Why she’s scared of marriage, her Isale Eko/Mushin connection

She’s tall, beautiful; her skin glows even in the dark. And she’s got the kind of figure every man would die for.  A former model, beauty queen and now a successful Nollywood actress, she commands attention everywhere she goes. Little wonder she was easily chosen to be the face of a popular toilet soap.

Welcome to the world of half Polish and half Nigerian born Lilian Bach. In this never before read interview she granted the Saturday Vanguard at our weekly Editorial Board meeting last Monday, she opens up on her past, her fears for Nollywod and more.
It is captured irresistibly for your weekend delight. Enjoy.


Lilian Bach

Where do we categorize you:  Nigerian or foreigner?

I’m partly Nigerian and partly polish. My dad was from Poland, while my mother hails from Isala-Eko in central Lagos. I started off as a model before I veered into acting. I have been in the movie industry since 1997. But I actually started modelling in 1989. I’m not married at the moment.

How did you become the Face of Delta Soap?

I became the Face of Delta in 2000, and I reigned for two years before another Delta Face took over from me.
Is that what brought you to limelight?

Not really because that was just a modelling job. I believe I have always been in the limelight. It’s just that modelling didn’t give me much publicity when I started out. But like I said, I got into the acting profession in 1997 and then, I guess, I didn’t have enough experience.

The first two jobs I did were not rewarding at all, as one of the producers absconded with my fee. The  second job was not encouraging to me, resulting in my taking a break for sometime. When I came back, I did movies like, ‘Married to a Witch’, ‘From Grace to Grass’. And these movies, I would say, brought me into limelight in the acting profession.

Have you ever taken part in any beauty pageant?


Lilian Bach

Yes, in the early days of my modelling career. I used to be involved in pageant and fashion shows.

Did you ever win?

No, I never won any pageant show. But I guess I was too slim then as a model.

You appear to be a shy person. Are you shy when you want to face the camera?

I’m like the late king of pop music, Michael Jackson. Michael was a very shy person but when it came to his work, he was no longer the shy guy we used to know.  Outside acting, I’m a very shy person. When I’m working or acting, I try as much as possible to do away with shyness to enable me to interpret my role brilliantly, otherwise I would not be seen as a good actress.

How did you find yourself in the acting profession?

I accompanied a friend of mine to an audition, and on getting there, there was nobody to read the scripts with him.

The director there and then requested that he asked the lady that came with him to fill the gap. I later joined him, and after reading the scripts, the director remarked that I read very well and that I could make a good actress. That was how I got my first acting role. And after that first role, more roles followed suit.

How’s your father?

My father is late now.

What’s your relationship with his family in Poland?

I don’t know much about my dad’s family. But first of all, they don’t speak English. They speak Polish and if there’s need for me to communicate with them, I usually engage an interpreter who understands and speaks Polish. I don’t speak nor understand the language. But I speak Yoruba fluently.

Are you in touch with them?

Yes, I’m in touch with them, and in fact, I will be visiting them in the next two weeks.

Where did you grow up- here in Nigeria or in Poland?

I grew up here in Nigeria. I had my nursery, primary and secondary education in Nigeria. I was formerly a student of Theatre Arts at the University of Lagos before I took a break to attend to some pressing needs. I have my other siblings that I’m responsible to. That’s why I decided to take a break to attend to their education needs first and foremost.

When I’m ready to continue with my education, I’ll just take off from where I stopped.

When my father was alive, he was always on transfer from one state to another. We have lived virtually in all the major cities of the country- Port-Harcourt, Ibadan, Abeokuta…. In the process, I kept changing from one school to another school.

I was at the Army Children’s School, Port-Harcourt, one of the local government primary schools in Lagos. I attended Idaraba Secondary School, Mushin.


Lilian-Bach

There’s this concern about acting nude in Nollywood. If you have the opportunity, would you scribe to it, and for what price?

