Chiege Alisigwe came into
limelight after starring alongside Ramsey Nuoah in the blockbuster movie ‘My
Love’ in 1998. She has since become one of the most-sought-after
actresses in Nollywood. In this interview, the delectable actress
talks about her NGO, which she recently set up to cater for the welfare of the
less -privileged people in our society as well as her plans to establish
a studio among other issues.
-You recently set up an NGO. What is
it all about?
What I had in mind when I set up my
NGO was to ceate a platform to reach out
to the less privileged people in our society.
-Have you reconciled with your
husband?
I don’t know. I hate talking about my
private life. But all that matters to me is that I have a child now.
-Which part of your body do you like
most?
There are certain things God
blessed with that make me to feel like a real woman. They are my boobs
and my face. I am not saying that anybody who is flat chested is bad, the
person still looks good. But if I dress, i will first admire myself before the
mirror, I always thank God for making me a complete woman.
Like something you know many are
paying to have, I have it naturally. And I thank God the way he made me. I am
very grateful, I cannot ask for more.
-Like how much can you insure these
places you like most?
Money cannot be enough when it comes
to those areas. I don’t pray for anything to happen to these places. I am ok
the way I am.
-Are you comfortable with the kind of
movies that are coming out of Nollywood?
I am not comfortable at all. Though
there are some good movies, the fact remains that Nollywood needs to step up
its game in the area of production. Because, majority still need amendments
here and there. I want the industry to produce quality movies . I want
them to come out with something more challenging.
-How has married life been with you?
Well, married life is good. Though
there are ups and down in the process, it is sweet at the same time, it is
sour.You cannot just say it is all bed of roses but it is good. It is good
because when the going is sweet, you love it the more but when the going is
bad, you will still be there provided it is not life and death.
-Does your married affect your career
(Acting)?
No, it does not.
-You stopped acting for a while now,
what happened?
No, actually, I didn’t stop. But
somehow, you do not need to act one million movies in a day. You have to advise
yourself, I am the married woman that wants to combine my family with my
career, and then I have to compromise. You think about your family first. No
matter what you do, your family comes first.
-How did you start acting?
Well, that was in 1998. When I left
secondary school, I took JAMB; and I entered into the movie industry. To me
then, it was a sort of whiling away time while I was still waiting for my JAMD
result. Not like now you see people desperately want to act. It was not like
that for me.
-Was it like a passion you
wanted to use to pass time?
Number one, I love acting because, I
use to act drama in secondary school then. Secondly, I was waiting for my JAMB
result so I want to use that to while away time. Because, I don’t like staying
idle. Even as a child, I used to do one or two things. I have always been an
independent person. I would say that I started acting because I hate idleness.
-How many movies have you acted this
year?
I don’t really know but it is not
much.
-You live outside the country most
often?
I live here in Nigeria but most
times, I travel out of the country because of the project I’m embarking on. I
shuttle between Nigeria and the outside world. There are certain things I need
to bring from there to this country that is why I travel most often. Like my
cameras, I brought them down from there. Like the house of service I told you,
I need some in Nigeria and likewise outside the country.
Like other actors and actresses who
have ventured into the music industry. Are you planning to do the same?
I love singing, I have sang so many
songs. But, we cannot keep acting all the time. Because if you continue like
that, you can never have your time, you can never give your family that time
they need. You act, you get another thing to fall back on incase if you are not
there.
At the same time, you cut your shot.
What I mean is this, if you are the boss of what you are doing, you can say,
let me give this time to my family today and your assistance will take over.
Also, tomorrow you can say let me go to work/location today. I don’t want to
spend all my time in working (acting). Where I can be answerable to somebody
without being answerable to my husband.
-Does it mean you choose the roles
you act now?
Yes. I choose. I see the script. If
I am not satisfied with it, I will tell you that I cannot act the script. If I
am satisfied with that, I will go on with the script.
Do you think you still have a chance
in the industry considering the number of actresses who are eager to act?
Well, I don’t look at people’s
faces. I believe that whatever you are, it is on your own. If you are good, it
is for your own good. I always tell people to be confident in themselves.
If you have self-confidence and a
dragon is by your side, you can even say hi to the dragon and go your way the
dragon would even turn back to follow your footsteps. Just be contended with
yourself, how you act,, do you thing in your own way.
Don’t mind how people do theirs. You
will find out that a lot of people are out there who are following your
footsteps without your knowledge. So I am not scared.
-What is your driving force in
creating your own studio?
I decided to create my own studio
because, I wanted something different apart from my acting. It is a kind of
gradual step you have to take when you want to be there. I do not really want
to have problem when I am there I will start looking for cameras or anything. I
want to gather everything before I start the NGO. So that when I am out, they
can finish everything without problems.
-What do you intend to do with your
NGO?
Ok, we want to reach to people
because, so many Nigerians are hungry and I think I am happier if I am eating
and the person beside me is eating as well. If am eating and the person beside
me is hungry, I feel so unhappy. I derive joy in making people happy.
-When do we hope to hear about the
NGO well?
Not now cause we are still working
on it.
-Tell us about your background?
I am Chiege Alisigwe from Orlu Local
Government Area of Imo State. I am the last in the family of Eleven. I read
fine and applied arts. I did my OND at Federal Polytechnic, Oko, before
proceeding to IMT Enugu for Higher National Diploma. I did my youth
service and now on the verge of doing my masters.
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