20th May, 2011
Mariam Tekurah, born by a Nigerian woman to a Sierra Leonean, is a London-based actress, who recently relocated to Nigeria to try her luck in Nollywood. She spoke with P.M. Entertainment about her career, her love life and other issues
As an actress with maternal root in Nigeria have you visited your village?
No, my grandmother, a Hausa, is dead and my mom won’t want me to start visiting or looking for my village now because I was born in Sierra Leone but travelled to London when I was 10.
What is your mission in Nigeria?
I am here to give my acting career a push in Nollywood.
What attracted you to Nollywood?
Nigerian Nollywood is everywhere in the world, so I got captivated and decided to come to Nigeria for a try.
What have you done in the past?
I have released two films in London, the first one is One Last Wish and the second, Do I Deserve This, both premiered in London.
Did you feature any London-based popular artiste?
Not really, but I used some popular faces in the acting field in London.
Are the films about love?
No, it is about what goes on in our day-to-day African home.
Who among the actors, actresses and producers do you want to work with in Nigeria?
I won’t like to mention names but I love to work with Olu Jacobs, Rita Dominic, Stella Damasus and others, but I love Olu Jacobs.
Why Olu Jacobs?
Because he is superb.
Have you ever had any contact with him?
No, but I will love to meet him because I have watched some of his films and he is always doing it right.
Apart from movies, what other things would you like to do?
I do modelling and cover for magazines, but now I want to concentrate on movies.
Have you worked for any modelling agency in London?
No, but I have done more of commercials for a car company and P. Smorgage in London.
Why are you quitting modelling for acting?
Acting is an age-long ambition.
Did you study Theatre Arts?
I did Drama in London.
Up to degree level?
No, I did acting too.
What will you consider as an advantage in acting?
It depends on the script
Can you play romantic roles?
Oh yes.
Up to bra and pants?
Ah, no, I can’t do that.
Can you play a romantic role with someone you meet on set for the first time?
No, there will be some rehearsals before shooting.
What if you were asked to play such role with someone you don’t like at all?
That is why acting is make believe, if you are on set, you play your role and leave.
If you were asked to kiss him, I mean the person you don’t like?
I will do it and leave.
What kind of role will you like to play with Olu Jacobs?
Like my dad.
What if you were asked to play the role of a small wife of the man?
I will do that.
So you really love him?
No, he is my role model. Although I have not met him in person, I like the way he acts and that is all.
Which movie are you working on for now?
There are lots, but right now, I am still making some consultations before venturing into any movie because aside acting, I am also a script writer and Nigerian film industry is so wide that if care is not taken, one can jump in and out all the same.
Compared to London?
It is a different ball game because in London, I was doing my own and it was paying off, but Nigeria is big and wide.
So you want to take money from Nigeria to London?
No, I am not doing it for money, I just want exposure.
Are you then in Nigeria to act and search for love?
No, I am here because of my career and not to search for any boyfriend.
Do you have one in London?
I am single and not searching.
So you never had a boyfriend, how old are you?
I am in my 20s.
Are you a virgin?
No, I can’t really say that, it is personal.
Have you had a relationship in the past?
That was young love and I did not have the experience of how to handle relationships.
Why did you cut off from him?
No comment.
Then, how do you see Nigerian men?
All men are the same, it only depends on the person. I can’t discriminate.
Have you dated a white guy before?
No.
Do you hate them?
No, at least I worked among them in London. I don’t discriminate.
Why did your former relationship break up?
That is personal.
Can we say lack of experience?
You re right, but I don’t want to talk about relationships for now.
Now that you are in Nigeria, if you meet a guy that you love can you date him?
I am single, but not searching. Now, I want to face my career and focus on what I came for. I don’t want any distractions for now.
How do you see yourself in the next two or three years?
I see myself as one of the big players in Nollywood.
Why are you so confident about yourself?
I am confident and I know what I want.