Encomium
Actress Nike Peller has not been visible in the make-believe world for quite a while now. The fair-skinned thespian was abroad learning the act of magic. She is back to the shores of Nigeria and ready to take her late father’s legacy to another level.
ENCOMIUM Weekly had an interview with her about her new found love magic, her acting career and marital life.
What is happening to your acting career at the moment, it is like not much is heard from you again
There is nothing much, I am still in the industry. Although, I travelled a couple of months back for some training in the act of magic. I am back to Nigeria now. I shot a film in February this year, the title is Oluwatomisin, it will be out very soon.
What some people are saying is that you have abandoned for magic?
That is true, acting is what everybody knows me with. Magic is a family thing, I grew up with it. but, I cannot dump acting, it is one of my passion, I enjoy it very much, I am still very much into it.
Apart from acting and magic, what else is engaging you?
I am also a costumier. I do make-up as well. I do a lot of things in the industry that might not be visible. I rent some equipment too. I am still very much involved in Nollywood. You might just not be seeing me in movies.
Is like magic is not all that in vogue again, why are you still interested in it?
Magic is something that is challenging. It is not everybody that can do it. Late Professor Peller is the only known magician across Africa. He used to take us with him when travelling abroad for his shows
We just decided to revive his works, it is not good for his legacy to die with him, that is why myself and my brother are into it. We still have all the equipment we can use.
Are you getting shows in respect of that?
We have been doing private shows. We had one at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos sometime back. Rotimi Williams’ son invited us to perform there. We also had a live show at the Shrine during Felabration.
We had another show during Ileya at LTV8 and National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. We have taken magic to Abuja. We performed during Opa William’s Nite of a Thousand Laughs.
How many of your siblings are still in the act now?
We are two for now, but one of our brothers will join us very soon. We want to introduce new things to our show, we want to introduce acting, music and comedy. We will need more hands.
Is your husband in support of it?
Fully in support, he knew that was what I was doing before we got married. He has given me the go ahead to pursue that career. And that is one of the reasons I love him so much.
Not much is known about your marital life, let us know who your husband is, what he does and where he lives?
Do you need to know him? He’s a business man. He travels often. I cannot tell you his name. he is a very private person. We have been together for 10 years now.
Between acting and magic, which one do you have a stronger passion for?
I have passion for both. They are both part of entertainment. I was born into magic but I joined acting while I was in school.
When last did you produce a movie and why have you not produced any of recent?
That was five years ago, the movie is entitled, Tenisita. I don’t believe we should just be producing movies all the time. It is not a must. The most important thing is to produce a quality movie that will be appreciated.
- This story was first published in ENCOMIUM Weekly on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
