TONTO DIKE blows hot: "I smoke... act nude so what?"

Tonto Dike speaks on her addictions and controversies

By Obaro Itewo

Itewoobaro@yahoo.com

Controversies, rumours, scathing remarks and brilliant interpretation of movie roles have all come together to constitute what many have termed the hallmark of her career as an actress and despite the odds, pretty Nollywood actress, Tonto Dike doesn’t bat an eyelid.

Over the years, her reputation as one of the industry’s ‘bad girls’ has remained a consistent feature of her sparkling career.

Where others would flinch and recoil in distress of fear, this fair skinned actress has made a habit of taking a long and hard look into the eyes of criticisms, condemnation and other derisive remarks, reports and rumours that relentlessly trail her.

Despite her seemingly dual-faced personality, Dike has remained one of the nation’s brightest acting stars and continues to warm her way into the hearts of fans and admirers across the globe.

However, the Ikwere; Rivers State-born actress has had more than her fair share of controversies woven around her personality, lifestyle and disposition to issues.

In this interview, she spoke extensively on her alleged (yet unending) romance with popular singer, Wizkid, her role in the movie, ‘Dirty Secret’ (produced by a New York-based company) and how she has had to deal with the arrows of castigation and condemnation that have been fired at her.

Her ability and willingness to act nude has seen her at the end of harsh reviews and while many might expect her to adorn the garb of remorse and reconsider her stance, Dike makes it crystal clear that she has her life to live and will never subscribe to allowing anyone dictate to her how she lives it.

Her smoking and drinking habit have also earned her the sobriquet, ‘Smoking Gun’ yet the 25-year-old Petrochemical Engineering student of the University of Port-Harcourt who is due for graduation this year hit back hard at her critics.

Excerpt:

I understand you study Petrochemical Engineering. How did you veer into acting?

There was no point in time that I really sat down and said I wanted to be an actress. Acting just came to me as a big surprise though I believe God has a hand in every stage of my life.

Did you experience any form of resistance from your parents coming into the industry?

Oh Yes. I have a lovable and great father. He is the father and he wants the best for his daughter. I just had to convince him that this was what I wanted to do and make him understand that it wouldn’t affect my education. And so, he let me be as far he was convinced that my education wouldn’t suffer.

Looking at you and the effort you put into interpreting roles. It seems you always had acting at the back of your mind.

Well, I have always wanted to act but it wasn’t like I developed the love from childhood. I have always loved the fact of stepping out, facing the camera, dancing and recording a couple of songs. I used to love all those things then. It was so beautiful but I never thought that it was something that would become a career someday. Moreover, I knew my family would never entertain the fact that I wanted to be a theatre artist by studying Theatre Arts so as I grew older, I understood the fact that I was brought to this world to achieve a purpose, which I have been following all the way.

How do you strike a balance between academic work and the demands of being on location for weeks?

Of course I usually take permission from school. Back then, I was not playing any major role. All the roles I got were sub roles until I got a major role. Today, I could be in Enugu and tomorrow Port-Harcourt. I didn’t know then that I could make a success of acting but I knew that there was going to be much success being a petro-chemical engineer based on the fact that I hail from an oil producing locality where oil exploration takes place. I didn’t even know that acting could pay me well and bring me so much popularity.

How did you feel the first time you shared the stage with big Nollywood stars?

The very first time I was on stage, I didn’t know those stars very much. Everything was new to me. I didn’t want to make a mistake. I probably might have been frightened a little but people like ‘Uncle Larry Koldswealth’ really, really talked to me and they made me believe I could do it. All these people were stars and the way you see them on TV could affect the way you work with them yet they made realize that this was not the time to just be with the stars. Rather, it was a time to prove myself.

How did you receive the news of Sam Loco Efe’s death?

It’s really very sad we lost him. He was a very kind man. He was one of the most experienced and versatile actors. We will miss him even though most of us are not related to him. We pray God grants his soul external rest. I pray for his family and pray for God to give them the strength to bear the loss.

