Fast-rising actress, Olajoju Muse, plays Sammie a bartender in Mnet’s series, Tinsel. An alumna of Next Movie Star, Miss Carnival and Miss Ikorodu, she speaks with Reporter, REGINA WHENU, on her journey to stardom…
What makes you happy aside acting?
Olajoju MuseBeing myself just pleasing myself, makes me happy.
How did acting begin for you?
Acting is actually something I have always had in me. But sometimes we just had to do our parents’ wishes. It started when I got a call from a director friend. My first movie was Protege, an Africa Magic Original Movie Production. It was quite a wonderful experience.
So, daddy and mummy were not really in support?
My dad is kind of indifferent. But I think my mum had a lot of issues with it. I was not bothered because it is something I wanted to do.
Do you have people you look up to in the industry?
I actually do not want to be like anybody. I want to do me; I want to be known for who I am. Yes, there are some people I admire, but not people I would want to be like. I see them and just like them.
I am in love with Genevieve because she is a very good actress. I say that every time. She is a professional. It is not like others are not professional. I just love her for who she is.
Was it the fame that fascinated you to become an actress?
I have always been a dramatic person, and acting would have just been it. I am artistic too. It has always been about drama, drama, drama. Apparently, it was not because of the fame or anything. I was born to be an actress. If I was not acting, I wonder what I would have been doing because I do not see myself doing any other thing.
What do you do at leisure?
(Laughs) I watch movies and do personal rehearsals which sometimes look like free madness.
Is there anyone in particular you enjoy working with?
There is no one in particular. I just love working with people that know what they are doing, people that will not kill the flow, people that will not kill my vibes, who will not slow me down. I love working with professionals actually, people that will make my job easier and faster, people that interpret their character. It helps me when I see you interpret yours; it gingers mine. You cannot be all fake and expect the best. I will give you my best, but then I need you to complement my acts. So I can work with a professional who is good at what he or she does.
Would you describe yourself as a religious person?
I am not a religious person, but God is my best friend. I am highly spiritual in the sense that I do not joke with prayers. I do not joke with God. But I am not a religious person. I do not go to church every Sunday.
What would you point to in your childhood that prepared you for adulthood?
I have always been an adventurous child, always wanting to explore everything, to know what comes out of something. And it helps, because to be adventurous you must have strength. So I must say, I am a strong person and also very adventurous. Somehow, it prepared me for adulthood. If you are a smart person, events around you will brace you up and prepare you for the future?
What will you do differently if you had the opportunity of doing it again?
I think I love my life the way it is; it is less complicated. My life is sweet. I love my life the way it is because if you see other people’s issues, you will just want to stick to yours. I think everything is just fine.
What would you tell those aspiring to be actresses?
Acting is not something that you do as a hobby; it should be something you love, something you breathe, something you think of. It should be part of you. You cannot just wake up and think you can learn acting like you can learn driving. No, you will miss it at some point. If it’s something you think about, go ahead, the sky is just the limit.
What about Sammie at Ziggy’s bar in Tinsel?
Sammie is Ziggy’s bar hostess and she is a hot chic actually. She is always having constant issues with Frank, but when they are not around, they get to miss each other. Sammie is friendly, sometimes diplomatic and sometimes nice. She always has to be nice, but she is not nice to Frank. She is a professional bar hostess.
How has being a runner-up in the Next Movie Star helped you?
Being a runner-up in Next Movie Star has not actually helped me in anyway. I went to the house because I wanted to have a different experience outside my family, as it has always been my family, my family, my family. So I kind of wanted a different atmosphere with other people outside my family.
Did it improve your acting?
Well I do not think it improved my acting. You know it is a competition kind of. So when I see you doing better than me, I automatically want to put in more effort in whatever I do. But acting is not something you overdo; it is something that comes naturally. Apparently, Next Movie Star did not improve my acting in anyway. It is just a stage I went through.
Are you in a relationship?
I am not in a relationship. I am not saying ‘no’ because that is what everybody says; but I am hardly ever in a relationship.
Relationships are not meant for everybody. Sometimes relationships can be distracting, and not having an understanding partner with the kind of job I do can sometimes complicate things. Guys want to mark their territory and I am in an industry where if I am asked to hug or kiss somebody in the script, I have to do it professionally. Acting is make-believe.
So you are saying there is no role you will not take.
There is no role I would not take. If it makes sense and there is a moral lesson behind that role, why not? But if the role you are taking has no moral lesson on society, youths and things around you, why do it? And yes, if the money is good why not?
How about the rumour that you would do it with Ramsey Nouah on set?
That I was going to have sex with Ramsey Nouah? Don’t you fantasise on foreign actors, foreign musicians and all that? Ramsey Nouah is a cute man and it is just normal for a lady to say that I am crushing on this person. I figured out that Nigerians do not appreciate the truth; they do not appreciate honesty. Ramsey Nouah is a hot guy. He is fine. So it is normal for every sane lady to want to crush on a man like him. I am not the only lady out there with a crush on him. That I said I will have sex with him on set if I have to does not mean I literally want to do it. It is acting, make-believe. So Nigerians should get it straight; it is acting. And I think people should just learn to respect other people’s opinion and way of life.