British-born Nigerian actress, Uru Eke, after having left an IT career in the UK to pursue a career in Nollywood, has appeared in several movies including Last Flight to Abuja, Strive, The Return of Ogidi among others.
Her venture into the movie industry has seen her earn movie award nominations. It is Eke’s passion for acting that she is using to fuel her passion for social reform through her foundation, Chime for Art Foundation. In this conversation, the very down-to-earth Eke, gives us some insight into her career, foundation and other things.
You were born in the UK before moving to Nigeria, and then back to the UK again and then back here. Any plans of relocating again?
Well, I shuttle. But I do spend a lot of time here and then go back, and chill out for a couple of months and then back here. I have still got my home in London, and I have got a home here as well, so I have to use both. I don’t know if I will go back to live in London, I probably might move to America, eventually.
You went from a career in the IT industry to a career in Nollywood, and it seems so far so good. Have you had any regrets about the profession change?
Actually, I have no regrets whatsoever. They are completely different career paths, completely different industries and they both have their perks. So far so good; there’s really nothing to regret at all.
So if you could do it over again, would you?
My job as an IT consultant is still open. My boss just recently got back from London, and he was still asking me if I could come back because he had a position for me, and it was very tempting. But I thought there is no way I could take six months or a year out of acting because I think it would disturb other things I am trying to sort out.
You were nominated for the Best of Nollywood awards for Best Upcoming Actress in 2011. Would you say that has been the highlight of your career, or is there something else that tops that?
No, it wasn’t necessarily the highlight. It was nice to be nominated. I have been nominated at the Golden Icons Awards; I was nominated last year, and that one felt nice as well. I don’t think I have had a highlight as at now. My highlight is yet to come.
You appeared in some movies like Finding Love, Dark Side, Weekend Getaway and Last Flight to Abuja. Which of these movies was your best ; which did you enjoy the most?
They were all very nice; they all had their peculiar experiences. I was working with different people and I wouldn’t say there is a best one. I thoroughly enjoyed all of them. They all did well. Finding Love isn’t out yet; I hope it does well. But they were all fabulous experiences.
You said Finding Love is not out yet, so is that what you are currently working on at the moment or is there something else?
Finding Love is not in the cinemas or on DVD yet, but that is not what I am working on now. I have a foundation called Chime for Art Foundation. The premise of that is to produce advocacy films and social message -based films, and it is going to cover various subjects from rape to domestic violence to child abuse and corruption. I know people like to see glamour; they like to see glare and all of that, but it is really important that we talk about some of the things that are accepted as a people, and that is really what I am going to do. We do not talk about it enough. It is going to serve as a platform to expose some of the things that some people are going through and probably maybe help them seek the help from organisations and location centers around the country that are aided in assisting in such situations that not many of the victims are aware of.
For instance, like the subject of rape, when somebody is raped; where do they go to, who do they talk to? And you know rape is a very sensitive subject? Sometimes it is peculiar to the case because some people could argue that she brought it upon herself, but nobody ever wants to go out there and be raped. So I want to tell a story about that, and how the victims, despite the circumstances in which they became victims, how they can get help and move on. Some people who went through this ordeal have not fully recovered from what they went through; it is just maybe a guide. I don’t have all the answers, but I would like to say maybe this is one of them.
What kind of support have you been getting for the foundation?
So far I am in the process of getting a grant from a company who are very passionate about the subject. I am dealing with two subjects; I am going to be producing two films – one on rape and one on corruption, because both of them eat very deep into our country. I have got a lot of support from a lot of people who are close to me who share the same passion, who kind of buy into the vision and support the cause. I can’t talk about the sponsors until we actually go into production and then we launch the film.
How do you deal with the everyday pressures that come with being an actress?
I am probably one of the simplest people you would ever come across. I am not the most glamorous. I am not flashy, no craziness, and I am not controversial; there is no scandal or anything. I try and keep it simple, as simple as possible. I take the day as it comes. I try not to get upset about anything anymore.
If you could work with a Hollywood actor or actress, who would it be?
Leonardo DiCaprio. He is an amazing actor; he is a phenomenal actor. Who wouldn’t want to work with Leonardo? He is top-notch. He is one, and then Meryl Streep. I don’t even know who else to compare her with. She just stands alone; she’s amazing. Those two people without a shadow of doubt, you know dreams do come through; so you never know.
You have a British accent, and for you, would you say that draws people closer to you or distance them?
I think what will draw people to you is your personality. It doesn’t matter if you speak like Obama or the Queen, if you are horrible, you are horrible, and if you are a nice person, you are a nice person. I don’t think how you talk makes a difference. It is only in Nigeria here that people have an issue with accents. They need to be a bit more open to people because we have a lot of foreigners here, so you need to be open to however people speak. I know that some Nigerians have an issue with people who have accents.
In Nigeria, when you go out on a date with a woman, you have to pay for the date. With you growing up in the UK, that culture is quite different, you know you have women going out on dates and paying, is this something you would do or do you stick to the Nigerian culture?
I’m very traditional. In England, it’s slightly different because you go somewhere and sometimes share the bill; some people do that. There are still some English men that you would go out, and they would gladly foot the bill. I’m not saying I wouldn’t like to share the bill, but I just think it’s a bit strange that we would share the bill when you are taking me out on a date.
Would you kiss a guy on the first date?
It has never really happened, but I think it goes down to chemistry and how the two people get on. Maybe! I mean there’s no harm in that, absolutely no harm. I think it is just down to the two people.
Off the top of your head, what is the craziest thing you have ever done, that you feel like hands down, that was just crazy?
Go on a rollercoaster. It’s the worst thing you could ever do. Oh, my gosh! I went, everyone had their hands up, and I was holding onto the bar. I was holding on for dear life. I have only been on it once, and I don’t think I will ever go on a rollercoaster again. When I got off, I couldn’t walk straight, my hair was in a mess, water was dripping out of my eyes because I was screaming and then probably crying at the same time.
What is the one thing you wouldn’t be caught dead without?
My rings. I always have rings on because I just feel my fingers are bare. And I am a leggings lover. I have probably got like 30 pairs of leggings in different colours and patterns. Yes, so rings and leggings. It doesn’t matter where I am and how cold it is.