Nollywood actress Mercy Aigbe Gentry has grown to become one of the most prominent faces in the Yoruba movie industry. However for this mother of three, acting is not the only thing that has helped gathered fans, her delightful fashion sense has got a lot of people swooning all over her. The talented actress in this interview with Sahara Weekly shares the secret of her success, her fashion, acting amongst other issues.
How Has The Journey been So Far?
I would say it has really been fruitful. I can only give God the glory. It’s not like it has been smooth all through, I have had to encounter one or two challenges, but truly God has been faithful.
What Project Are You Currently Working On?
Presently, I’m working on showing my movie in the cinema, it’s titled Victim, directed by Lancelot OduaImaseun and it starred Nollywood superstars like Olu Jacobs, Juliet Ibrahim, Seun Akindele, Fathia Balogun, Said Balogun, a whole lot of them.
Would that be your first English project?
It’s not 100% English, it’s more of 40% English, 60% Yoruba.
Why The Choice of Lancelot For The Directing of This Project?
I actually had the opportunity to work with him and then I just spoke to him and asked if he would like to do a Yoruba movie. Although it’s not 100% Yoruba and it’s also an ultra-modern movie.
What were the challenges faced considering the language barrier?
The script I gave him was English. We had like two scripts for the movie. In Yoruba and in English, for instance Juliet has never been in a Yoruba movie, that was her first Yoruba movie, but because of the way the script was she didn’t have to speak too much Yoruba and at the same time, she is a fast learner. It was really exciting for her, because I did speak to her after the whole shoot and she told me she had so much fun, and for Lancelot it was like a challenge, he is used to directing English flicks so it was very exciting for him to be on this set.
When Do We Get To See the part two Of Osas Omoge Benin?
(Laughs) Everybody keeps asking me that. I read a lot of comments on Facebook, Instagram and twitter asking that same question. eEveryone should just keep their fingers crossed. At the end of the day I promise that the wait will be over. Although I really don’t want to say a specific date, but my fans should just keep their fingers crossed. For now, “Victims” is what I’m focusing on, it’s going to be premiered in the U. K and in the U.S and it’s going to the cinemas and we are looking at September for it.
You have done a couple of English flicks in recent times, what would you say is the difference between the two industries?
I actually started with the English genre before I crossed over to the Yoruba industry. I would say is pretty much the same, it’s basically the medium which is different, the language. It’s the same way we shoot and produce our films.
Inspiration behind Your Fashion/Beauty Store MAG Divas?
I would say my love for fashion, because I’m a lady who loves to look very good, getting complimented for her looks, so definitely my passion for fashion inspired me to open the outlet.
How Do You Juggle Between Running A Business, Your Acting Career, And Parenting?
To tell you the truth it’s a whole lot of hard work. I have to manage being a business woman, an actor a house wife and parenting, but the lord has been helpful in making it possible.
Your Favorite Fashion Item?
When it comes to fashion I really don’t have a favorite.I love everything, from shoes to bags, I love clothes, hair. Its quiet difficult for me to pick.
Do You Wish Your Daughter would step into your shoes as far as acting is concerned?
It actually is up to her, whatever she wants to do I’m in total support. She is a big girl, she is almost out of the secondary school, and so whatever she wants to do I would give her my total support. Although I honestly do not think she wants to become an actress because she is more on the reserved side, but if on the long run she wants to be I would give my support.
What is the secret of your good looks?
I take very good care of myself, I eat right, I drink a lot of water, do a lot of vegetables I try as much as possible to stay away from carbs, and once its 6 o. clock I don’t eat. I try to pamper myself a lot.
There’s a new trend of opening stores and business outlets among movie practitioners, what would you say is behind this?
Its due to piracy, piracy would not let us rest.
At this point I would like to beg the government to come in and assist movie practitioners, because I actually believe there are laws that should bind against pirates, laws that would state that if you are caught in the act you would be severely dealt with, and if this laws are enforced, it would be reduced to the barest minimum.
Is piracy capable of stopping you from doing movies?
It wouldn’t, but its killing creativity, if you have a script which you spend 5 million or 10 million naira on, just because you are not sure of getting your money back you would be discouraged. I think you should ask Kunle Afolayan. As a producer you are an investor, you would want to get your money back and make profit, but because you are not sure of this you might want to cut corners, and try to reduce your budget, by doing this you might not eventually achieve what you set out to achieve with the project.
If you were to recommend a punishment for Piracy what would you recommend?
Piracy is the same with stealing, they should be imprisoned for a number of years. You’re stealing someone’s creative work, for some people acting and production of movies is the only thing they feed on, piracy is killing, and I think they deserve to be imprisoned once they are caught.