Beside being an actress, Etinosa Idemudia is also known for online comedy skits in which she features some of her colleagues. She speaks with IVORY UKONU about her journey into the make belief world and her perspective of life.
What does acting mean to you? Is it a means to an end or a dream come true?
It is a dream come true. It is something I had always wanted to do all my life, but circumstances didn’t make it happen in time because I come from a family of engineers, we are primarily a science-inclined family. Growing up one was nurtured to dream of becoming an astronaut or doctor or engineer etc. My father is a complete scholar, an ‘overachiever’ in the engineering profession. My mother is also a scholar and an ‘overachiever’ in the education system. So yes, acting is a dream come true and I am finally fulfilling it to the glory of God.
How did your journey into the make-believe world begin?
It is a very long story. Not one that I can summarise because the truth is that the journey is still ongoing. The long and short of the story is that when I was still practising as an engineer, I hardly went on leave. I was a workaholic. I slept, ate and drank at work. But something happened at a particular point in my life and I needed to heal. I was badly in need of a breath of fresh air and I took all the leave that was piling up. I took some months off work.
I went to America and the United Kingdom. I was just travelling around and I began to fantasise about acting, which I always wanted to do. I returned to Nigeria and enrolled at the Royal Arts Academy, Lagos, just to have a feel of what it feels like. I had the money and the time and I was on a very long vacation, so why not?
So I enrolled without informing my parents. Only very few friends of mine were aware of my plan. I was enjoying the experience. I used the opportunity to make funny videos and skits with my classmates. In fact, shooting the videos and skits was just a continuation of what I was already doing. At this time, Instagram didn’t allow for video posting. As soon as it became a feature, I posted one of the videos. I began to get views from my videos and some recognition. By the time I finished from the film school to return to my job, I succeeded in attending some auditions, did some production jobs just to get closer to some movie producers.
Armed with some contacts in the industry, I returned to my engineering job. Unfortunately, I was distracted and I longed to return to what I loved doing: acting. I would log online and see what some of my colleagues were doing and how they were making waves. I wondered what I was doing in my engineering office or at work sites. So I began to make plans to return to acting. I was already getting detached from my job anyway.
What branch of engineering did you study?
I studied Computer Engineering, but I ended up working as a planning engineer for oil and gas construction projects which I have a diploma for.
At what point did you finally decide to switch careers?
I made the move when I felt I had gotten partial acceptance into the movie industry. I didn’t just switch like that. I also gave myself time to solidify a financial plan before switching. I made the move in 2016.
Is it goodbye to engineering or do you plan to dust up your certificate in the nearest future?
No, I still do third party contracting. I focus more on procurement engineering now. Once in a while I do post about it on social media.
How long did you practice?
I practised for three years.
Do you regret studying engineering?
I can never say goodbye to an industry that I’m well-grounded in. I’m grateful for that because I use the skills I acquired in the engineering field now that I’m a movie producer. What I’m trying to say is that as a planning engineer, you pretty much do the work of scheduling, follow up and risk analysis of really huge projects. As a producer, movie projects are small things, compared to what I’ve planned and executed in the past as an engineer. One of such projects is the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery. The company I worked for at the time was in charge of some sections of the rehabilitation. I was the senior planning engineer on site. Another of such projects will be the debottlenecking of a gas plant at a multinational liquified gas company. I was the senior planner from my company working with the French, Germans and Nigerians. In fact, a lot of my top oil and gas executives/colleagues were so mad when I switched careers. But now I guess they can understand why because the difference is clear. Now most of them say, ‘I always saw it in you.’ I used to host their multinational soirees free-of-charge. At that time, I didn’t know I would later commercialise my talent of entertaining people.
How easy or difficult was your acceptance in the industry?
I would say, divine. I wouldn’t say it was easy or difficult. Of course, nothing good comes easy. I had to make sacrifices and pay my dues. In fact I am still paying dues. but when it comes to my art, how people see my films, the first film I featured in, the first skit I made that got people to know me, I must say it was beautiful because they accepted me well. The acceptance was lovely, it came naturally.
Which movie gave you your big break?
‘The Washerman’. It was widely known and instrumental to my rise in the movie industry. As for the series I would say, ‘Chairman’. The sitcom, in which I played the role of Amanda, was also very instrumental to my rise. Both were released in the same year.
What determines the kind of roles you take on in movies?
Before I take on any role, I always ask myself what the character’s purpose is. What is she up to and what is her motivation? Is she pivotal to the movie? What does this character add to the story? What does this character tell the audience? And when I can confirm that the answer to those questions aligns with my values as a person, then I take the role and go as hard as possible.
Do you sometimes make inputs in the roles you play?
Of course, I do have inputs in some of the roles that I chose to play in movies. I feel that every actor should have a creative input in the characters they play. Apart from their looks, they can also have gestures, story additions. For instance, maybe a certain character is supposed to swim in an ocean and save a woman. Based on the characterisation, one could suggest that since the character has a phobia for deep water and is more of a land person, the person playing the character could suggest saving the damsel in distress with an armour truck.