I can’t act nude. I don’t think I have the moral upbringing to act nude. I’m a Christian and I  respect my body as the temple of God. I don’t think Nigeria is that kind of society that accommodate nudity acting.  And I don’t think we have to go nude to pass a message across to the movie bluffs. I can’t do it for any price. I worship in a Pentecostal Church.

How was it growing up?

It was very interesting. I was very close to my dad. And I learnt a lot of things from him. That’s why I found myself doing a whole of things; drawing and designing things. My dad was a Mechanical engineer by training, but he could do a whole lot of things for himself. Somehow, because I was very close to him, I found myself doing a lot of things too. I can draw, design and so on.

At what age did you lose your father?

I lost my father at the age of 10.

You said, you attended Idaraba Secondary School, what was it like growing up in Mushin better known as the haven of urchins ?

Let me say this, when I lost my father, my mother was a full time house wife. My dad did not allow her to engage in any meaningful activity to support the family. He didn’t want a situation where nobody would take care of his children when she’s away to business.

So, when he died things became very difficult for the family. We had to adjust to face the reality of situation we found ourselves.

Even before kicked the bucket, we have already exhausted all the monies he had  saved to find a medical solution to his ailment. Unfortunately, he did not survive it. But then, a whole lot of money he saved for upkeep went down the drain.

That was where I found myself. But the local schools are also good. Initially, it was not easy for me to adjust to the reality of the situation I found myself. But then, it dawned on me that it was not a joke. Today, I thank God for the experiences I acquired while attending public schools.

It really helped me to cope with my new condition. It wasn’t easy, especially facing harassment when I would be returning from school by some street urchins in Mushin. Yes, I coped with the new situation I found myself.  I guess I’m a fighter and I’m still fighting till date.

What killed your father?

He died of stroke.

Since your father died, have you ever made any effort to contact his family in Poland?

Initially, we didn’t know them and they didn’t even know us too. My father was actually living in Holland. He only came to Nigeria where he met my mother and married her. We have never visited Poland, while my father lived. So, when he was sick, we did not know that he was going to survive it. We had to fly him back to Poland where he later died of stroke.


Lilian Bach

All this while, we couldn’t communicate with his family, because none of us could speak Polish. But despite the language barrier, I went all out to locate them and re-establish a fresh contact with the family.

How did you locate them?

I located my half brother first and foremost through the help of the Red Cross on the internet. My father married a Polish woman who had two children for him. They are all late now. But I located my half brother before he died few years ago. That was how I got to meet with his relations in Poland.

We will like to know your mother’s maiden names?

My mother’s maiden name are Mrs. Lati Kazeem before she became Mrs. Lati Bach.

What’s your impression  with the way Nigerian movies celebrate ritualism, prostitution and blood?
You will be disappointed to hear that I don’t really watch much of our local movies because each time I watch the movies.

I feel discouraged.  I guess, you have a point here. I have heard about this kind of complain before now concerning how Nollywood movies display guns indiscriminately, blood and prostitution. Way back, I’m aware that the Censors’ board embarked on a campaign to discourage the use of guns, blood and violence in our movies. I can’t remember the last time I watched our local movies. I’m really pissed off given what has been happening in the industry at the moment.

We are not doing our movies the way our Hollywood counterparts are doing their own. I don’t think anything good can come out of our movies that takes less than a month to be shot. I’m not in support of such unprofessional way of carrying guns and celebrating ritualism.

I don’t know what the producers are trying to portray  but I know also that it’s not part of the culture here. We are not involved in gun carrying, gangsterism and so on. We should not engage ourselves in anything that will have  negative effects on the society.

It’s surprising to hear that you don’t watch the movies you are part in the making?

Yes, I am, but this is the only way I think I can make a change. I now own a production outfit. I think, I can instigate a change in the industry through producing my own movies that would be of standard, devoid of any shortcomings and which I’m about to start very soon. My production outfit has just finished  recording an epic soap opera, which we started  since last year.

We have also finished editing the production. This is because I don’t want to come out with any substandard production. This is how I think movies, soaps should be done in the industry. One should take his or her time to do a good job that would not be marred with irregularities. Production has various arms and if all these arms are not in harmony, the movie is bound to have lapses.

