Kogi State-born but Kano bred actress, Halima Abubakar, some years back
gained instant fame for baring her cleavages. She was taken to be in the
league of Cossy Orjiakor who became popular as a boobs baring actress.
Even
though, Halima became known, she certainly did not get movie roles she
so much craved. And so she withdrew into her shell. But when she
resurfaced, Nigerians saw a reformed and well-groomed Halima. In this
interview, the actress talked about a number of interesting issues.
Excerpts:.
What are the positive things that being an actress
have attracted to your life and what are the ones you never wanted that
are happening? It has only given me a sense of belonging. I
used to be very impatient, I get angry over everything but now I am
changed. I am matured.
There was so much noise about you when you just came into the industry but that has really changed. What can you say to that?This
question I really don’t know what it’s really about. I am busy. I am
winning awards, what else do you want to hear? I don’t know! What else
do you want to hear? My private life or what?
May be I am driving at the fact that you were a little bit controversial?So? Are you not changing as a human being? The question is funny.
What would you say prompted the change because your controversial deeds looked intentional?Just
growth. I am a different person than I was. Like I said, I have
changed. I have changed in every ramification of life so, I believe in
growth, maturity.
What was your mission or motive when you started out as an actress?Nothing.
I just wanted to act. Seriously, I never knew I was going to last in
Nollywood because I just wanted to act and return to something else, get
married or something. I just wanted to act and keep the tape; it was
cassette at that time. I just wanted my face in the movies, that’s all.
You just said you wanted marriage but it does not seem to be on your list at the moment?I
am not in that age where I would give up yet. I am not in that age
where I will be bothering myself about marriage. When I clock 34, people
can begin to say whatever they want to say. Then I will start thinking,
but that is not in my budget now.
As a sort of role model, what is your disposition to being a single lady or single parent?I cannot speak for them because I am sure they will have their own stories to tell.
How do you put aside issues that are bothering you when you want to act?Sometimes
I just cry. I can cry anywhere, anytime, trust me. I don’t have shame
when it comes to crying. I once cried at a supermarket when I was
telling a lady who sells shoes, I don’t even know her, but I was just
telling her about my boy friend. It’s not everyone you can do that to
because they will start talking when you leave. But I don’t behave like
nothing is happening where there is something because we all have
private lives.
Do you get carried away when acting romantic scenes?Never.
In fact, I don’t kiss deeply on set. I don’t like to exchange saliva.
It has happened like three times when an actor complained that I refused
to open my mouth when kissing. And I was like, ‘must we exchange saliva
before the message is passed across?’ I am a woman and he’s a man so I
draw boundaries. Although, I kiss to convince viewers about what the
character is all about, I am not going to go gaga because I am trying to
play a role. I can’t go crazy because I am shooting a movie, I have
boundaries.
Is it that your man might get angry if you do?Not
really but there are things to do and not to do. He’s a man and he would
get jealous but aside that one should know where to put a stop.
What comes to your mind when you remember those days when you used to bare your cleavages?It
was just advert, an advert I did for a laundry company. It was just an
audition picture where I was wearing a bikini. Back then, it was a big
deal in our society but nowadays it’s common because ladies put pictures
like that on their BB and nothing happens.
What effects did the pictures have on you then?I
actually did not know. It was only in Lagos that the pictures were
seen. I spent most of my time in Kano then and those magazines hardly
circulate in Kano. It was my father who saw the write-ups and you can
guess what that would have meant for me. Funny enough, I ended up not
getting the job for which I took the pictures because of the controversy
that surrounded it. It got to a level that people were using the
opportunity to ask me to do nude scenes in their movies.
Many
producers were writing scripts with nude scenes for me but I refused. I
knew if I started to act nude at that point in time, I wouldn’t go back.
I have seen one or two movies that people are becoming daring and all
that. But then when I look back, I just laugh. I laugh when I think
about all the things I have gone through in life.
