It was great playing younger version of Bianca Ojukwu

By Agatha Emeadi

Grace Okonkwo acted as a young version of Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu. The story of Bianca Ojukwu is a historical play. In this interview, she spoke about her life as an artist.

When did you start acting? Is Bianca your first movie?

I do not particularly know when I started acting. I have always been a dramatic kid; that is the reason I said I do not know a particular time that I started acting. I would make up scenarios and characters in my head and just play. It was only natural that this was going to be the outcome. Bianca was not my first play, movie or stage play. My first movie was ‘Other Side of History’, and interestingly, it is also a story about Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (Ikemba Nnewi) before he met Bianca. This Bianca story is so beautiful because I am a girl from Enugu State. I am from Bianca’s State. I grew up hearing her story from my mother, loving her, and watching her. So having to play her character was such a great opportunity to happen to me. I just really think that the show Bianca will be featured in Enugu so that young girls can also see this other beautiful side of her.

What attracted you to acting?

Well, I wanted to do a lot of things. I have a cousin who is a newscaster. I looked up to her. I tried to study Mass Communication, but could not meet the cut-off mark in my JAMB; instead, I opted for theatre and film. So, I studied theatre and film at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I won the award for the Face of Faculty of Arts (FASA) in my first year. In my third year, I was the best supporting actress in the whole department. Then, in my final year, I won the best actress in the whole department.

I do stage plays. I have done a couple of short films. There is another short film called ‘That Guy’ that came out on Valentine’s Day. It was privately screened at Ozone Cinema in Yaba. I would not say it is a film, but rather a series.

How did you overcome stage fright?

One’s first time on stage used to be nerve-racking, anxiety, worrying to see the right thing, do the right thing and not forget your line, right movement and gestures. Everyone gets that worry at first. So, studying theatre is best for that because if you do not get it right, you will fail. So you forget about your worries and focus on getting the job done.

How did you rise to stardom?

I doubt if I have risen to stardom, but there are some moments in my life when I feel like I have hit milestones that I knew of. In my second year in school, during one Easter break, one of my lecturers recommended me for a solo performance, and I performed at Abuja at the M&M event centre beside the Nicon Luxury Hotel and appeared in a national newspaper. My father bought that newspaper, which he kept beside his bed for the longest time. He was really proud. Seeing how proud my family was seeing what I do means a whole lot to me. So another pivotal moment in my career was the ‘Other Side of History’, which premiered at the University of Oxford in London. DJ Cuppy was among the invitees, and so the fact that people have seen me and my work gives me a sense of pride. It means I am doing something right. That is how I may define my own stardom for now.

Most parents prefer Law, Medicine, Engineering and so forth for their children. How did they feel about your love for acting?

My parents are not really into one’s life choices. They are rather supportive of whatever one chooses to do. My mother was sceptical because of the stories of how the industry is. But seeing how mature I have grown to handle things, doing what I do gives them hope and trust. They realised that the path that I have chosen might not be as bad as was projected.

What opportunities has being an entertainer brought to you?

Some of the opportunities include getting me into the backstages of shows for free. I have gotten cash gifts from the audience who watched my work. Again, the kind words like ‘I felt your presence on stage; you are good at what you do; I loved your performance’ are quite encouraging.

How does society threaten you as an entertainer?

I would not really say there is any special or bad treatment of me as an entertainer. Sometimes you get compliments, like during the play ‘Bianca’, Timi Dakolo came up to me and said, ‘Actors try a lot because they could not memorise lines and come out on stage and deliver it that way. That was a great compliment for me. In the same way, I think he is so talented with his music, voice and tone. I could not pull that off the same way he could not pull mine. I think people look at one in awe, thinking of how all these are done. That is a great feeling.

How was growing up?

I have two sisters and a brother. My parents are alive. We are privileged to have parents who sent us to school through to the university and support us in all areas. My siblings are my best friends. It was really fun growing up in our household.

What advice would you give to upcoming actors who want to be like you?

I will say, do not be like me; instead, be yourself. Keep pushing, keep going, even when it seems tough.