Encomium
…set to shoot first English movie
Beautiful and ageless actress, Fathia Balogun is one of Nigeria’s top Yoruba actresses. This delectable Nollywood diva is a force to reckon with in the Nigerian movie industry, as she is a role model to many and one of the industry’s most respected. ENCOMIUM Weekly had a chat with her and she told us all about her forth coming movie and her opinion of the Nigerian movie industry today and more.
Even though you are ageing, you keep looking younger and more beautiful as the days go bye. What’s the secret?
I am not ageing, I am still a baby. I am just a sweet 16. I don’t do anything special, just the normal routine. Take much water, fruits, vegetables. I don’t have a special routine.
What are you currently working on?
I am working on my new movie, it’s would be my first English movie. And hopefully, we would start shooting in June.
Can you tell us about the movie?
The title is Never Say Never. It is a story of encouragement. It’s about eventually doing something you never thought you were going to do. It is like a common story but in a dynamic way.
Won’t it be challenging switching from one genre to another?
I don’t think so. An artiste is an artiste, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, we are all the same. So, switching should never be a problem.
What should we expect from your movie, Never Say Never?
Expect something very great, because I won’t cross from the Yoruba genre to the English genre to do a shabby work, and that’s why I have been writing my script almost to perfection.
Who should we expect as members of the cast?
Myself, Desmond Elliot, Dayo Amusa, Ini Edo and many more.
What stands you out as an actress?
My script and my acting, because I don’t take anything as a common script. I always dedicate myself into any script I take up.
You’ve been in the Nigerian movie industry for a long time, what’s the secret of staying relevant in the industry?
My mother taught me to be humble. If you are humble and filled with the spirit…
Do you have any regret?
I don’t have any regret at all. When I got into the industry, I had just OND, but now I am in Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State. I am even done already. I am glad I did that. I studied Theatre Arts. First thing I tell anyone is that education is important.
Back when you were starting up as an actress, your parents weren’t very supportive. What do they think of it now?
My mother is my key and my mini-god. So, she’s always supportive of whatever I do that makes me happy, while my father wasn’t interested at all. But now he is proud of me.
Is there any profession you wouldn’t want your children to go into?
I won’t tell my kids what to do or what not to because I want them to be comfortable with whatever they want to do.
Comparing the industry back when you started to now, what major changes have taken place?
There are lots of changes, especially in the Yoruba movie industry. In those days, we do say this and say that, but now we have good scripts, good actors and actresses, technical experts. So, it has really changed.
What do you think would sell Nigerian movies out there?
For me, now our movies are doing well, Rome wasn’t built in a day, but I know a lot of our movies are of international standard and would stand out anywhere in the world.
-TINUOLA JOSEPH
