Okechukwu Ukeje, better known as OC Ukeje is an actor, model and musician. He came into prominence after winning the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality show. His stellar performance in movies like Two Brides and a Baby, Hoodrush, Alan Poza, Confusion Na Wa and Half ofa Yellow Sun are testament to his artistic prowess. Ukeje got married to Ibukun Togonu (nee Bickerseth) last month. In this interview with ORUKPE NELSON, he opens up on career, marriage and affair with Stella Damasus.

Many had thought you were going to get married to an older lady since many of them seem to flock around you?

Well, it’s okay for ladies to be around one, but why should people think that I would be married to an older person? Well, as a matter of fact, there’s nothing absurd about it. Everybody already say age is but a number and I guess it’s actually individuals that decide what works for them. I think I’ve made the best choice.

Obviously, everybody tell you your percentage of female followership will dwindle, but at the end of the day, you don’t live for the people; you live the life for yourself. And that’s what is important to me.

How long have you known your wife?

I’ve known her for about 13 years.

You mean you’ve dated her for 13 years?

You asked me how long I’ve known her and that answer is to your question precisely. We dated for a few years.

Could you recall your first encounter?

No, I can’t. It was actually my first year in the university and it’s been a long time.

Don’t you think you probably disappointed some people by not marrying someone from the industry where you practically spend most of your time?

Even if you’re in the industry, you’ll decide what elements of your life you expose to the industry and the ones you won’t. There’s nothing wrong in dating someone in the industry from my opinion.

The most important thing is finding the right woman in the industry you’d want to date. So, it doesn’t matter whether she’s in the industry or not. People also think it’s easier to date someone in the industry, but you as an individual must discern what works for you.

After your role in Two Brides and a Baby, there were suggestions of something amorous between you and your co-star, Stella Damasus. How true is that?

Well, if there was an insinuation that the chemistry that existed between Stella and I while on set was original, then I think we did our job well which was the most important thing anyway. Stella is a very brilliant actor, someone I admired before coming into the industry and she set me along the paths of meeting the kind of people I wanted to work with. To be honest, Stella introduced me to a lot of peoplein the business. And that was good for my career. We have personal relationship as friends outside the working relationship.

What’s the best thing that happened to you in 2014?

Of course, getting married is the best thing that happened to me this year.

How would you assess your career in 2014?

I think my career has done pretty well this year. I’m very happy about the films that had been released and the ones I shot. I’m also very excited about where this will take me in theyears to come.

Has acting been your first love or was it an afterthought?

I stumbled upon acting actually. I just happened to be doing plays and I figured that I’m good at it and people took me seriously and thought that I could develop it which was what I did. And I started working with the right kind of people, it changed my game altogether. Music was actuallymy first love.

So how far have you gone with your first love?

I haven’t done anything commercial, but music is still very much in the pipeline and at some point, I’ll do it.