Popular actress, Patience Ozokwor who is known for her very tough roles
in movies showed a softer side in this new interview with Sun.
The 56-year old actress...(who doesn't look 56 even for a second!)
shared the story of her husband, her inlaws and her love for kids which
drove her to adopt 5 more children in addition to her own biological 3
kids. The interview showed that Mama G, as she is popularly called, is
an entirely different person from the roles she portrays in movies. Read
the interview below:
How did you feel when you received the Centenary award?I feel very elated to have received the award, because it is a sign that Nigerians appreciate my good work. It is indeed a dream come through for me as a thespian, and I promise to always make Nigeria and Africa proud with my work.
Continue after the cut
How do you feel about all your achievements as an actress?
Stardom has taking me to so many countries in the world. I have been
able to meet presidents of different nations. And I appreciate the fact
that people commend and appreciate my acting skills whenever they meet
me anywhere in Nigeria and outside the country, which gives me a great
pleasure and ability to work harder, knowing that I have fans all over
the world is worth celebrating.
How has Nollywood helped to transform Nigeria?
Our movies have been able to affect people’s lives as well as make them
happy. In fact, Nollywood has transformed Nigeria’s image abroad
positively and I am delighted to be part of this achievement.
Has your profession affected your life positively?
I have been able to assist my family financially through my work, my
children were able to go to school and they are living a comfortable
life with their families as graduates by the special grace of God. In
fact, the movie industry has affected my life positively in every
ramification and I don’t have any regret being an actress and I give God
all the glory.
Have you achieved all that you set out to achieve?
I have not yet achieved everything, personally there are things that I
have in mind to do in the industry, but when I look back there is nobody
yet qualified to take over the mantle from me. And I pray that God will
raise someone that will be better than me, which will be a great
achievement to have someone who will replace me, when I finally leave
the industry.
Would you support any of your children to go into entertainment?
My second son is already into entertainment, he has a music record
label. While my daughter ended up in the church drama. Though, my son
acted in few movies before he left for the United Kingdom, hopefully he
may do more in acting or movie directing in the future. And I will give
him every encouragement if he decides to go into acting professionally,
because he is passionate about entertainment.
While growing up did you ever think of becoming a movie star?
I have always been an entertainer from childhood, so getting to the
level I have attained in the industry is by the grace of God,
consistency and hard work.
Could you share some of the experiences you had in your early days as an actress that almost discouraged you?
During my early days, sometimes when I get to location with a script,
they would tell me someone has taken my place, which was so
disappointing. But I endured and believed God for mine, and He gave me
what belongs to me. Today, God has celebrated me as an icon and I give
God all the glory.
Your husband died in 2000, precisely 14 years ago, how is life as a widow?
God has always been on my side because without Him there is nothing we
can do. Again, I lived in the village, maybe if I were living in the
city, things would be happening to me and nobody will know what I was
passing through. And my people in the village know that I am always on
location working either in the eastern part of the country or Lagos and
Abuja. But when I am not working you will see me in the comfort of my
home in the village. I appreciate my people for all their love and
peaceful co-existence which I am enjoying. My husband’s family loves me
so much, even before I became a star; we were so attached to each other.
Everyone in the family calls me Patia; they are fond of me.
Are you saying you still live in the village?
I don’t live in the city; I still live in my village. It is nice to live
in the countryside where everyone is everybody’s business. (Laughter).
Not minding the fact that you are a celebrity?
If you see the way people appreciate me in my village, whenever I go to
the market to shop everyone will be calling me ‘Mama G’, ‘Gee’ for
general, in fact, you will appreciate me more. But my office is located
in Enugu town. So, I enjoy living in the village, my hometown. I still
live my life of simplicity regardless of fame.
How do you manage to shuttle from the village to other parts of the country?