So as creatives, we should be able to chip in one or two suggestions into our characters to make it as believable as possible. Method acting has to do with becoming the character. So once you become something, of course, it takes your essence and you cannot help but make creative inputs. Another example is when I played the role of an Edo king in a movie. I played Enogie in the movie called ‘Izoduwa’. As a woman, my character was supposed to be disguised in the community as a man. Beyond the costume of a man that I was given on set, I also had to internalise a man, not just any man, an Enogie, the king. So that helped me interpret my role very well.
Which role and movie do you consider to be most challenging as an actor?
The role of a King in the movie, ‘Izoduwa.’ It was challenging. Not only because I had to internalise an Edo Monarch, I was also six months pregnant. So imagine your female hormones raging and you have to be a man. Judging from the feedback I got from my viewers and fans, I can say I did maximum justice to the role
Did you ever think that you would become as big and recognised as you are today?
When I started creating skits (short films) all I really wanted to do was just to make people laugh. And I was enjoying myself. Expressing myself through my short skits, I didn’t even think I would become immensely popular. I was an engineer. What concerns an engineer with entertainment recognition?
Surprisingly, I started getting recognised. I had to start taking classes on the craft, branding etc and subsequently had to switch careers.
Do you have a dream role in your bucket list?
I have played my dream role actually, but I want more of it. And that’s to be a villain, unstoppable with mystical powers.
How many movies have you produced so far and which would you say challenged your craft?
I have produced about six films and my first, ‘The Washerman’ has been the most challenging because of the cast and crew size, the art etc. Another challenging one will be my yet to be released royal film, ‘Queen Consort.’ Managing people is more difficult than it seems. The sheer size of the cast and crew made it challenging.
Why did you feel the need to join the movie production train rather than just stick to acting?
I have always been a producer, even before I knew the meaning of the word, while I was still an engineer. It is only natural that after proper training I continue with my passion.
If you were given the opportunity to change one thing about your industry in order to take it to another level, what would that be and how would you go about it?
Although it is gradually improving, distribution is still a major issue. It is painful to every true artist, after putting in so much work and only a handful get to see it. The real reward of a true artist isn’t really money most times. It’s for people to appreciate your work and then be able to commercialise it. This is my own opinion of creatives using myself as an example.
Who are some of the people you look up to in the game and why?
Internationally, I look up to the likes of Melissa McCarthy, Meryl Streep, Halle Berry, Tiffany Haddish and a host of others. In Nigeria, it will be Nse ikpe Etim, Sola Sobowale, Stella Damasus, Majid Michel. Queen Nwokoye is another person I look up to. I have reached out to her in the past for guidelines on how to play a certain character I’ve seen her conquer on screen so many times and she was generous enough to share. Lovely lady.
What do you consider to be your greatest challenge as an actor and in life generally?
Let me talk about life. My greatest challenge in life is a bit weird so let me apologise in advance. It is the fact that we are only born to die and sometimes, it feels like life is empty and vain. I find it difficult to wrap my head around the fact that we are brought to the world to make networks and connect both emotionally, die and leave our loved ones heart broken. My greatest challenge in life is not being able to answer a lot of life’s mysteries that begin with ‘WHY’. The oldest book in the world, the Bible, has not been able to answer a lot of my questions. I read a lot. Maybe too much actually. Perhaps that is my problem. Without boasting I am a very successful woman by my own standards. It gets to a point of achievement in life where your challenges progress from vanity to mysteries of life.
What was growing up like for you? Did it in any way impact on your acting career?
My family is very bookish. They expect you to put in the work. Education is important to them. You must acquire formal education. I miss my dad though. Growing up was blissful. I won’t lie, but it was not without its occasional cane on the bum, which I’m also grateful for.
Has there ever been a time you thought of quitting as an actor?
No, I have never thought of quitting.
In addition to acting, doing third party engineering contracting and procurement, what other things do you do?
I monetise my day-to-day content on social media. I also make money from real estate.
What is your opinion on your colleagues flaunting their acquisition on social media?
I have no problem with flaunting your property on social media. It’s your page where you can post anything you like. After all, you worked for it. It is only jealous people that will be angry that someone is showing off their acquisition.
Who is your ideal man?
My ideal man is exposed, enlightened, passionate about doing good and loves others dearly. He’s rich, ambitious and generous, too.
What school of thought do you belong to for a lasting relationship, to keep one’s relationship off social media or flaunt it as much as you can?
There’s no formula for a long-lasting relationship, but I can say that privacy helps. I prefer to keep my relationship private.
How would you describe yourself?
I am a whole lot to summarise really, but I’ll say I am beautiful, confident, goal getter, very passionate about humanity and I love to see everyone happy.
What has been your greatest achievement as an actress?
My greatest achievement has to be making thousands of people around the world appreciate my craft. It means a whole lot to my career as an actress.
How do you let off steam when you aren’t working?
I let off steam by eating and watching funny videos online.
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