On cold, lonely nights, I cuddle my teddy bear –Oge Okoye
By SAMUEL OLATUNJI
Sunday, March 16, 2008

•Oge Okoye Photo: Sun News Publishing

Showpiece Index

Some people are made for certain professions. Like a round peg, Oge Okoye is definitely made for Nollywood. Remarkably, she is one of the very few without scandal, but that does not shield her from male admirers. SAMUEL OLATUNJI met the mother of one last week at ‘Do-it-all Club’. They had a chat, during which she revealed it all. No, don’t get it wrong; she only opened up on her career, romance and motherhood.

Oge started her acting career in 2001, featuring in Caesar to Caesar. Since then she has featured in countless number of movies including Spanner, Sister Mary, etc.

The only child of her parents, the Anambra State born Theatre Arts graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa, got married to her hubby early 2006. The lucky guy is based in far away Holland. But that does not delimit anything.
Your ideas might run wild, but the Nollywood star is pleased with his performance – all round – bedmatics inclusive. A vote of confidence, you’d say.

Motherhood
Motherhood has been a bit of fun and interesting although it is challenging in a way. It’s been fun for me. I am now more fulfilled as a mother.

What is your plan this year?
I shall be doing more acting and I am planning an NGO.

How is the baby?
He is doing very well, he is one year and some months and he has started school.

How many movies have you done this year?
I just finished one and will be starting another one on Monday. I started getting jobs as soon as I came back. I wasn’t out of the scene for a long time.

Childbirth in London
It is one privilege everybody does not have. I was born there and I thought it would be nice to give my baby that privilege as well.

Why acting?
I have always wanted to act and as a small girl I dreamt of being a super star actress. I’ve always wanted to act, that was why I had to go and study it in school. This is my dream and I’m happy with what I’m doing.

How easy was it for you to get back to acting after childbirth?
I wasn’t off the scene for a long time. As soon as I got back I started getting called to locations; I’m sure the producers would have missed me while I was away.

How has it been with your husband?
My husband has been a very supportive person, very loving and kind. He is everything I could think of. He is all in one.

Is that true that your husband is married to a white lady over there?
That is not true, it is a blatant lie. I don’t know why somebody would just cook up that kind of story.

So he was single when you met him.
Yes, of course. I am his one and only legitimate wife. He is married to only me.

But people say he has been married before.
I am telling you as a person who should know that, it is not true. I have no reason to lie to you. I’m confident there is no reason to be shaky. I saw it first on the Internet. I really don’t know where it came from, but I know it is a lie.

Aren’t you scared that leaving your husband in Holland could be tempting for him?
My husband is here most of the time because of the nature of his business. Aside, I know him very well as a man who does not chase women. He also knows me; otherwise he won’t leave me here too. We trust each other very well.

Do you guys live together anytime he’s around in Nigeria?
You are funny! Where else do you expect me to live? We live together in the same house.
Is it true that you’ve kept your distance from your single friends now that you are married?
If you are my friend you will always be my friend. My friends are still my friends. I can’t do that. I don’t agree with that.

How come you don’t have many friends?
I am a private person.

Is that why you did not have much scandal associated with you before marriage?
May be, I keep to myself most of the time. My privacy is important to me. So I don’t know why anybody would say I abandoned my friends because of marriage.

Why didn’t you have many boyfriends before your husband?
I am not going to answer that.

How has it been as a married woman?
It’s fun and enjoyable but I must add that it is very challenging. Before, you only had to think about yourself and your career but now you have a husband and baby to think about. You see, it is a whole lot of responsibility on a woman, because she makes her home. It is like a big work but I’m getting used to it.

To what extent would you go to save your home?
I’ll go to any extent to save my home because I am happy in there.

Will you forgive your husband if you catch him with another woman?
Of course, I’ll forgive him but I know that I will not catch him with another woman; he is not someone like that.

What makes you so sure?
I know him very well.

What do you do on nights you need a man to cuddle you?
Sex is not everything. On such nights I hold my teddy bear and bible. I also pray.

Do you say a prayer like ‘Lead me not into temptation…’?
No, no way! I just pray normal prayer. God forbid that I’ll be tempted to go after another man. No way! What I’m I looking for?
Something better could be out there, you never can tell.
What I have is more than enough for me. I am not looking for something better anywhere.

Are you saying you have satisfaction in everyway?
Oh yes! I am satisfied in everyway.

What about in bed?
Yes, I am ok with him on bed. And what is your business with that? It is my private life. Mind your business!

The tattoo on your boobs is a distraction to guys, isn’t it?
If you must know I have it on four different parts of my body.

Why on your boobs?
I just have it for the fun of it. I love tattoo.

You used to say the movie; ‘Sister Mary’ is your favourite, why is that?
It was the first movie I played lead role, the marketer believes in me. I thank him a lot for that.

What does your husband do?
He deals in cars and goods.

Could that be why you drive posh cars all the time?
Na you sabi!