Linda Ejiofor is ‘Bimpe’ in MNET’s TV series Tinsel. Her emergence in the movie industry with Rita Dominic’s first movie ‘The Meeting’ earned her positive reviews, awards and opened doors to many more movie productions. The Imo State-born actress, in this interview with NEWTON-RAY UKWUOMA, speaks about the journey so far.
IT has been eight years in MNET’s Tinsel, why do you think Bimpe has stayed this long?
I think everyone loves Bimpe. People can easily relate with the character. You can always find a friend, a sister in Bimpe. I am the darling of ‘Tinsel’. Who would want to take away the sweetheart of ‘Tinsel’? It wouldn’t be fun anymore.
Was there a time you struggled with the character?
Yes. That was in the beginning — between Season 1 and 2. I was complaining that Bimpe was boring and awkward. The writer in Season 3 was like, “You think you are boring, right?” And so he started loading me with a lot of fun. I started doing naughty things, some mischievous, some wicked, some fun things. That was when I started enjoying my character.
After eight years, how are you struggling not to become Bimpe?
[Laughs] I get this a lot. The truth is I have been Linda all my life. Bimpe was just born eight years ago. She is still a baby, so I can control her. Therefore I can still stay that there is a huge difference between Linda and Bimpe. For instance, Bimpe is awkward, Linda is not. Bimpe is dumb, Linda is not. Linda is not naughty. She can be mischievous. Yes. I could be mischievous.
We would like you to give us an example of a very mischievous thing you did while growing up?
I can’t remember one right now. Even if I do remember I can’t tell you because I am ashamed of what I did. It was something horrible.
How horrible?
Not very. My cousin and I did it to somebody. We were punished for it. It was not a good thing. I can’t share it. Fogerit.
Would you then like to tell us one experience that has remained a part of you since?
I think it was my brother’s illness. He was born with a hole in the heart. My parents did everything to alleviate his pain. They spent money, sold most of our property on medical treatments. He would always cry morning, afternoon and night. My mommy almost gave up on him, but my dad was always optimistic that help would come his way in form of surgery. This young man was the cutest of us all, but because of that situation he lost a lot of weight. As children we were vicariously suffering with him. Whenever he was writhing in pain, we were in tears. He was very close to me. He was the person I could tell anything, things I couldn’t tell my mum. He was an understanding person. We loved and protected him from those who wanted to make jest of him. I think our care and love brought him around. After several years, he was flown [abroad] for a surgery, which was successful and he has been on his feet since then.
How is he now?
He is a big boy now. His health has always remained a source of joy to me.
How did you manage to branch off into movie from TV?
First, I would like to appreciate Rita Dominic and Mildred Okwo. They were the ones who gave me a chance. I am indebted to them for believing in me. Rita Dominic was instrumental in getting that role in The Meeting. She perhaps saw what others didn’t see. My first movie, The Meeting, won me an award. After that people started seeing me differently. I believe people started seeing what Rita Dominic saw. After The Meeting, other projects started coming. I did Heroes and Zeroes, Secret Room, Dejavu, Soldier’s Story, Out of Luck, which just came out, and the Series Diary. I would say a big thank you to Rita and Mildred Okwo. And to God, because without the talent I wouldn’t be doing all I am doing today.
What is your advice to young talented people who haven’t found their own Rita Dominic and Mildred Okwo yet?
I tell young actors, who talk to me on social media about their interest in acting; that first of all you have to have the talent to act, don’t just say it. You have to be able to go in front of a producer or a director to show your stuff and he would be driven to take you up. When you have the talent, go for auditions, read books, watch movies, learn from every character, watch people. Wherever you are, watch people. You can pick something from people. Wherever I go, in a bus, at the market, I love to watch people. I started acting by watching and imitating people. From secondary school days, after I watched a film, I would imitate some characters in the movies. Sometimes I would share roles with my siblings at home. Other times I waited until when I went to boarding house, when we had nothing to do, we would all gather and a friend of mine, Amuche and I would begin to narrate the stories from the movies we had watched at home to people and while narrating the movie, we would show them by acting some of the funny roles from the movies. We could narrate a whole film to people. I think you must have a creative mind. You have to be able to remember what you have read or watched. So, you have to have the talent; you have to read books, watch movies and watch people. When you have all these, nothing will hold you back. You will always be a success in auditions.
You once said you came into acting by chance, how did that happen?
I studied Sociology in school. After secondary school, my brother got me a form to study diploma in Theatre Arts at the University of Ibadan. I was there for three months only before my dad asked me to return home. He wasn’t around when my brother bought the form. He asked me to come back as he didn’t want his daughter to go into acting. Looking back I don’t blame him because then actors did not have the credibility they have now. So he pulled me out and I went to University of Port Harcourt to study Sociology. While waiting to go for service, a friend of mine suggested I go for ‘Tinsel’ audition. I refused because of my father. But after a while I went for it. I was invited and given a role and the rest is no more news.
Have you always loved the film industry?
Yes. You know my brother bought me the form so that I would not while away the time after secondary school doing nothing, but within three months I had begun to embrace acting and all that the film industry represents until my dad came and cut it off. I listened to him. Throughout my days in University of Port Harcourt, I did not act. I completely blocked everything acting from my mind because my father did not want.
You seem to be someone who listens to elderly people, how has that shaped your life?
My parents brought me up that way. My dad would say that what an elder sees sitting down, a child wouldn’t see it standing on a mountain. I think they know best. In the event I think they don’t, I always offer my suggestions. And for my parents when you talk to them with reasons they let you do what you want. Still I will always listen and think about what they have told me.
Has that made you who you are today?
Yes. The woman I am today is a product of all I have learnt from my parents.
In your last movie, ‘Out of Luck’, you had to interpret the role of a bread seller, how did you pull that off?
Like I mentioned earlier, I watch people. When I was told that the character wouldn’t be speaking English, I was happy. I knew I would not have to rack my brain to speak standard English. You know, Pidgin is fun. You don’t have to force yourself to speak Pidgin. It just comes with the right responses. All I had to do was to watch people who sell bread. I took it as a project. I was watching this kind of people, their lifestyles and their thought processes. When I got on set it was a bit easy to pull off. It was much easier, also because of the director. Whenever I slid into proper English, he would jump in immediately. He would say, “Linda, that is ‘fone’ (RP English). He would take me through the ‘Waffi’ pidgin again.
You were allowed a lot of kissing in that movie.
No. What you saw was not kissing. It was mostly pecking on the neck and the cheek. There was no real kissing.
Are you saying it was really physical with Tope Otedola?
You have seen the movie. It was just once.
How would you describe Linda Ejiofor?
Linda Ihuoma Ejiofor. I am beginning to answer my Igbo name now. I think it is sexy. And that way, people wouldn’t mistake me for Linda Ikeji sometimes because I get that a lot. Okay, Linda Ihuoma Ejiofor is a lady who was lucky to finish school, she is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Matthew Ejiofor, second child of five children, first girl, four siblings, graduate of the University of Port Harcourt, came out got into acting by mistake and has since never turned back and is grateful God took her towards that path.
Would you say this year has been good?
Yes. This year has been fantastic. I have done a number of great movies this year. I can only hope it gets better next year.
What is your opinion of Nollywood after the premiere of ‘Beasts of No Nation’?
This is a giant leap for Nollywood. Now, we are getting international recognition. Netflix is coming, Relativity and hopefully Universal Television is looking our way. It shows we are doing well. And I am thankful that I am in the era where good things are coming into the industry.
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