Genevieve Nnaji has had her 15 minutes of fame, and its still going on, and is far from over. Love her or not, she has broken borders in ways no other African actress has. Always in the spotlight, a guaranteed attention-grabber she has had her fair share of rumours and accusations, yet she stands regal and unmoved… except in expanding her horizon.

So who IS she? On the weekend, I imagine her at spas getting manicures, body massages but she balks at the idea. Not the girly girl you’d expect, she says she goes to get herself ‘cleaned up’ (her hair done) but would rather stay at home and read through scripts, play video games, particularly tennis on the Wii, watch DVDs of Gossip Girl, Desperate housewives, America’s Next Top Model but ‘24’ tops her list.

Naturally an introvert, she enjoys the company of family and a few close friends to reveal the goofy side of her. When asked about if there was any pressure because so many young women look up to her as a role model, she says “I try to do me as much as I can. I’m very laid back to be honest. I’m an introvert, I like my few close friends around… I don’t carry crowds and I’m not out to make everyone my friend. That’s the real me. Pretending to be anything other than myself would be impossible for so long’”.

And on dealing with fans who come up her, she admits although she is an introvert, over time understanding her role as a celebrity to be more tolerant and more patient, she has had make a conscious effort to loosen up. “Normally I’d be quite blunt I just had to understand that not everybody who sees you will understand who you are because all they see is your face [in movies] and they judge you by that”. People walk up to her and talk to her like they already know her, or people make up stories about her but she just has to be “tolerant and patient” much to the consternation of the people who know her well. She brushes it off as “an occupational hazard” but admits it still throws her off. “People expect me to recognize them immediately from them staring at me from the T.V., or they scream my name from across the street like we went to school together but I don’t recognize them, and then they get offended”. So short of going out in a Rastafarian wig and body padding (the Nutty Professor comes to mind), she is selective about where she goes. All in all, she says ‘It’s a blessing because not everyone is lucky to be in the position I am in, and the appreciation that people have of me and the work I do is an extreme blessing. I am honoured and appreciate it; I will never take it for granted. So with the blessings come the….’not-so blessings’ but I count my blessing and focus on the positive sides”.

But a word of advice, if you do see her out and about, go up to her, smile and say hello, tell her you’re a fan or whatever, keep it brief and let her get on with her day and I promise you, you’ll see the warm person, I lost track of time chatting with, only just having met her for the first time!

So on the other plus side of fame, what free stuff do you get? (She breaks into another mysterious smile)

Yeah, I get some free stuff once in a while…’ after further pressing from me she owns up to free stays in hotels, recently a handbag, and more mostly sent by women! “Gifts coming from women makes me especially happy because women are naturally tough to please, (I am), and so affirmation from them means a lot to me”.

What upsets you, what gets you down?

“People who can’t find it in themselves to wish other people well, or just run them down because the good thing is not happening to them. I give kudos where kudos it’s due, I call a spade a spade, stay positive and focus on my blessings.

I asked her about the infamous facade that many people believe she puts up.

“I am very reserved naturally, I already explained my upbringing, I don’t know what… It’s hard to pretend for so long. Anyone who can pretend for so long will be the best actor EVER! Even if you meet someone new, just give them 10 minutes, and that person’s true colour will come out….I only pretend when I’m being paid to”.

So, sorry to disappoint you ladies and gentlemen but she is no Paris Hilton. We will never see pictures of her tumbling out of clubs or changing men like she’s changing shoes. She has no desire to paint the town red or court the media…. she’s not saint, but she’s definitely not a sinner.

Photography by TY Bello

Make Up by MUD.

Styled by Niki Bakare & Oseyi Etomi