This is not good for the industry. That’s why it has taken my own production outfit over one year to produce a soap opera.


I’m sure that when the soap finally hits the screen, the different will not be clear. It takes our  Hollywood counterparts two to three years to produce their own movies. That’s how I know I can make an impact in the industry.

How much are you worth in Nollywood?

To be honest with you, we are not making any money in the industry. We are only in this profession just for the love of it, hoping that actors/actresses will one day do a job and live on the  fee earned from that job for the rest of the year.

But for now, acting puts food on our table and pay some of our bills.

And the leadership crisis rocking the Actors Guild of Nigeria?

I must say it’s very unfortunate. But I’m kind of sitting on the fence. I don’t support any of the factions because I’m not really happy with what has been going within the leadership of the guild. There’s so much disunity in the industry and I don’t think this should be happening at this point in time. I have been careful not to be drawn into the controversy.

With all these crises,  we cannot have a better Nollywood tomorrow. A house divided against itself cannot stand.

Sexual harassment in Nollywood. Have you ever experienced it before, and what’s  your love life like?

I’ve never experienced sexual harassment in Nollywood. It has to do with the way you present yourself. I have never been desperate to getting any acting kind of role in movies. And  I think it’s when an actress is desperate to getting a role that she falls victim to sexual harassment. I have never experienced it.

Rather, I’ve just been hearing about it. It has never happened to me. But like I said earlier, it’s desperation that brings about this indecent proposal to actresses.

Love life!

I’m in a relationship and I am happy. I’m not going to say more than that.


Bach,  I’m a realist

How much of Poland is left in you?  Is it a personal decision not to get married?

I have a Polish woman’s mentality. I’m not  married, not because I have not been having marriage proposals. I have to look before I leap. It’s not easy for me, having advances from (left, right and centre) different angles. If I don’t get it right…. I don’t want to have this record of divorce in marriage. I said to myself, ‘If I gonna go into it,  only once, till rapture comes’.

Let me put it that way. It’s not as if I have not had some bitter experiences along the line, But I thank God that it’s easy to break up a relationship, but not in marriage. I thank God for those past experiences, because if I have been married today, I wouldn’t know what would have come out of it.

How many men have you disappointed, and how many of them have disappointed you?

May be, I will see myself as a bad girl because I have actually disappointed a lot of men. But I believe these men I disappointed were not good men.

It’s not in my character to disappoint people especially the opposite sex. And again, it’s better for me to end a bad relationship rather than hanging on to it and regretting thereafter, or ending up in marriage and recording a broken home.  I guess, these are “bad men” that are not meant to come on board. If I disappoint them, I have no regrets whatsoever.

What of the men that disappointed you?

I think, I have never been disappointed before. I’m a realist and I like to face the reality on ground. I see the signs early enough and I cut it short. I don’t allow myself for me to be disappointed.

What was it in your childhood that prepared you for what you are doing?

While growing up, I have always liked the showbiz industry. I actually thought I was going to become a singer first before becoming an actress.

As a child, I used to sing a lot and I watched a lot of detective movies. But because I’m a very shy person I could not get into it so well when my modelling colleagues like Kate Henshaw, Euchaira Anonubi and many others were veering into the world of make-believe. I never seen myself as somebody that could act.

You play a lot of bad girl role. What is the difference in make-believe and reality?

I guess, I’m a good girl. I don’t having any dealing with evil people and anything to do to expose the bad people, I’m ready to do it with a passion, through acting.

She does favour Alicia keys in the second pic. She is a stunning woman but I only liked her stint on super story.

I also read this on vanguard. "Lilian thinks she is more Polish than Nigerian and she is too white to be contradicted. But she does not understand a word in Polish but speaks yoruba even more than some average yorubas".

I also read this on vanguard. "Lilian thinks she is more Polish than Nigerian and she is too white to be contradicted. But she does not understand a word in Polish but speaks yoruba even more than some average yorubas".

iya poland ese ati mo e dada  omo poland ni yin abi it explains the stupid interview, stay single all your life (polish kolo mentality) shes from POLAND not isale eko

ode gal is she d first half nigerian or what? she thinks shes more polish but no understand the language and speaks yoruba. Dis is the first time I ever heard someone say something like dat.

