Delectable Fathia Balogun is an award winning Nollywood actress. In a chat with Sahara Weekly, she opened up on career and other sundry issues. Excerpts…
What project are you working on presently?
Well, I’m showing my new movie now ‘Iya Alalake’ and I just finished another one called ‘Jijuwole’. It’s a traditional movie.
The ‘Iya Alalake’ movie is the one you won the award for and that was probably the first time you were shooting a comedy movie; tell us how the experience was?
It was challenging. I wanted to do something different from comedy but I don’t think I can make anybody laugh. So, I called my colleagues such as Muyiwa Ademola who was the director, Femi Adebayo, etc. and thank God it came out well.
Were you expecting the movie to win an award?
No, I wasn’t expecting any award. I wasn’t ready for the media. So I was like I can’t get the award. I just went there like a guest and thank God I got it.
We heard people saying Fathia Balogun is proud…
(Cuts-in) Well, everyone has his own perception about me. You might see me in a different mood tomorrow; you can see me another time in a very good mood. We are humans. Everybody thinks you should be perfect, it is not easy. I can see you tomorrow and not say hello. I might come in here and say hello to everyone. I’m not a snub. I am a very friendly person when I’m in the right mood.
You started with English movies. Is there any chance of you going back to English movie? Also, people were angry that you disclaimed the Yorubas?
I don’t know o! They got it all wrong. Maybe due to the joy and everything, I didn’t finish my statement. I said ‘I’m not Yoruba but I’m proud to do Yoruba movies’ so why would I disclaim Yoruba, I can’t.
What is the secret of your good looks?
It is natural. For my skin, my father is very light skinned. There is no special cream I use. I do my exercise normally, so there is nothing special.
You mentioned in sometime that you are going to shoot some movies in your state; can you tell us more about that?
Very soon, I’m going to shoot one in Warri. It’s going to be in Pidgin English.
Who are those you are planning to feature on it?
Well, I want to do something different sincerely. I’ve been into Yoruba several times and some people have that perception that we Yorubas can’t do something different. So I want to tell people that we can and we have a lot of people that can do it.
Apart from movie, what else do you do? Are you into any other business? Do you have a shop?
Ehhh! It’s shop that is reining now o! (Laughs) You know film isn’t going on well for now due to piracy and we are begging the government to just try and help us because it’s something else. I just opened a shop; it’s going to be a year in the next few months though not in Lagos. I went as far as Abeokuta.
Why did you go all the way to Abeokuta?
I like business. So since film isn’t going on too well, I decided to do what I do best which is taking care of skin. I jumped into it.
You are always on movie location; how do you have time to rest and take care of children and family?
God is helping me out. I can schedule myself. I can tell myself that I’m not working for a month and I’ll do that so I know how to schedule myself.
Can you tell us about the charity foundation?
It is just basically about giving out to the society. We are six in number; Myself, Muyiwa Ademola, Femi Adebayo, King Wasiu, Ayinde Marshall….
How come you don’t kiss in movies?
They don’t give me script for kissing. They don’t just give me, I don’t know why. But if am given, as long as the story makes sense, I will.
What is your relationship with other female actress like Dayo Amusa, Iyabo Ojo, etc?
They are all my sisters. We are colleagues. We are all friends and families.
Describe yourself in three words…
Fathia Balogun is industrious, reserved, and understanding