James Patience Ufedoeyonojo, one of the promising Nollywood stars, is famed for her role in the popular TV soap, MY FACE. "Surulere" as she is fondly called by her fans (which simply means Patience in Yoruba language) is currently one of the Nollywood’s delights. The actress, who landed her 14th movie role recently in a movie called The "TANGLE", has been enjoying attention from all quarters.

In this interview with OLADAYO OKUSOTE. The graduate of Science Laboratory Technology(SLT) from Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH Lagos State, speaks about her foray into the world of make-believe. She also talks about her experience on her first movie set, among other interesting issues.

YOU started off on a very good note in the industry, so what will you normally consider before picking up a script?

I will pick up a script, if the story is good.

So, what’s your dream role now?

I’ve always wanted to try multi-personality disorder. In other words, I will like act two or three people at the same time. Yes, it is not easy, but it’s something I will love to play because I think being good is overrated. Too many people are playing good roles; so, I want to do something else.

How did your journey into acting start?

I had done a diploma course in Theater Arts at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State. I think I was at the University of Ibadan for about three months. However, when I was getting into the groove and enjoying it, my father pulled me out. He said, ‘No daughter of mine will go into acting’. You know, if God has a plan for you, His plan will always set the motion. So, here I am as an actress again with his full support and I have made him proud.

"MY FACE" has made you …

(Cuts in): Yeah, MY FACE has made my father to see that acting is not such a bad thing. People learn from it; people learn from their mistakes through actors and I learn from people through acting too.

How did you come to play the character "SURULERE in "MY FACE"?

At first, I hated the character, the role and everything about her because she was just dumb. When I read my script and saw all the stupid things she had to do and the stupid questions she asked, I just concluded that she was dumb and sarcastic. She was supposed to know the answers to the questions, but she never got it. So, I was always complaining to the director. But the writer kept telling me to enjoy the character. He would say the only way to love the character is to enjoy the character; and before I knew it, I started enjoying the character. So, I had to go and watch a lot of dumb movies like Legally Blonde. At a point, I had to go and watch Devil

Wears Prada because I had to be Brenda’s P.A. I had to research on how to be like these people.

So, how are you enjoying the role now?

This is almost seven years and I don’t even have to watch anything. Somehow, I have become the SURULERE, but not the dumb, blunt side; I just go and play my role. I know how she is going to react, her looks and her facial expression.

Will you prefer acting in soaps to movies?

I don’t have a preference as you may think. Both are unique in their separate ways. I won’t be choosy about which one is better, if that’s what you are asking me. I like soaps because they are showing you out there and they keep teaching you with different episodes.

Definitely, that must have landed you a role in The TANGLE?

Actually, I heard from the producer and director, Mildred Okwo and Rita Dominic. They had not seen me act. Rita had never seen me act and Mildred told me that I wasn’t supposed to be Ada in The TANGLE. But she said she was watching MY FACE one day and she saw me and said, ‘This is the girl I want; she is cheeky and innocent-looking;

but at the same time, she is very naughty and mischievous’. She called me for a reading and I ran there because I felt they might change their mind. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity, so I ran to her. After our meeting, I did a reading.

Was that your first auditioning?

No. I was invited for other readings, but I never got the part. I heard it was a big movie and because it was Mildred Okwo and Rita Domini, I ran there and landed the job, my first movie. I picked up a call from Rita Dominic and I heard she was in the movie. I will forever be grateful to both of them.

Did you get any award for the role?

Not yet, but I got nominated for the Best Supporting Actress 2013 AMAA and Best Uprising Actress for NMA, which came up recently. Also, I was also nominated for the City People Awards. I was also nominated for an award called ELOY. So, The TANGLE landed us enough Awards: Rita Dominic, Femi Jacobs, the make-up artist and Mildred

Okwo were all nominated. You guys should watch out for awards from The TANGLE. We are coming in full force.

Any plan to pick up another role with the crew?

I don’t know (she smiles). That will depend on the producer and the director.

How challenging was your role in The TANGLE?

As you know, I had played the role of Bimbo Adekoya for about five years before Mildred called me for the ADA character, a very innocent and intelligent girl. But the cheeky and the naughty part wasn’t that hard. The good and sweet thing about Mildfred Okwo was that she would sit me down and explain the character, which I found really good and nice. She would call me and explain to me exactly what she wanted from the character. She would tell me to go and read books and watch movies. Rita Dominic and my fellow actors would call me and explain some things to me; so, we were one big family and we had such an understanding. If I had any problem or any suggestion about the ADA character, I could ask Mildred Okwo. So, they were very encouraging and fun to walk with.

she needs to get Laid fast and often

I don't know her