Steph-Nora Okere
Ambassador Steph-Nora Okere is one of the screen queens in the Nollywood industry who has remained relevant in the entertainment industry till date. The multi-talented actress has been in the make-believe business for 28 years. Apart from acting, she is also a producer, and very skillful in screenplay writing. She has written, produced and featured in many films including ‘Indecent girls’, ‘Sharon Stone’. She became popular with the soap opera ‘Beyond Our Dreams’ shown every Sunday on NTA and the more recent films, Throne of Deceit (2022), Wars Of The Fathers (2022) and Dance With Me (2022). In this exclusive interview with Ngozi Uma, she talks about her career and her future plans.
Kindly tell us about your early years in the entertainment industry.
I studied Dramatic Art at the Obafemi Awolowo University where I majored in playwriting. I started my acting career at the university and joined Nollywood in 1994 during my Youth Service Year. I started out as a make-up artist.
The first movie I produced and that was released in the market was in 2001. I wrote most of my movies and I produced them.
Before COVID-19 I produced my first cinema film titled ‘Roberta,’ unfortunately we could not release it because of Covid-19 pandemic. Covid slowed down the release but we are working with Netflix and cinema.
You are versatile in writing, acting and you are also a producer. How do you manage all these effectively?
I just liken it to someone that sells groceries in the supermarket, there you sell all kinds of things, everyone calls for attention at the same time and you give them what they requested. It has never been a cluster for me. All the films I have produced, I wrote them. I have never had to write for anybody else.
I wrote the films. I produced the films, and while producing, I acted. Everything works like a synchrony. It has never been a cluster and they are things I specialise in, not that I am trying my hands on them. Before I do my shooting, I do my proper pre-production assessment, getting my logistics right, with that my production is a smooth sail.
What are you cooking for your fans this year?
I am planning the burial of my mum. I lost my mum last year on December 8 and we are in the middle of planning for the burial which is for March 17. Originally, I planned doing a movie in January running it side by side with the burial arrangements but it has not been easy. I have to push it after the burial. I have a couple of movies to shoot after the burial.
I am shooting an Igbo film, and hoping to launch my film Academy, that is what I have been working studiously to achieve before the end of the year.
I just finished the production of my latest film ‘Dance with Me’, I finished the film in Jos and I premiered too in Jos in December 2022. The film was supported by Nigeria Film Corporation with technical equipment. It starred Jibola Dabo, myself and other notable artists. Presently I am working on my next production titled ‘all that glitters.’
My NGO, Big Sister Foundation, has been registered since 2014 and basically what I registered it for is to harness the talented young women in our midst and to help them find support to be able to run their career in their area of talent. With my film academy I intend to further the activities of the NGO.
What’s your experience with media bullying? Many women in Nollywood often deal with this from time to time.
I had my share too. I remembered when I gave my opinion about Pastor Biodun Fatoyibo’s case with Timi Dakolo and his wife. People took it personal and my opinion went viral. People went on all my social media platforms I had and bullied the hell out of me and said all kinds of things to me.
They didn’t understand my point of view, it was a pity. Sometimes, when you come to say normal things, people will come and say ‘you that we look up to you are supposed to blah blah…’ That is what comes with fame, it is the suit and wear of the profession. You are out there, some people don’t like you for no reason so anything you say won’t sit well. I have had my own fair share, anytime it happens I shake it off and move on.
These days they don’t bully people again, because these days everyone sees what you write and defends you. Back in the days the media would bully you and that is it, except you are strong enough to go physical. Then, you don’t even have your own platform to un-write what they have written about you.
You told them to retract the story and they would just do it by one corner of their newspaper page or magazine. We were careful in those days. Artists are more reckless now because they have platforms now where they can defend themselves.
The gentleman I spoke about used the media against me, I didn’t respond, it’s unfortunate that this one found its way to the internet, that is why I have to squash it.
Many young people are beginning to adopt partnership instead of marriage. What do you think about this trend?
I was once married. I am a divorcee. I have been out of the marriage since 2007. As for me, if I tell you I don’t desire to be with a man and have a man in my life, I will be lying to you.
These days we all know what is out there we have to be careful. Since my marriage had an issue I have been living my life as a single person, I have encountered all kinds of people it has taught me to be very careful with trying to get into relationship because you don’t want to do it this time and fail again, it is better you stay single and by the grace of God hopefully run into somebody you can live the rest of your life with. Otherwise you make the same mistake over again and then it will become a lifetime blunder.
If you are popular and single and you desire to have a man next to you, everything in life has its own prototype. Look for that person, a role model, someone you like the kind of life she has lived, who was single, rich and now married. Study what they have done and do it.
But for me to say this is exactly how you go about it, I can’t advise you because everybody’s life is peculiar. Look at your own self and know what you want, there will be someone you can look up to for that.
How have you managed fame over the years?
This is my 28 years in Nollywood. It’s been a process, a process of learning. For me, at every stage I understand where I am, as a beginner, as an up-starter artist then as a celebrity.
I always learn every stage. Wear the things that concern it when it comes to press, publicity, when it comes to my family.
I am not saying I am a perfect person when it comes to myself and career, back in the days I had my stints with the press. Overtime, I have learnt not to get my neck out there too much. Some people even complained about me not having a presence on social media, like Instagram, Facebook and the likes.
I am taking my time, I don’t do things because everyone is doing it. I want to set a trend and not follow a trend. I am not in a rush to be in those social media. Some press often get under my skin, but I always reach a civil ground with them.
Over time I have come to understand the industry, fame is not riding on me. I work to get it so I have to be in charge of it.
Are there roles you regret playing?
Not at all, because before I take up any role I would read the script, I already knew what I am in for and with the kind of training I have the show has to go on.
I didn’t finish a job and look back and say I wished I didn’t play that role. Every role I played, every movie I acted in was based on profession.
I don’t think I have had any role that made me act my real self. If there are crazy things I have done in the past in a movie, chances are that I might do crazier things.
