Biola Ige is an epitome of
beauty. She joined the industry
about four years ago and already
she has become one of the most-
sought- after actresses in
Nollywood. Recently, she
suffered a terrible growth of her
thyroid gland that affected her
neck, tongue, complexion and
ultimately her budding career.
Then, it looked as if, all was over
for her. But with divine
intervention, she was flown to
India where an operation was
successfully carried out on her.
And today, Biola can live to retell
her story. In this interview, she
talks about the operation, the
rumoured controversy between
Tonto Dikeh and her new-found
faith- Hinduism. Enjoy!
How did you become an actress?
I have always wanted to be an
actress since I was a child. Then,
I wanted to star in Hollywood
movies because my dad was a
movie person. As a child, I had
the opportunity to watch all the
hit movies produced in
Hollywood alongside my elder
brother. My dad also supported
my dream, but he wanted me to
travel to America after my
studies.
Unfortunately, when I completed
my secondary education, my
dad was not as wealthy as he
used to be. He couldn’t send me
to America again as he
promised. As a result, there was
nothing I could do. Like I said
earlier, I fell in love with acting,
but l wanted to act in Hollywood.
When it didn’t work out because
of lack of finance, l moved to
Lagos after my University
education. I went for auditions
in Lagos and landed my first role
in “Blindfold” produced by OJ
Productions.
How many movies have you
done to date?
Acquiring experience in
whatever job you are doing is
very vital and my experience has
helped me star in more than fifty
movies and I am still counting.
Yes, I have been in the industry
for about four years. I am proud
of my achievement. I would
have starred in more than fifty
movies now, if not because of
my sickness that took me to
India. I am back in the country
though lam not looking the same
again. I am grateful to God for
giving me my life back.
Which role has been the most
challenging in your career?
The most challenging role for me
was the one I played in the
movie “Blackmail”. In that
movie, l played the role of a
model who married a rich man.
Complications set in when the
model’s old flame showed up as
an employee in the company
owned by her husband. And the
situation became more complex
when she fell again for the old
flame who was already married
to another woman. The intiruges
at play were very challenging.
Which of your movies has been
most financially rewarding and
how much did you rake in from
it ?
The monetary compensation is
good, but it is not the most
important thing when it comes
to growing in your craft. Yes, l
was rewarded for some of my
jobs, but l cannot tell how much
was given to me. I remember,
“Blackmail”, Grand Player”,
“Shakira”, “Darkest Link” and “My
Fantansy”, were quite
rewarding.
Is it true that you went to India
to undergo an operation?
Well, I was very sick at some
point in my acting career. I ran
different tests because l didn’t
know what was wrong with me.
The test results showed I had
thyroid problem. So, I travelled
to India for treatment as well as
to worship. I am sure people
would think I went there for
spiritual powers.I am sorry to
disappoint you guys because I
am not that kind of person.
What do you mean, you had a
thyroid problem?
Having a thyroid problem is a
grave disorder and illness. It is as
a result of the expansion of the
neck. It occurs when your
thyroid gland over works itself or
under works itself because of
lack of the nutrient known as
iodine.
When you said to worship, what
do you mean by that?
It was an avenue for me to
worship my God and yes, l
worship as an Hindu. I know
what you may want to say. I do
not see anything wrong with
following any religion of your
choice. It is a free world. And I
choose Hinduism.
What is your view of women
who do body-enhancing jobs?
It is all about choice, so if you
don’t feel good about your body
and you have the money to do
body makeover surgery, then do
it with joy. As for me, I am good
with the body God gave me. If a
man doesn’t like me the way l
am then he is on his own. But
my only advice is that you
should love yourself the way you
are, there is nothing wrong with
the body God gave you.
What would attract you to a
man?
The way l carry myself is unique,
but you can never tell what these
men see in the ladies that attract
them! Moreover, we all have
something that should attract
different men as the case maybe.
Most men see things we don’t
even know we possess. So, I
would leave that to the men to
decide what they see in me.
Did you become an Hindu when
you travelled to India or while
you were in Nigeria?
I was a Hinduist before I
travelled to India. I was a
Christian before I changed my
faith and I must tell you I have
found peace in Hinduism. And in
India, I felt at home. I didn’t feel
like returning to Nigeria again
because everyone was so nice to
me.
What is the controversy
between Tonto Dike and
yourself?
When I was sick, there were a
lot of stories flying here and
there that Tonto Dike was
responsible for my sickness. But l
didn’t believe it because we
were not even friends before I
fell sick. And why would Tonto
Dike want to harm me when she
has made a name for herself?
Are you in a relationship?
I don’t have time for that at the
moment. I have just returned
from a long break of illness and l
need to make up in my career for
the time I have lost.
When are we hearing the
wedding bells for you?
Marriage comes naturally in the
course of living and meeting
people. I am not in a hurry to tie
the knots. In fact, I am taking
another three years to grow
myself before thinking about
marriage.
Some of your female colleagues
are getting married to married
men. Would you marry a
married man?
When I am in a relationship, it
takes my whole being and life.
So if I am in love, l fall hopelessly
in love, hence l cannot see myself
loving another woman’s
husband. I cannot share my
man at all with any woman as I
do not share my love.
Who are those people you
admire in the industry?
I admire everyone I have
worked with and my colleagues
in the industry. I cannot actually
mention one person as being
more special to me. They are all
different and special in their own
ways.
Before you take up a role what
do you consider first?
I picture the role and character in
my mind’s eyes and how it is
going to play out. I also consider
what people would say when
they see the movie and the
character I played. If it will boost
my image then the role is mine,
if it is not good for me then l
leave it.
Do you have any regret since
choosing acting as a career?
I regretted not having my usual
childish yearnings. I hate it
when people discuss you, when
they don’t even know you to
guide their judgment. I hate
that l cannot join the regular bus,
but l don’t care what people say
when l park to buy my regular
roasted plantain known as boli.
When it comes to that l don’t
care what people say again!
Tell us a little about your
childhood?
My childhood was awesome! I
was a kid who loved to play
football when I was growing up
with my siblings. We went
swimming in the river, climbing
mango trees to pluck mangoes
and all that. I was a tomboy
while growing up, I never did
girls stuff at all.
Are you related to the popular
late Bola Ige family?
No. It is just a case of name
sakes; late Bola Ige was from Oyo
state, while l hail from Osun
state.
Which part of your body do you
consider sexiest?
Most people would say they
prefer my boobs, shape and all
that, but to me, I prefer my eyes.
They are the mirror to my soul.
Nollywood is really evolving,
with more sensual scenes. Would
you take a role that involves you
having sex on set?
I won’t describe it as having sex
because it is drama- a make-
believe world; hence everything
done is not real. I would describe
it as pretending to have sex. And
yes I have done that in many
movies, but they were never
real.
How do you describe Nollywood
love-making scene?
Nollywood love-making scenes
are not like Hollywood where
boobs and bums are exposed. In
Africa, it is not in our tradition to
do stuffs like that; hence the
producers, directors and actors
themselves are careful how they
interprete such roles.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/01/why-i-chose-hinduism-over-christianity-biola-ige/

hindu!!!

Her choice, her decision. For those like me who aren't familiar with her on TV, here you go:[img]http://nigeriafilms.com/image.aspx?img=Y29udGVudC9jb250ZW50L0JJZ2U0bmlnZXJpYWZpbG1zLmpwZ3w2MDA=[/img]

Another confused one!