Fred Amata, remains a delight figure both on and off screen. Cheerful, thoughtful and sometimes playful, Amata has continued to dazzle in Nigeria’s movie industry –as an actor, a director and a producer. The movie star is also a passionate family man. Amata has always been in the public glare but in this interview, he reveal all…enjoy reading

Today, many movie stars are going into music; what about you?

I think the press is getting it wrong. Many celebs are trying to maximise their brand potentials. Sometimes they explore music, sometimes comedy, stage, TV shows and sundry. This is a healthy development. If I see a good opportunity to put my brand behind a music brand, project or service I could take it. It does not mean that I would come out to the microphone to sing. That’s one area that I am totally lacking. It means we would explore the marketability and therefore profitability of the music brand, project or product.

You are over 50 and you still look handsome and attractive, despite being a father of five. How do you manage your female fans?

It’s God really. People keep asking me if it’s my diet or if it’s exercise. I do all of those but honestly, it’s most probably my gene because I’ve never ever completed one diet and there is no exercise programme that I have seen through. To my female fans, I approach them with compassion, trepidation and practicality. If temptation rears its head, I do my best to pursue the biblical injunction – flee! And thankfully, more often than not, we have made success.

How do you maintain the spark in your relationship with your children despite the fact that you are no longer with their mothers?

I am very passionate about my children. They are fond of me and I love them so much. My son came all the way from the university in Kent to honour me for the football match. We are very cool.

You seem to be very close to your female children than the male what is the reason?

Ha!  It’s not true and can never be true. I love all my children equally. Look, I don’t joke with them. In fact, I spend time with my son most times. We relate as friends because he is much mature.

There is a rumour making the rounds that you are getting married again soon?

I don’t talk about that. I cannot oblige you that. I believe despite the fact that I am in the public eye, certain things are private. My family and relationships are private.  Yes, I will remarry but I am taking my time. Even the Bible says it’s not good for a man to be alone and that is the main reason why I need a woman in my life. Life is a gradual process; I am not in a hurry to settle down, but I will surely remarry.

Who is the angel that has taken over your heart?

(Laughs) She is there.  Like you said, she is in my heart so I will not disclose her to the public. Wait until I am ready to show her to the world, then you will see her.  I still repeat; I am not in a hurry, I am not searching at all.

Is she one of your baby mamas or a special friend?

I don’t know but the truth is that I will not get married to my enemy. Yes, I will marry my friend. So my future wife must be my friend – someone who loves me, for who I am; someone who can tolerate me.  Please let’s keep this question apart.

You spoke too well of Actors Guild of Nigeria’s President, Ibinabor Fiberesima, apart from the fact that she is the mother of your last daughter, are you still very close to her?

Yes. She is my friend and will always be my friend. She is the mother of my beloved daughter, Zino. And she brings her to me anytime she wants to see her daddy. I bless God for her and her marriage. I pray that God will continue to protect her.

But you did not attend her wedding in December? Was it deliberate?

Not at all, I was very busy that period. And I sent her a wonderful congratulatory message.

How do you get into the movie industry and how did you feel at the first time you appeared before the camera?

I got into the industry purely by fate’s design. I come from a family of actors. My father was a movie producer; so as early as seven or eight, I’ve been on stage. By the time I was in secondary school, I had a small theatre group. We used to perform plays. After Secondary school, I used to gather my friends and did what my dad used to do.  During youth service I was posted to serve in Lagos State. I did my best to be posted to NNPC where I could find financial balance in the oil sector. I had succeeded, I thought, but when posting came, I had been sent to NTA, smack into production, and because I had studied theatre arts at the University of Jos, I got a chance to marry theory with practice, and in less than two years I was already directing soap for National Television in 1988. So by 1992/93, when Nollywood was born, I was already a tested TV/stage actor as well as a writer/producer/director – one of the less than a handful who gave creative expression the impetus to thrive and establish the unique styles that grew Nollywood.

Do you have any new job you are currently working on?

Yes. It’s a new movie that is sponsored by the management of Guinness. We are still working on it. By the special grace of God, it will be out soonest. I just finished one with ROK Studios, titled ‘Husbands of Lagos’; so watch out for it.

Over the years you have many movies to your credit which of the movies brought you into limelight?

I was in the limelight even before Nollywood and movies. But when I won the Best Actor award for Mortal Inheritance in 1997, the press celebrated in such a way it became generally accepted as being the pivot.

For someone who has been acting for several decades, you must have experienced various transitions in the movie industry.  Can you recall those years?

There have been various eras. I studied Theatre Arts in school so I’m a trained stage actor. While I was in school, I attended almost every university theatre arts festivals in the country. As a director, those years were challenging. Unlike today, with a camera now, you can just point and shoot. Then, we would be struggling with the lighting, trying to capture someone’s face for one hour. This was the era that gave birth to Nollywood. Now there is more technology, more exposure, and more confidence in what we are doing. Before, there was just desperation to push out works, but now there is a hunger for quality. Movies like ‘Black November’ explain the hunger for that quality –the ‘Figurine’, ‘30 Days in Atlanta’ and the rest. Nollywood has improved greatly to a large extent. The Amata family is well known in the movie industry.

Tell us more about your family and the origin of this creativity…

It’s a big story to tell; there are so many angles to approach it but it all starts from my late father, John Ifoghale Amata. The point of emergence is traced to a film called ‘Freedom’ which we are proud to say is the first film ever shot in celluloid and full colour (we are claiming Africa) in 1957. My father co-wrote it, co-produced it and starred in it. Growing up, we always used to watch him on the big screen. This was in the early 70s when there was no television and there were travelling cinemas. The cinemas that were available were western films and they were usually silent movies where we watched in the open air. His movie was one that was about setting moral values. This was at a time when they were talking about Moral Rearmament after the World War. It was translated into 130 languages and everybody grew up wanting to be like my father.

He started a legacy of creativity in the Amata dynasty. This has now been passed on to you and your siblings?

Yes. John Amata is first generation Amata. Zack and Fred Amata are second generation Amata, and Jeta and Oreva Amata are third generation Amata. I’m not sure if my children would have any interest in acting. My son is more into football. He played with us at the celebrity charity challenge.

What are your hobbies? How do you relax?

Apart from football, I love any kind of game. I play all board games but I find out recently that I am addicted to computer games. I am an apologetic internet scrabble addict. I also play internet chess. I’ve been known to play funny computer games for hours on end – games like ‘Zuma.’ And I love dancing and making people laugh.

Would you call yourself a funny person?

Well, yes; because I notice people laugh anytime they are around me. So to some extent, I am funny but I also have my bad sides.

So, do you smoke?

What is wrong with one smoking? (Laughs) Haba!

Are you a born again Christian?

I love God and I fear him a lot.

What turns you off?

Fake people and lies; I don’t relate with liars.