You have so much rumour trailing you. One of such was the rumour that you and wizkid are an item.

(Laughs) The thing is that my personality is really confusing to people. I am highly lovable and loving as well. I am very human. I don’t know where the rumour comes from but anybody that has been able to touch me in whatever way deserves my love. For one to even ‘tweet’ me, ‘the most beautiful girl,’ I had to reply and called him beautiful names based on the fact that ‘tweeted.’ It was a line of appreciation and that muct have been where the rumour came from.

Do you think a relationship could be possible; perhaps in the future?

That is not important. I think we should talk about other things.

How true is the rumour that you are a heavy smoker and can’t do without cigarette?

We are just so shallow minded. How does that come into the way I act? Excuse me (voice raised). That is my personal life. If I want to smoke, I handle a stick of cigarette and I smoke it hard. It is my life I can decide to smoke myself to hell. It’s nobody’s business.

Yeah! Just like you were smoking before this interview started?

It’s left for me to think about it. It’s left for me to continue. How has smoking affected my acting job? It’s nobody business and it doesn’t affect what you see on TV.

Many said your smoking habit has made you become asthmatic.

(Laughs out loudly) I think my health problems have nothing to do with my job. If I have a health problem then I have a health problem. It’s not something that is meant for the public or the world.

How true is it also that you are into lesbianism?

Aha! There is nothing that is surprising to me anymore. I don’t live my life based on what people say about me.

Are you into any relationship at the moment?

I am not. I am just waiting on the best man to come in. I am just having fun and waiting for God to direct me at the moment.

It’s hard to believe you are not in any relationship?

I am not in any relationship and that is all I can say.

Is there really any different between Tonto Dike the actress and the real you?

Absolutely the actress is someone with different characters depending on the roles but Tonto Dike in person is a homely, lovely and accommodating girl. It’s just that most people judge actresses by the roles they play.

Why is it that most actresses find it difficult settling down with a good guy?

I have never been married and I don’t know how they do it.

Can you describe your ideal man?

I just need a man who loves me, loves God and can listen to me.

Can you tell me about your family?

I have five siblings.

How about your parents?

My father is alive and healthy but my mum is no more but I have a beautiful step mum.

Sorry about your mum. How old were you when she died?

I didn’t even know her. I was still young then. I was about three years old.

I believe you have heard about your friend Mercy Johnson whose marriage plans is hanging as a result of a woman that surfaced from Canada and is reportedly married to Mercy husband-to-be with two kids?

Well I heard about it but I think people take so much advantage of the fact that we have papers that are ready to carry all these stories. I just think it’s stupid. It’s really silly for the woman to come out at this time. Even if she wants to claim her husband, she’s not doing it the right way. Who the hell are you to go to the press?

Blames have been heaped on Mercy for failing to find out who her man really is.

(Cuts-in) I don’t care whether she did or not. Nobody knows was transpired between him and the woman that is why nobody will ever know what is happening but if Mercy loves him and she still wants to go ahead with the marriage, she can. That is it.

Has anything bad been written about you that ever made you cry?

Yes, there was a story about me four years ago. I can’t even remember it. It brought me down and I wept like a baby but I have gotten over it and moved on.

You acted in the movie, ‘Dirty Secret,’ alongside Muna Obiekwe and Jibola Dabo. The movie has generated so much criticism. How have you taken it?

I felt it but I felt it in a very positive way. It really helped my career. It helped me with my job and my personality as a woman. The movie has been highly talked about and it even got me more popularity. It was really crazy to be part of it. I got paid to interpret a role as an actress and I did it perfectly well. I don’t give a f**k about what any body is saying out there.

Some critics felt your semi nude role in the movie was totally African?

I don’t know what the Africa role is. I don’t know about being an African or not. I am a human being and an actress. That is all I know. Being an African is not part of my job.

These days, most actor and actresses have also veered into movie production. Any plan to tow that line someday?

Definitely! When the time comes, I will. As an actress, it is possible to produce my own movie someday to generate more money.