By Agatha Emeadi
Award-winning Nollywood actress and star, Ini Edo, recently recorded a new mileage in her acting career with her ‘Shanty Town’ movie for Netflix.
It could be recalled that the 42-year-old and mother of one has been a strong advocate for women’s inclusion in politics, technology and human development. 
With her recent film, she has joined the league of top influential Nigerian and African women in the film industry.
She spoke to Sunday Sun on the real reasons she produced Shanty Town, her rise to stardom, family, gains and losses of being a celebrity, among others.
What is the message of your latest movie, ‘Shanty Town?’
The message with my latest movie ‘Shanty Town’ is shining light on the ills of our society. Spotlighting on most of the ills that happen in our communities that most people are not aware of. There are times we see women and men doing things that we do not know the back stories, sometimes people have been coerced, blackmailed or so many reasons people find themselves in uncomfortable situations like child labour, human trafficking, organ harvesting etc; these are actually businesses that people are profiting from in our society. Human beings are being made to be money-makers for certain people in our society and the essence is to throw light and create awareness and tell that we are aware that such things happen, it is almost like a cry for help.
How long did it take to come into fruition?
It took us about three months in production; though pre-production took us over a year to put things in places. I would say generally it took us to two years to bring Shanty Town into fruition.
How did you get interested in your career?
Well, I would say everything has been faith. Right from the first day I got into acting, my first set of projects I did, the accolades and applauds, I felt I was born to do this. The acceptance, the way people received me as a new talent sort of opened my eyes to the fact that this might be what God just want me to do. The next thing I did was to take it to God in prayers and ask if this is what you want me to do, give me signals that I am at the right place; as I kept doing the job, I discovered I fell more in love with the career; it becomes something that come to me naturally and the feeling was I was born to do this.
How did you rise to stardom?
For my rise to stardom, I think everything happens when they give us parts. One part that brought me to limelight was Dee project that brought me to limelight and since then it has been project after project and I sort of literarily bury myself into work and the films keep coming because when you do jobs that are successful and people accept you as an artiste, the fame keeps growing.
What opportunities have fame given to you?
The opportunities that fame has given to me remain the fact that I eat on tables with the kings, queens and dignitaries and all of that. I have had major international doors opened to me, I have had the rare opportunity of sitting with the biggest film makers around the world. I have had opportunities of sitting with presidents of countries, had opportunities to touch lives and connect with people from different backgrounds. I love the fact that it has also given me opportunities to see the world for what it is. Then when we talk about challenges, we first of all talk about the fact that you no longer own your life, your privacy, your consent in the public light which means everything you do will be scrutinized, hence you are not able to live your life the way you would want to live it. Fame has its ups and downs. For me, I would say majorly that fact that I am just too popular, perhaps I am not able to do the things I love to do or go to places that I love to visit. I love to go to the local markets a lot. These are things you cannot do because of who I have become; so even with the high side, these are also the down side of it, but in overall, the positive will always overshadow the negative.
What has been your parents’ feeling now that you made it, because parents then wanted doctors, lawyers, engineers and not entertainers?
Obviously, my parents wanted me to be a lawyer and I wanted to be a lawyer myself and they believed a lot to make I stayed under course, but life has its own purpose at the end of the day. They were very liberal minded enough and encouraged me in my chosen career as long as I am being decent and modest about the things that I do. Both have really encouraged me throughout my journey; they have visited me during my film premieres and come for my events, always there to cheer me up. Yes, it might have been a little tough in the beginning, not because of the career, but acting has me travel a lot out of town and my parents didn’t understand why I should be made to travel unaccompanied at that age, because I was pretty young as well. They thought it was taking me away from within their control, but other than that, when they realized I could take care and control myself, and I was good by myself, they all threw their support behind me and resorted to advice, prayers and calls to make sure I am fine.
How is the society treating you, what experience do you have to share?
Well, the society has accepted me long time ago. I also think I have come to a place where I don’t feel the need to fit into any place in the society. I fell I have come of age, I know what is right and wrong, what it is to be a responsible citizen, just myself, my own person existing in a world with other people, making it work for my myself, how I can grow, be a better person and by extension to the society at large.
Talk about your family and siblings?
My family and siblings, we have a closeknit family trying to do what is best for ourselves. We are not such a big family and have come together a lot as an immediate family who share family values. At the end of the day, one realizes that family is everything and we keep it really close.
What advice do you have for upcoming entertainers?
I always advise the young people, as far as your passion is right to be in this career for the right reasons, so long as you want to be in the industry for the right reasons and not just for what the career can help you achieve, then you would be able to withstand any kind of storm that you would find along the way. Then I would suggest you work on your brand as an actor, craft, keep improving in yourself, try to see where you fit in, if you are given an opportunity, humble yourself and put your best foot forward, have role models that you can learn your acts from, who can inspire you to be a better artiste. When the opportunity comes, try to make the best presentation of yourself.