Nollywood actress, Christabel Egbenya, is keen on keeping her love life and marriage private and off the public eye.
Recalling her embarrassing labour room experience, the Edo State-born movie star seems scared of having many kids.
In this chat, she spoke on several issues, including career, motherhood, polygamy, and cheating partners. Please enjoy it.
What has changed about you since you had your baby?
A whole lot has changed since I had my baby. A lot of things changed about me, about life, the way I reason, and the way I see things generally. Now, I know what motherhood is all about.
What lessons has motherhood taught you?
Bringing another soul to life is something else. It has taught me a whole lot of lessons. Ever since I had my baby, my mentality, my reasoning has changed. My world – the ‘baby girl’ life – and everything else changed. You know, you have to give your children time; you have to check up on them, you have to take care of them. Even if you have nannies, you won’t be comfortable. You’d still want to show them that mother’s love even if you have a lot of people taking care of them. That bond is something else; I just don’t know how to explain it.
Can you recall any funny or embarrassing labour room experience?
If you were there (labour room), you won’t believe it’s the same Christabel talking with you now. It was not funny at all. The painful experience is not something I can explain. The only thing I can remember was me shouting ‘God!’. That was the only name I shouted throughout, and when I was asked to push, I said one funny thing, which I don’t want to say now. I was just like, ‘God, I’ll make it, I’ll make it’. Then I pushed twice and my baby came out, but the pain wasn’t funny.
What do you love most about your baby’s daddy?
He is the best man I’ve ever come across in this world. He’s just a lovely, kind soul; humble and gentle, I’m blessed to have him. All the time I waited for the right man, God eventually gave me someone very nice. My mother-in-law and entire family are also nice. I’m at peace and comfortable with him. He’s a good father, my best friend and he respects me so much that he puts me first before everything else.
Are you fulfilled as a mother?
Yes, I feel so fulfilled as a mother. One thing I’ve always wanted in life was to have my own kids because I love children.
How many more kids would you love to have?
I don’t joke with kids. I love children so much. I’ve always prayed to have my kids and now God has blessed me with a bouncing baby girl. I’ve always wanted to have a baby girl first because baby girls will always assist their mothers. My girl will help me to take care of her brothers. By the grace of God, I wish to have two more kids. But my husband wants us to have three more. The experience! Well, by the grace of God, we will.
What kind of movie roles will you reject now because of your status?
I don’t think I’ll reject any role because my husband loves movies so much. Normally, I don’t do bad roles; I do normal roles. We don’t actually do all those kissing, rubbing roles in Nigerian movies any more. So, I’m not rejecting any role, I’ll still be acting. I’ve even started acting. I did a movie recently, but I didn’t let people know that I’ve started working. I want my baby to come up a little so I can start shooting again, because one has to travel around. This is my first child; I have to give her time. I’d be producing my movies too. My husband was actually my fan before we got married.
Why did you keep your marriage and husband’s identity off social media?
Even before I got married, I was not that kind of person that loves to post everything on social media, especially relationships. Again, a lot is happening on social media – relationship breakup, marriage and divorce. I decided to safeguard my own by keeping it off social media. I don’t love drama. Some people even said that I don’t love my husband and that I am not proud of him. He is a very young, cute and handsome man. I love him so much and I am proud of him, but I will not show him off on social media. It’s not my thing. I want to live my life in peace.
What would be your reaction if a friend calls to tell you she saw your husband with his side chic in a hotel?
It seems my friend wants to kill me. No! Don’t tell me, I don’t want to know. Even if you truly saw them, I don’t want to know. If I am the one that caught them together, I will not fight the girl in public. The person I have issues with is my husband. I’ll go home and wait for him to come back; then we’ll sort it out. Why would I chase the girl or my husband when I know we live in the same house? I love my life so much, if anything happens to me, who would take care of my kids? If anything happens to you, the man would mourn you for a while and then move on to the next woman.
How was life coming from a polygamous home?
Before I got married, I told myself that I would not die or kill myself because of a man. I am from a polygamous home, so I know a lot. My mother is the first among other wives. What I am trying to say is that women don’t need to kill themselves over men and relationship matters. If you do, you are doing yourself because men will always be out there enjoying themselves.