Nkiruka ‘Kiki’ Omeili is a Nigerian television presenter and film ‘actor’, popular for her role as the antagonistic Titi Haastrup in the 2012 feature film Married but Living and Single, as Lovette in the TV series, Lekki Wives. The medical doctor-turned actress testifies, in this interview with Assistant Life Editor, TERH AGBEDEH, that it has been laughter all the way since 2011 when she clinched the role of Debbie in the TV series, Behind the Smile.
If you didn’t get onto the Behind the Smile television series, would you have continued auditioning for roles?
Kiki OmeiliI would definitely have continued. Acting was something I had made up my mind to do, and I knew I was good at it. So I wasn’t going to be deterred.
In October 2012, you received the award for the ‘Best Actress (Supporting Role in an English language film)’ at the 17th African Film Awards (formerly known as the Afro Hollywood Awards) in London for your role in Married but Living Single. Would you say the award spurred you on to thinking seriously about an acting career?
No; I wouldn’t say that. Prior to winning that award, acting was already serious business for me. I was serious about it when I got into it, right from the very beginning. What winning that award did was to encourage me. It’s a good thing to be recognised and appreciated for what you do. It tells you that you’re doing something right and it encourages you to do more and to do better.
Why exactly did you trade medicine for acting?
I didn’t trade medicine for acting. Anybody who knows me knows that I always say that I have two sides to me, the medical side and the entertainment side. This is me expressing the entertainment side of me. Everybody knows that when you have it in you, it will not let you rest until you fully explore it. So there hasn’t been any trade. I’m just a girl doing what she loves to do.
You participated in stage plays back in your school days. But would you say that the stage drama part of your life is done with since you have been mostly on television and big screen these days?
Oh no, it’s definitely not done. It just seemed like the screen chose me. But I’d really love to do a stage production sooner than later.
You have read the Actors’ Bible, attended acting workshops. Would you go to film school eventually?
I would love to. It’s on my to-do list.
Nollywood gets knocks for lack of quality. What do you think can be done to change that; have the industry produce better quality films?
I think it’s already happening. The quality of Nigerian movies has greatly improved in recent times. There’s little room for mediocrity now. People are better informed, people know about things like continuity; filmmakers do their research before making a film about a particular subject; and actors get roles based on merit as opposed to sentiment. Nollywood is growing in leaps and bounds, and some movies being made are recognised internationally. So our filmmakers are doing their homework, trust me. There’s always the challenge of funds though, but filmmakers still find a way to make it work.
What remarkable difference would you say that you have observed working on television productions and movies?
I would say that television productions and movies employ different styles of storytelling. Directors tend to spend a lot more time on movie scenes because the story needs to be told in a certain way. The story has to be told within a limited time; so I would say a lot more thought and creativity goes into making a movie. But with a television production, it’s a continuous story. Most of the time, the audience is more interested in the continuity of the story; what happens next and all that. So there’s a lot more time to tell the story and a lot of different ways to tell it.
Your first role was a major one. But would you consider playing a minor one, particularly if it is in an international production?
Definitely, international production or not. I always say that it’s not the number of scenes that a character has that is important; it’s the relevance of the character to the story. So yes, I would play a minor role as long as the character is relevant to the story being told.
What film or television project are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently working on a movie called Dead End and I’m slated to do another movie immediately after.
How is blogging about health working out for you?
In all honesty, I haven’t done a lot of that in recent time, owing to my busy acting schedule. But I still write one or two health articles when I can. It’s a part of me that I’m determined to keep alive.
Does acting actually pay your bills?
Yes, it does. I must confess, though, that it didn’t in the beginning. But the further you go in your career, the more recognition you get, the more you acquire a fan base, the more acting jobs you get, you command a higher remuneration. So now, yes, acting pays the bills.
Would you do a film like Sting again?
Sting was a very emotionally and physically demanding project. It was unlike anything I had ever done before, and it challenged me and pushed me. I like projects like that. As an actor, you don’t want to stay in your comfort zone; you want to continually reinvent the wheel and challenge yourself. So, I definitely would do a film like Sting again, if the opportunity arises.
When you look back at your career in acting, is it with laughter or tears or both?
Laughter. A lot of laughter. I laugh about the hardships I endured, about the struggles. I also smile and thank God for the success. No room for tears at all.
How is combining acting with being a compere and presenter working for you?
Acting takes up most of my time. I haven’t presented for quite a while. It is acting first, before anything else. It’s my true love.
Which of the characters you have played so far would you say is true to your life?
None. Most of the characters that I’ve played have been so far removed from my true self and, to be honest, that’s what makes it fun for me. I like to drop everything about myself and just become another person totally. It’s amazing to be someone else for a period of time. I find it exhilarating to do and say things that I would normally never do or say.
What is your bag and shoe collection like now?
Whoa! I love shoes and bags; all kinds (flats, heels, clutch purses). So, I’ll leave that to your imagination.
How did the ‘beauty of the week’ tag you got on some blogs affect your profile?
I really don’t know the answer to that. I’ve found that it’s generally the work you do as an actor that affects your profile, not tags. So, I don’t know, really.
When last did someone told you that you are beautiful?
Just a few minutes ago.
Who was he?
An admirer on twitter.