On behalf of lagosians, half Nigerians, half yorubas, isale eko indignes I reject "Lilian bola Bach" ode gal.

your nigerianess yorubaness lagosianess needs to be revoked immediately

She's very beautiful and stunning no doubt but she's a terrible actress. She's into some other stuff now but I heard from a friend who is working with her on her current project that she has featured in some movies scheduled to be released soon.

That skirt is not flattering at all. I like her though.

sjeezy8:

iya poland ese ati mo e dada omo poland ni yin abi it explains the stupid interview, stay single all your life (polish kolo mentality) shes from POLAND not isale eko

ode gal is she d first half nigerian or what? she thinks shes more polish but no understand the language and speaks yoruba. Dis is the first time I ever heard someone say something like dat.

On behalf of lagosians, half Nigerians, half yorubas, isale eko indignes I reject "Lilian bola Bach" ode gal.

your nigerianess yorubaness lagosianess needs to be revoked immediately

See this one. In Africa, is it not the father's side the kids take on?

she's always said she's half Polish, with a Nigerian mother.

however, she's as Polish-Nigerian as they come. She's still naija though.

interesting interview.

Na today?

Is that surprising?
Doesn't she look mixed race?

@ topic
WHO CARES!!
Lillian Bach has always been a TERRIBLE actress. if i had a list of about 10 she would probably rank number 3 on the worst actress list.
let her carry go!

THE-AMAKA:

@ topic
WHO CARES!!
Lillian Bach has always been a TERRIBLE actress. if i had a list of about 10 she would probably rank number 3 on the worst actress list.
let her carry go!

You're mean ooo.

stillwater:

That skirt is not flattering at all. I like her though.

See this one. In Africa, is it not the father's side the kids take on?

lets see hmmm NO if the children arent close to the fathers side.

She's very beautiful and a very lousy actress. Mixed races are usually very beautiful, if i see one i go marry am ( but not her), For whatever reason she doesnt want to marry, na her quanta

Scared of marriage but not scared of doing the things married people do abi? . Ok

those pics are horrible too.
look at the second one! lol

Danapache:

I have a Polish woman’s mentality. I’m not  married, not because I have not been having marriage proposals. I have to look before I leap. It’s not easy for me, having advances from (left, right and centre) different angles

lol at comment.

wonder if she'll end up marrying a biracial Nigerian like herself.

tpia.:

wonder if she'll end up marrying a biracial Nigerian like herself.

I don't think she would
all these biracial Nigerians end up marrying the ugly Nigerian men, lol.

tpia.:

wonder if she'll end up marrying a biracial Nigerian like herself.

wow!! what a comment.

honestly, lillian is soo full of herself. what a stupid interview.
if this had been hollywood now her publisist or manager or whoever would have coached this girl very well. who says crap like this?
she would have been ridiculed in the media by now.
but she isnt that good in her work so i dont understand the "nollywood star" lolol its a bit far fetched.
ive watched at least 10 of her movies over the years and i didnt like any of them. the only thing is that she has a nice face, but she was SOOO ANNOYING. 3rd worst nollywood actress by far.
the only one i liked (kinda) was "High Street Girls" cause she was playing a prostitute. other than that, this girl has given nothing to nollywood.

THE-AMAKA:

wow!! what a comment. 

honestly, lillian is soo full of herself. what a stupid interview.
if this had been hollywood now her publisist or manager or whoever would have coached this girl very well. who says crap like this?
she would have been ridiculed in the media by now.
but she isnt that good in her work so i dont understand the "nollywood star" lolol its a bit far fetched.
ive watched at least 10 of her movies over the years and i didnt like any of them. the only thing is that she has a nice face, but she was SOOO ANNOYING. 3rd worst nollywood actress by far.
the only one i liked (kinda) was "High Street Girls" cause she was playing a prostitute. other than that, this girl has given nothing to nollywood.

