root in reality
and put it in the paper as front page news. I think that's the
most irresponsible action anyone can take. You should know
that some of these things do affect people's lives.
I'm lucky in the sense that my family understands that my
work is different from me. They understand that I don't listen
to gossips and I call anything that is written without a foundation of truth, gossip – total gossip! My friends understand, people who know me understand the kind of
person I am, so they don't even talk to me about such things
when they read about it on paper, and I'm lucky in that
regard.
But I know my colleagues who have been adversely affected by some of the things that have been printed about them all in the name of selling their papers. You want to sell your papers and forget that human lives are more important than making money. It's the height of ridicule.
That's the worst part of being an actor. For me, I believe the press and actors have a role to play in each other's lives. The stories you write are about us, we are there for you as well, because we need you when we are doing stuffs that is important to us for publicity. It should be a symbiotic relationship, we are supposed to feed from each other. But when you have people out there who are out to damage you, you don't want to work with them.
So,what is the worst rumour you've heard about yourself?
Oh, that I'm looking for a husband, that I'm desperate for a
husband. That's the worst I've heard and that's the latest one.
I'm not looking for a husband and I don't need one.
You don't need one?
I don't need anything. I'm a complete person. I only do things
that make me happy, because I believe and I understand the
reality that this is just one life and you should live it to the
maximum, happiness and peace should be the key. I'm not
searching for a husband, because the rumour that I'm
searching for a husband has given me wahala,- all kinds of
people from left, right and centre, looking for me saying they
want to marry me. Please, I'm using this opportunity to tell
everybody, I am not looking for a husband!
Can you name some of the awards you've received?
Oh, my God! They are so many, most of them are from
organisations here and there.
How do you handle your fans?
I love my fans, without my fans who would I be? Nobody!
The fans make you who you are. It's because they find
something in you that they like, that they clique with, that's
why you're in demand, that's why you have such followership. So I am very humbled by my fans.
How would you describe your person?
I'm really very easy. I'm an easy-going person, everything
about me is easy. I believe in certain things and I live my life
by those things, namely; Truthfulness – It's important to me, I
believe we must have principles because that's what
differentiates us from animals. Kindness is very important, if
you're not kind, we can't be friends.
It's not just kindness to people who don't have, it's kindness
to every human being that you meet. It is important, if we say
we are God's children and God is love and he sent his son to
die for our sins, then we should at least try and emulate him in
loving everyone that comes around us, by showing love to
each and every one. Everyone that comes near you should be
touched by you.
Are you fulfilled as an actress?
I am very fulfilled.
No regrets?
No regrets whatsoever. I'm doing what I want to do. I'm
excited.
What's your advice to aspiring actresses?
Please, if you want to be an actor, first and foremost, go to
school, because that will show you if you have talent or not.
Go try it out , go study Theatre Arts or Performing Arts. Go
and major in acting. Get the basic background, so you know
you have a lot more to say.
Are you in a relationship?
Yes, I am. But I don't talk about my relationships.
Via: Vanguard
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