Just six years as an actress and Amanda Ebeye’s profile seems like she’s been there for ages. Ebeye hopped on the Nollywood train after graduating with BA in International Studies and Diplomacy at the Benson Idahosa University. Ever since, there has been no hiding place for this fascinating actress who shot to fame starring in popular television series, Clinic Matters. In this interview with ORUKPE NELSON, she opened up on why she stopped appearing on Clinic Matters, career and sundry issues…

What is happening to Amanda now?

I am busy as usual, going to locations and contributing my quota.

You seem to feature more in TV soaps now more than you actually do in movies?

That is not correct. Probably you are yet to watch some of the movies I have featured in. I have done lots of movies, far more than soaps. Since 2011, I have not done any soap apart from Bella’s Place and Super Story which I also featured in this year. It is unfortunate that we churn out a high quantity of movies without good quality in Nigeria. I have featured in many soaps and I didn’t want to be on many soaps at a time because it drops your face as an actor. For me, an actor should not be on more than a soap opera at a time.

What do you consider before picking up scripts?

Before, I wasn’t careful about what I was doing, I just did all the jobs that came my way, but now I am very selective. For me to feature in a movie now, the story has to be good and the role has to be challenging. I don’t do regular stories a lot but I go for challenging roles which will bring out the best in me. I picked up the scripts of the soaps I featured in lately because they were very challenging.

Is that why you decided not to feature on Clinic Matters any longer?

I did just 39 episodes on Clinic Matters and it has not got out of people’s headlong after I left Clinic Matters. I left because I and the producer didn’t agree on some things. I got a better offer somewhere else and I moved on.

How would you assess the industry?

The industry is good and growing. I am very optimistic that the industry will be bigger and better in the next couple of years. The cinemas are doing well but I feel we should always have a touch of our culture in every film we do.

There are so many stories we haven’t shot yet and it is as if we have exhausted all stories. The industry will be better if we can pay attention to our stories. Right now, technical aspect is improving in the industry.

The major change I hope to see is the story. We should endeavour to inculcate our African culture in our stories because we have so many stories to tell.

When will you produce your own film?

I am thinking towards that direction and hopefully someday I will do that. I am not considering that now because I can’t afford the funds now. It will be a high budget movie. I will put my all in it and that is why I am taking my time to do it.

Apart from acting, do you have anything else to which you devote your time?

I’m doing nothing else at the moment.

Not even trying to sing?

Everybody can’t sing, but I sing to myself in my bathroom anyway.

What were your earliest influences?

Growing up as a child, I always wanted to be on TV. I have always loved the camera and I have always been a spokesperson. I found out that I learnt from TV apart from my parents, siblings and church. Most people sit down to watch TV and I found out that I could be a teacher being on TV, that attracted me and also motivated me as I can do what I love doing but instead of going to classroom to teach, I can do it on TV. That is why I have cut out lots of scripts because if I cannot teach which was the first reason I chose acting then there is no point appearing on screen.

Six years in Nollywood, what’s your experience like?

It has been good, rough, tough, it keeps fluctuating but it will get better.

Do you see yourself being employed in the foreign affairs ministry as a diplomat later in future owing to the training you had in the university?

I don’t know, but if I am made an ambassador I will gladly accept it.

How did your parents react to your career choice at first?

My father initially didn’t like the decision because he wanted me to do something in which I will make more money. He views actors, painters and artists as poor people.

My mum always supported my dream of becoming an actor right from a very tender age. My daddy is cool with it now anyway.

Why won’t he be cool with your choice, now that you bring money home?

I can’t give my dad money. I don’t have a pinch of what my parents have, so I can’t give them money. They could be happy that I can take care of myself, but it doesn’t affect them.

Aside fame and fortune, what other good has acting done to you?

It has taught me a lot because coming to the industry, I thought it was going to be smooth and rosy. I used to watch Bimbo Akintola, Genevieve and others and I used to feel acting is so easy. When I came in, I realised that it isn’t easy but rather, very hard. It has made me to be humble because when you get into the industry, there is so much pride attached to you because you want to think you can do it, but later you will realise that it is not easy. Lots of people that have been there grew and every single person coming into the industry must grow. Acting has made me understand that life is not easy because I thought life was. I thought it was about speaking English, but later I realized that it is beyond that. I had to start learning how to do some local things because if you want to be a centralised actor, you have to appeal to diverse sets of audience. I couldn’t speak pidgin before, but now I can speak pidgin fluently.

My younger siblings don’t really like it when I speak it, but I am happy I can now speak pidgin.

When will your wedding bell ring?

I should just say very soon.

What is that question you are tired of answering?

I am tired of answering the last question you asked me. People keep asking me that question from time to time. I think they should stop asking me and wait till that time when I will send out my wedding invitation out to them.