Foluke
Daramola is a well-known face in the Nigerian movie industry, as she
came into the limelight in the late 90s with her appearance in Palace, a
soap opera back then.
In a recent interview, she talks about her marriage to her new husband and on the feud with her friend, Princess Bukola Fasuyi.
Excerpts:
Many people believed Foluke Daramola joined the movie industry not quite long. Can you tell us when you joined the industry?
I
don‘t know of anyone that would say that I joined the movie industry
not quite long. Thank God, you know how it all began. If I can still
remember, we have met in location many times, even outside Lagos. There
was a year we met in Osogbo, Osun State; I am talking about the year
2000. That was more than 12 years ago, and before then, I have been in
the industry. I started in the 90s before I got admitted into the
university. I started with talk shows on DBN and AIT and eventually, I
got a role in Palace and while I was acting, I was studying with it.
So, can you tell us your educational background?
I
went to Maryland Covenant and Anthony Model Primary Schools. I was at
Ikeja High School, Ifako International School and LAFROGRAMS. I studied
International Relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and
for my Masters degree; I studied International Law and Diplomacy at the
University of Lagos. Also, I did some professional courses too. I did
some directing and I did a leadership course at Daystar Church.
Since
you started acting before getting admission into the university, why
didn’t you study Theatre Arts instead of International Relations?
My
first love has always been to be a diplomat. I discovered acting along
the line. I don’t have to go to the school of acting before acting well.
I actually got admitted into OAU to study Accounting, but I just wanted
to be a diplomat, so I changed my course to International Relations. I
already have acting as a talent, so I don t need to study Theatre Arts.
Who are your mentors in the movie industry?
They
are Olu and Joke Jacobs, Richard Mofe Damijo. In directing, my mentors
are Amaka Igwe, Lola Fani-Kayode, Tade Ogidan and Tunde Kelani
What is your relationship with your colleagues in the movie industry?
It
is cordial, but I am a private person. I don t keep friends apart from
the younger ones that I have. It doesn’t mean that I have people as my
enemies. I still maintain a very cordial relationship with my colleagues
when we are off set and I know I can get in touch with them when we
have one or two things to do together. I love privacy, so I like to keep
myself to myself
The first time you were on set, how did you feel?
I
was excited but scared. I was excited because I was acting with big
names, like Liz Benson, Yomi Obileye and a whole lot of them, but I was
really scared of them. Although, I had to get a slap, because my
director, Uncle Tunji Bamishigbin, was asking: “what s wrong with you?”
Because, I was not just getting my line so, I had to be slapped to get
back on my feet and after that, I’ve been wonderful. It is like a part
of me already
But there is this general belief that you are arrogant?
There
is this Yoruba proverb that says, “ori o kin ri ara e” (the head cannot
see itself). I see you like my brother doing your job and I am doing
mine, if you don’t interview me, there are one thousand and one people
you can interview. And when it comes to pride, I am not fantastic but I
am very close to God, I pray, I talk to God and I believe I am a sinner
and God will forgive me. But the Bible says he that brings himself down,
God will raise him up and that he that raises himself up God will bring
him down.
Pride
is something that I don't believe in. I know a lot of people but if I
see an iota of pride in you I will never associate with you. As I said, I
am a very original person and I can relate with both the downtrodden
and influential people. That is what is called true celebrity, being
able to adapt to any situation but being proud is not in my dictionary.
Sometimes
when you are in an environment and you are not comfortable in that
environment, you can tend to look and “bone” your face but if you greet
me, I would never bring you down. My godfather, Uncle Yomi Obileye, once
told me that as a true celebrity, in your worst of moods, when your
fans greet you, always force a smile.
When
he said that thing, I thought it was something easy for me to do, but
over time, I realised it is the most difficult thing to do, because I
might have a misunderstanding with my partner in the car and someone
will just shout, “Foluke Daramola”. Of course, it would not be easy for
me to force a smile, but then, I discover that if you can do it, it goes
a long way. I always try to give a good impression to people, no matter
what.
Are you separated or divorced?
I’m
naturally divorced because it is over four years since I left him. But
the paper work is not yet done. I don’t want complications really,
complications in the sense that I don’t want my children involved in
that mess and moreover, I’m not getting married tomorrow or any time
soon.
Let talk on your marriage to Kayode. Howe did you feel?
Of course, I felt good. I am happy in my marriage
But people said you snatched somebody’s husband?
I
did not snatch anybody’s husband. I never asked her to pack out of her
husband’s house. Moreover, I did not meet her at home when I married
Kayode.
But, when you were dating him, you knew he was married?
I knew.
But you still went ahead to marry him?
That is between him and me.
What about your children, don’t they ask after their father?
Whenever
they are talking about their father, I always tell them that when they
are old enough to use a phone, I will buy it for them and they can
communicate with him, but when he says he wants to communicate with
them, I allow him to do so. I never stopped him from doing so. I never
stop him from communicating with them.
Your friend, Princess Fajuyi Bukola claimed you used charm to snatch Kayode from his wife. What would you say to that?
See, I don’t have anything to say to that, she can go ahead and say whatever she likes.
But the story is all over the town, she even claimed she took you to the man?
That
is her problem. Why is she just saying it now? I don’t have anything
to say to that. All I know is now I am happy in my marriage.
Is it true you love wearing revealing clothes?
I
used to wear them but the Bible says when I was a child, I acted like a
child, when I became a man, I stopped being childish. When I was
younger, I used to wear revealing clothes. When I was in OAU, I was
myself, I clubbed, I partied, I had fun, I had relationships and I had
heartbreaks. Now, I am much older, I no longer believe in wearing
revealing clothes because I am more matured and I see things
differently.
Even
sometimes, when I see people wear it, I say with time, they would stop
it, it is not things you can tell people to do or not to do. Then I used
to believe that if you don’t wear anything skimpy or revealing, you
were not in vogue, but now, if you tell me to wear it, I would just look
at it and say no.
