AMIN ENTERTAINMENTCOMMENTS Efe Irele is a video vixen, model, and fast-rising actress. She’s best known for the role she played in the video of pop singer, Adekunle Gold’s hit single “Sade.” She has since moved on, featuring in other musical videos and movies. Recently, she featured in Emem Isong’s advocacy movie, Zahra, where she played the role of Sefia, a Hausa lady who was traumatised in the IDP camp and eventually died while in labour due to lack of medical attention. The movie is bound to announce Efe’s presence in the nation’s movie industry. Showtime Celebrity met her at the premiere of the movie last Sunday. In this interview, Efe, who has Masters degree in Human Resource Management speaks about her role in the movie, music video, modelling and why she delved into acting. By Benjamin Njoku How were you able to fit into the role of Sefia, a Hausa lady, having come from the western part of the country? I had to get into the character properly to make it believable. I did a lot of researches because when the script was given to me, I realized the producer wanted me to speak with Hausa accent in the movie. So, at that moment, I started hanging around with my Hausa gate-man and all the Mallams in my area just to learn how to pronounce certain words in Hausa and master their intonation. I also watched a lot of Hausa movies. Efe Irele How long have you been into acting to have landed this kind of challenging role? I started acting about a year ago. I was actually nervous initially but I picked up courage and put in my best. I am excited that I am part of the cast of this film. Did you feel intimidated while on set? Not at all. My senior colleagues were actually supportive. They were coming from time to time to encourage me. The director of the film too was very helpful. He was always talking to me about getting into my character. I enjoyed being on the set of this movie because it has exposed me to a lot of things happening out there, especially in the IDP camps. A lot of people are suffering for something they did not bargain for. I feel this movie should expose a lot of ugly things going on in the IDP camps. How did you land the role in this movie? There was a job I did for Iroko TV, a TV series called “Single Ladies”, the production manager, Onyinye was impressed with my performance and she was the one that introduced me to Aunty Emem Isong, who invited me for a script reading session. After the session, she gave me the role. Is this your first major work as an actress? I have done a couple of other videos. I was in Burna Boy party video. I did that when I came back from the UK after completing my Masters degree programme in Human Resource Management. How did your parents feel after sending you to the UK to pursue your master degree only to come back and venture into the entertainment industry? My mum was open to it, but my father initially did not understand it. My mum would book appointment for me and asked me to follow it up, like interviews and all that. I look at her today and I could see smiles on her face. I am into showbiz for real, and this is what I love doing for a living. But it’s not as if your father has given you his full consent? Initially he did not, but now, he’s okay with it. Beyond the glamour that comes with acting, are your parents impressed with what comes in, in terms of returns ? I wouldn’t say they are happy with it, but I guess I am happy doing what I like doing. They support me a lot. Does it mean you will not be doing music video modelling anymore? I still do some selected videos, but not everything that comes my way. How much of nudity have you displayed as a video vixen? That was never me at any point in time. From the outset, I had this kind of mindset that I am not going to show my skin to bring any attention to myself. In all the musical videos I have featured in, I was properly dressed. So, you are one in a million? I guess so. People are different, and our orientations are different as well. Bu if you are paid handsomely to show your skin in a musical video, will you reject it? No matter how much you offer me, I won’t expose my body in a musical video. How did you meet Adekunle Gold to feature in his musical video? When I was a video vixen, it was my manager that got the job for me. The day we shot the video was the first day I met Adekunle Gold. It was my manager that sealed the deal. And your relationship with him did not go beyond the screen? We are good friends. Sometimes, we chat on Instagram and other social media platforms. Did featuring in that musical video brought a lot of attention to you? Yes, it brought me a lot of attention, but not negative ones. People always recognize me and scream wherever they meet me. What projects are you undertaking this year? I am already in Nollywood, but I want to go deeper into the industry: feature in many movies and later in the year, start producing my own movies. You are one year old in the industry and you are already thinking of going into movie production? Of course, I have to think of the money. Though I went into acting because of the passion I have for the profession. When you find your passion, you also have to think of making money. Before you ventured into acting, for how long did you desire the profession? I started modelling when I was 15 years. It was when I realized I have something to do with the camera.