There's nothing left for me to say.
Everything has been said by one who lacks not in wisdom.

^^^^ hahaha yep!!

hmmmm face of Delta Soap? lolol
_{my uncles in nigeria would keep the calander every year for the different faces of delta soap. lolol good old times.
but anyway. . .}

Still using bleaching creams, lighter skinned people in advertising and billboards, and bucket loads of make-up on the faces of Nigerian women

hmmmmm ive noticed this too. saw this comment in a thread in the culture section. i think i know why she got that job, it wasnt cause she was beautiful, it was cause of her complextion. _{and i hate to flog this topic again but} i pretty much think thats why she kept booking jobs in nollywood cause she cant act and she cant even speak properly. she had nothing going for her.
im so annoyed, ill come back if i have more to say. lolol 

this lilian chick is a clown just like alot of mixed naija babes esp from western europeans(british, irish, and co) they make some not so hot mixed chicks

her skin is SOOO pale but she lives in Naija like wtf?
her teeth
her hair

no need to abuse her for her pale skin and whatnot oh, just because she's mixed.

There are plenty of unmixed Nigerians who carry their own pale skin and bad acting on their heads and dont allow others to rest because of it, yet I dont hear a peep on that account.

Anyway, I'm yet to see her movies but she's very pretty. Whatever other fault she has is unknown to me.

She may marry a mixed person like herself if she's not rushed by the trophy hunters. The ones wey dey find trophy. The biracial males might be marrying white ladies however. I did see a wedding pix of two biracial Nigerians though.

In any case, she said she's a proper Mushin girl and she used to fight those Mushin boys harassing her on her way home from school. Where were all of you at the time, to protect her from harassment.

tpia.:

no need to abuse her for her pale skin and whatnot oh, just because she's mixed.

There are plenty of Nigerians who carry their own pale skin and bad acting on their heads and dont allow others to rest because of it, yet I dont hear a peep on that account.

what are you talking about? no one (that i can recall) in nollywood has as pale skin as her and bad acting.
OH WAIT, nevermind. Sophia Tchidi Chikere is almost as bad as her, if not worse.
well Sophia is better, cause at least i laugh at her on the screen, cause of her bad acting. lolol
i dont believe anyone is abusing her, we just dont see why she is so full of herself and she has nothing. lolol

She’s tall, beautiful; her skin glows even in the dark. And she’s got the kind of figure every man would die for.  A former model, beauty queen and now a successful Nollywood actress, she commands attention everywhere she goes. Little wonder she was easily chosen to be the face of a popular toilet soap.

Welcome to the world of half Polish and half Nigerian born Lilian Bach. In this never before read interview she granted the Saturday Vanguard at our weekly Editorial Board meeting last Monday, she opens up on her past, her fears for Nollywod and more.
It is captured irresistibly for your weekend delight. Enjoy.

this was written by[b] the interviewer[/b], not Lilian herself.

He was obviously smitten by her pale skin, same way a lot of Naija males can jump through hoops when they see fair skin.


anyway, I dont know the lady, she's just fine from her photos, thats all.

jk?  

thats exactly what im saying. only in naija is she a "dime piece"

tpia.:

this was written by[b] the interviewer[/b], not Lilian herself.

He was obviously smitten by her pale skin, same way a lot of Naija males can jump through hoops when they see fair skin.


anyway, I dont know the lady, she's just fine from her photos, thats all.

yeah i know that.
but really? with those photos? lol i would look the other way or watch a cat lick itself.

THE-AMAKA:

jk? 
thats exactly what im saying. only in naija is she a "dime piece"

of course i would lol

tpia.:

this was written by[b] the interviewer[/b], not Lilian herself.

He was obviously smitten by her pale skin, same way a lot of Naija males can jump through hoops when they see fair skin.
anyway, I dont know the lady, she's just fine from her photos, thats all.

If it was me that interviewed her "biracialness" wouldnt even be a topic, naija people and being mixed

^^ well, she[b] is [/b] mixed