Ogun State-hailing Sarah Yemi Adebanjo is a budding actress, with two movies to her credit. She talks about herself, love life and career in this interview with SEYI AKANBI.
WHAT is your take on the popular belief that marriage debars actresses from reaching the peak of their career?
I don’t think a man who truly loves me will not be happy seeing me excel in my career. Acting is a profession just like any other profession, why would a man want his wife in banking industry to succeed and not want the same if she is an actress?. I don’t agree that you have to be a single mother before you can be successful in the movie industry.
You know an African woman does not get married to the husband only, but to every member of the family, so if the man understands, do you think the family would be happy seeing a woman they went to pay her bride’s price delivering some promiscuous roles that do not befit a married woman.
It depends on their understanding and the way the man can put things across to the family. I had the same problem before and always tell people I am married and cannot play some roles, but my husband made me understand I needed to deliver every role convincingly. With this, I promised myself I will never put him to ridicule for reposing such confidence in me. I know it is not easy when people watch your wife slugging it out in bed with another man. Though it is make-believe, many will play it over and over in their minds. So, kudos to men who allow their spouses to act in movies.
As a responsible married woman who believes in marriage and its joys, how would you feel if your man asks you to quit acting?
I know he cannot say that because we’ve been together even before I decided to join the movie industry. He gives me freedom to exhibit and explore my latent potentials, and I know freedom without constraint is the beginning of bondage, so I will never cross the imaginary line I draw for myself, I will never do anything that would instigate him to change his disposition towards my prospect in the industry.
But people believe theatre artists are sexually loose, what is your take on this?
The issue of sexual promiscuity, lewdness and sexual harassment has to do with the way one portrays oneself. Many can’t differentiate between being friendly and being sexually suggestive, they can’t relate friendly without being sexually suggestive and inviting.
But some people once rumoured you were into Odun Adekola briefly? What really happened between you both?
People have right to say whatever they like, but the most important thing is to have a conscience void of offence towards God and all men. Odun featured in my movie in 2009, and after the production, I went to meet him in Abeokuta to take the still photographs I wanted to use for the poster and jacket of my movie. That was in December 2009, and since then, I’ve not set my eyes on him. We’ve not even met at any location since then. I will never have any affair with him or any other man in the industry.
What are the likely challenges you have faced so far in industry?
I think the fact that no one is ready to assist an upcoming artiste. Most of the producers and the marketers are not ready to offer upcoming artistes opportunities without desiring to go out with them.
Now that you have been able to break forth into prominence, does that imply that you too went out with at least one stakeholder before you could get yourself established in the industry?
The point is that I have been producing my movies through the support of my husband. Besides, God favours me with wonderful people like Kunle Afod, Bakky Adeoye and my marketer, Solosam, who is now late, and many others who believe in me, so I don’t stoop down to anybody.
What is your take on the celebration of lewdness and nudity in the industry?
Nudity is not peculiar to the movie industry only, it is everywhere, but those of us in the art business should campaign against it.
So how did you join the movie industry?
I discovered my passion for acting right from my formative stages, but I never thought of making a career out of it until I could no longer keep the thought to myself. I would watch every movie then. One day, when I was in 200 level I was watching a movie and something spurred me to call Kunle Afod. I joined his group and I started appearing in movies. And after my graduation, I started producing my own movies.
What do you have to say about actresses living fake lives, borrow cars, buy golds on credit etc, just to intimidate one another?
I don’t try to impress, oppress or intimidate anybody. I dress well and I’m very fashionable. I have no reason to borrow or acquire what I cannot afford to please anybody. It is true we have to look good, fine, but we don’t need to go extra mile.
What do you dislike about being an actress?
I enjoy everything associated with acting and film production, the bad, the good and the ugly ones.
Are you saying you fancy the fact that actresses are being tagged as commercial prostitutes?
Though not every actress indulges in prostitution, I can’t deny the fact that some do. Albeit, I still like everything associated with acting. Even though most of the stories credited to these actresses are not absolutely true, but no smoke without fire.
Can you tell me about the lucky man?
We courted for eight years and we have been married for three years now. We started the relationship in 2000 and we got married in 2008. He is a gift sent to me by God and I hold him in high esteem. He is indeed God sent.
Without his input, would you still have been able to reach this enviable height in your career?
No one can play the role of God in one’s live, so if I never met him, I believe I would still be great because he only waters the seed of greatness in me. He did not plant those seeds, I did not plant them, but God did. So if I had not met him, God would have sent another man to water the seed because He will never let His seed whither without bearing fruits.
tell me about yourself.
I am Sarah Yemi Adebanjo, I hailed from Ogun State and I studied Accounting at Olabisi Onabanjo University. I am first from the family of four and I am the only girl. I strongly believe that what will be will be irrespective how much we try to influence things.
