Tonto Dike originates
from Ikwere, Port
Harcourt, in Rivers
State. She was born on
June 9, 1985 and after
her primary and
secondary education,
she was admitted into
Rivers State University
of Science and
Technology, Port
Harcourt, and currently
studying Petro-Chemical
Engineering.
Growing up
Growing up was
wonderful because I
had everything I
wanted and wasn’t
deprived of anything. My
father was wealthy, so
he did everything
possible for me. I went
to the best schools in
my state, I graduated
with good results from
my primary and
secondary schools and I
hope to graduate with
the best result after
my degree programme.
I have had parental
love, care, family ties
while growing up.
It’s been love all the
way the only thing I
didn’t appreciate while
growing up was the
fact that I could not
mix with my peer
group, which is why I
can’t speak my dialect
up till now. Another
was growing up
without my mother.
She died when I was
just three years old, so
I practically didn’t know
her, but it was a joy to
know that I had
someone who I could
say replaced her.
My journey into
Nollywood
I got into the industry
after I left the reality
T.V show The next
movie star in 2005, I
was first runner-up,
when Kingsley Ogboso
won, and from there, I
started looking for
contacts and
fortunately for me, a
lot of people saw my
talent, I got involved in
the reality show first
because I saw it as a
way of getting close to
the industry, I had
hoped that from it I
would move into the
industry and it
happened as I wanted.
Challenges
Sincerely, I don’t think I
have had to go through
any challenge. This is
because I don’t see
them as challenges; I
am a very prayerful
person. I believe so
much in God and it
seems like everything
just falls at my feet.
Anything I want just
falls at my feet. I can’t
say I have had to go
through challenges since
I got into the industry.
Big break
Perhaps, I should say
my first movie, but
that was released last
year so I will say my
second movie, entitled,
Holy Cross which I did
with Nonso Diobi, Uncle
Pete Edochie and Jim
Iyke, after seeing the
film, the producers and
directors wanted to use
me in their own films,
Right from my second
movie people started to
look out for me.
Nollywood
I see the industry as a
fruitful one, which can
yield more fruits in the
future. All we need is
hard work,
perseverance and
prayer. The industry is
like a newborn baby
that has to be nurtured
and well taken care of. I
still think that we really
need to work hard
because we are way
backward. Though we
may be doing well, I still
think we can do better.
Relationship
I am in one, which I am
very proud of. He is
okay for me. I took
what God gave me, and
remember, I said God
gives me anything that
I desire. As for how he
feels when I am on set
with all the kissing and
hugging, I’ll tell you
something: When I say
that I took what God
gave me, I meant that
He gave me a package
in a man, all I want in
life He gave to me in
one person.
May man gives me
endurance, patience,
love and he is someone
who understands. He
really understands, so I
don’t have a problem
with my handling of
roles. He might not be
okay with the roles all
the while, but he still
prays for me and hopes
for a better future for
me because he knows I
love my job.
Playing music with
Patience Ozorkwor
First of all, the music is
owned by Amaco
Investments; Charles,
Patience and I were
just called to mime it. I
had fun being in the
video and I didn’t know
it was going to be this
big as everybody is
talking about it. I have
no plans whatsoever to
get into music.
First day on set
I was very scared. I
was shy. I didn’t know
what to think or expect
until the lights came on,
then I knew that this
was serious business.
But I had people like
Uncle Pete Edochie,
Nonso Diobi, Desmond
Elliot, Nkiru Sylvanus,
and Uncle Larry
Coldsweat. They kept
saying ‘you can do it’
and I did it.
What you can’t wear
I will not be caught in a
long skirt because I
hate it. I also can’t
wear Iro and Buba, it’s
fashion for the older
women. I am still very
young and I need to feel
free in my body you
can’t catch me being
very religious in my
dressing, I love to dress
the way I love to dress.
Sexy part of me
I give that to my lips. I
love them and people
have told me that they
love them too, talking
about what people
don’t know about me, a
lot of people don’t
know that I am very
nice, a wonderful and
serious minded person.
Coping with school
and acting
I am in my final year
now, and this year, I
have decided that I
must spend almost all
of it in school doing
school work. Though I
will still be on set, I
hope to be in school
more. I will work it out,
I don’t have a plan yet,
but I will be able to be in
school more often than
I used to.
Philosophy of life
I have a lot of them but
I will share one, if you
have your eyes on
something, on a
particular level in life
when you get to that
level, always know that
there are so many
other levels left to
climb. Try to be on top,
even when you are on
top, try to be on top of
the top.
Artiste admired
Back home, I only
admire two females –
Aunty Joke Sylvia and
Rita Dominic. Why Rita?
It’s because when I
want to recount how
my interest in the
movies started, her
name will be mentioned
as she inspired me a lot.
And for Aunty Joke, she
is a wonderful person,
she is joy to me, I
watch her and I feel
alive and want to do
more than she has
done, Internationally I
love Al Paccino and Julia
Roberts, they are
inspiration to me.
In five years
I really have faith and
hope that I will be
better than I am now. I
am not striving to end
in Nollywood, I intend to
get into Hollywood, I
don’t know how I will
do that but I know that
God will make a way for
me.
A word to fans
I say thank to all, I
really appreciate their
love by buying my
movies, watching them
and appreciating me. I
wake up each day
knowing that without
my fans in my life,
there would be no full
Tonto. I love them all.
?

Seun front page, your girlfriend again.