I have a guesthouse in Lagos where some of my jobs are concentrated like
soaps, endorsements, commercials and shooting of movies. I have a three
bedroom flat in Asaba. Because I am tired of staying in public hostels,
some are sub-standard; and sometimes you run into small girls that you
know. So, I decided to rent an apartment each in Lagos and Asaba for
comfort. I have adopted children who I take on holidays, so because I
would not like them to grow up in the village without being exposed to
city life, when they are on long vocation and I am in Nigeria, I take
them to Lagos or Asaba for a change of environment.
Your son had his wedding in the United Kingdom sometimes ago and your
daughter also got married in Nigeria, how many children do you have?
I have three biological children. But because of my love for children, I
adopted five other children who bear my name and I am very proud of
them as my children. But I intend giving two among them to my younger
sister to love as I have been doing. I am grateful to God for their
lives, my son in-law and beautiful daughter-in-law I love you all.
Your late husband was supportive of your career, would you say you
miss his presence now that you have hit stardom, especially being
honoured with the Centenary award?
I wish my husband were alive to witness my Centenary award, because he
was highly supportive of my career. Though, he was sick for a long time
before he died, I wish he were still alive. But God knows the best. May
his soul rest in perfect peace.
What did you really miss about him?
I miss the togetherness, when two people work together trying to train
the children, bringing them up in unity and love. And all the affection
he showered on us. I miss the way he celebrated my children’s birthdays,
he was a true father and husband when he was alive. I miss my husband’s
companionship and love.
Have you ever acted any role related with your experience as a widow?
Of course, one or two things that happened to you as a widow will
definitely come up in the movies, but I have not acted any widowhood
role that has to do with my experience as a widow negatively. My in-laws
have been very supportive and caring; we have always lived like one big
family. I always visit them in the United Kingdom, United States of
America and those in Nigeria are united in love with me. When my husband
was hospitalized, my sister-in-law and I were taking care of him; she
stayed with him at nights while I took over from her in the morning
before going to location. On that fateful day, I was on location when my
husband died, before my sister in-law arrived the hospital. Thereafter,
they informed me about his death and they put him in the mortuary and
asked me to continue with my job, because they understand my kind of
job, but I blatantly refused. I took permission from the producer and
stayed away for some days. I later came back to finish the production of
the movie.
Tell us about your parents?
My parents were loving and caring, I miss them so much. My mother was a
popular trader. I never had it rough as a child, I only had it rough
when my husband fell sick, but my in-laws did not leave me, they took
care of my husband’s hospital bills. It’s just that you don’t have to
wait for people to survive; instead you struggle to make life meaningful
for yourself.
You are looking younger and beautiful even at your age, are you thinking about remarrying?
It is not about my look but my age. I am not thinking about remarrying.
Since my husband died, I have been rearing my children to the glory of
God. And I decided to occupy my mind on my job and service to God to
give my children the best in life.
How old are you now?
I was born on March 25,1958, so do the calculation.
At 56, you are looking elegant. What is the secret behind your healthy look?
God is the secret behind my ageless look, and I also eat what my body
needs, I take a lot of fruits and exercise when it’s necessary. And most
imperatively, I don’t drink alcohol because I have realized that
alcohol does a lot of damage to the body and makes you look older than
your age.
Nollywood producers have stereotyped you with roles that make you get bad remarks, how have these roles affected your life?
I don’t owe anybody any apology for the roles I play, because I get paid
for them and it is my job. It is only people who don’t understand that
acting is make belief that perceive an actor to be living his or her
life the way she acts on set. If I could read my script and interpret
the role to get the best production, it means I understand acting.
Who is Patience Ozokwor outside the set?
I am a very loving mother, nice, caring, jovial, understanding, and
above all God fearing. But I don’t take nonsense because I am a
disciplinarian.
You attended teachers training college were you nursing the idea of becoming a teacher?
I attended teachers training college in Afikpo; and then I proceeded to
IMT, Enugu where I studied Fine and Applied Arts, specializing in
Graphics. But I am a not a teacher today, because my interest is in
acting where my passion also lies.
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