The dream of every
parent is for their children to follow in their foot steps but not for
popular actress, Laide Bakare. For reasons best known to her, Laide has
insisted that her daughter would rather not become an actress like her.
In as much as she wants her to become famous, it would be in another
profession not acting.
The Oyo
State-born actress and University of Ibadan graduate of Theatre Arts
opened up to The Entertainer on her rise to stardom, her sex life and
relationship with pop singer, 9ice. Excerpts:
What have you being doing lately?
I just made
a multi-million naira movie. The movie is entitled, Jejere and it
features 9ice who played a major role including talented actors like
Emeka Ike, Akin Lewis, and Fathia Balogun among others. It has really
taken a lot of my energy because it is not just about me but basically
about being a business woman and entrepreneur, someone that invested so
much in a production company called, Simline Records. The company is
borne out of my love for music and the arts. My interest is solely to
help identify, grow and support talented youths.
What's the main focus of your movie, Jejere?
Simline is
putting together a world-class event to officially unveil and present
these projects. The event tagged: "The Laide Bakare Experience" will
witness the premiere of the movie, "Jerere" and official presentation of
my record label and its artistes. The event would be rounded off with a
concert that will feature performances by King Wasiu Ayinnde, T-code
and 9ice among others. It will take place at Orchid Hotel, Lekki, Lagos
on Sunday January 13, 2013. When you make a good movie and interpret it,
it doesn't matter the language. I went extra length to make a good
quality movie, which talks about bad leadership, discrimination against
women, love and culture. The movie will be in major cinemas from this
month.
At what time did you decide to be a filmmaker?
It has
always been my passion to be a filmmaker. My coming into the movie
industry actually started from the idea of me being a filmmaker and a
business woman. Though, I have been carried away with acting, I knew
that deep inside me I will make good movies one day. So, when the time
came, I gave it full attention. That's exactly what I am doing now
though, I produced my first movie in my second year at the university.
So far I have done about 12 movies. I am never in a hurry to make
movies. I do movies that will impact society positively.
How did you venture into movie industry?
I never
planned to go into acting. At a point I thought about going into
politics, but I don't like Nigerian politics. My father owns a hotel and
movie people used to come and shoot in the hotel. So, anytime they
needed help, I was the one providing it for them. Among my father`s
children, I was the only one that was assisting them. Then, I was a
teenager, about 16 years old and was about to go to University of Ibadan
to study Theatre Arts, most of them encouraged me to start acting while
I was still in school.
How did your parents feel when you wanted to join tbe movie industry, did they object?
My parents
never objected to my acting career. In fact, they supported my very
first production. I remember my mum cooked for me on location. At the
time, I was in school and my father had bought a camera for me to
produce my movie. My dad has been supporting the movie industry for a
long time. I will say from day one, my dad and mum had been there for
me. They stood by me even when some actors were trying to look down on
me because they thought that making movie is only for old people, but my
parents encouraged me. Today, a lot of actresses have learnt from me to
take bold steps.
Tell us about your background?
My dad is
from Ibadan, Oyo State and my mum is from Oshogbo in Osun State. I grew
up here in Lagos and my father owns a hotel and construction company. I
graduated from University of Ibadan.
What was your growing up like?
My growing
up was very interesting because we have one boy and some females. We
have always been popular in our area because our street is named after
my father, that is Bakare Street. So, people in the community used to
call us Bakare girls. While growing up within the neighborhood, I have
always been popular but sometimes I would just pretend I didn't know.
What is your relationship with 9ice
9ice acted a
major role in the movie, Jejere. I am surprised because I don't know
what prompted the story that 9ice and I are dating. Some people like to
create something out of nothing. There is nothing of such between us. We
are just friends. I am too big for that kind of rumour.
Do you have any plan to produce English movies?
I can make
English movies. I am a movie maker, it doesn't matter what genre of
movie. I have an English movie that I am working on, and very soon we
would produce it.
What is the craziest thing a fan has done to you?
They said I
am a short woman. But I am not short. As a matter of fact, my stature
doesn't stop me from being who I am. But it can be embarrassing
sometimes.
How long have you been married?
Yes, I am
married for so long. I don't like discussing my family, that's my
private life. I have one kid. But I don't want to talk about that.
How do you strike balance between your job and the home front?
It is God. I
won`t talk about my family because that's what I so much cherish. I so
much treasure my daughter and my husband. I treasure them a lot. I avoid
anything that will affect them. I don't want to have problem with my
family. I don't want to put them in the public eye. I would rather keep
it to myself.
Most men would like to date a pretty lady like you. How do you handle stubborn male admirers?
Most of
them know that I am married. Even if they are crazy about me, they
should know that I am married. Actually, there is nothing to talk about
them. I don't like talking about man or woman affairs. It's one thing I
don't really like to talk about.
What challenges do you encounter as an actress?
The only
time I had challenges was when I was in the university. It was not easy
struggling with education and work. Struggling with my education and the
birth of my baby was also a challenge. At a time, I needed to leave
school to go and have my baby so, all those things were challenging. I
had to travel out of the country to meet my husband and then come back. I
was always going out and coming in.
How do you cope since your husband is based abroad?
We always
keep in touch. We travel to meet him over there and he also comes home
to be with us. That's how we have been coping. We are here today, we are
in America tomorrow. But it has been fun. We create time for work,
either his work or my own work. It might not work for other families but
it works for us.
Can you fight over love?
I believe
in love but not to the extent of fighting or committing suicide or even
killing someone over it because life must go on. I don't believe that
love is blind. I believe in love but you have to open your eyes widely
to see it.
Is there any part of your body you cannot expose no matter the offer?
Yes, of
course, my private part. I have to keep it, I can`t expose it. But I can
expose my back and legs. I can expose the whole of my back. That's all.
Your husband wouldn't feel bad about exposing any part of your body?
No, he can`t feel bad. He loves what I am doing as an actress. He encourages me and he wants me to do more.
How did you feel about your first kiss on screen?
I cannot remember it because it was not memorable. It was a long time and it was not passionate.
When did you start having sex?
I didn't
start having sex at early age. It took me a very long time even though
it was something I had always been looking forward to. I looked up to it
almost three years before I eventually had sex. It wasn't a nice
experience with my first boyfriend. We dated for six years and we had
sex after four years of our relationship. I was 18 when I met my first
boyfriend. I was still a virgin then, even while in the movie industry
for close to three years. I think the first time I had sex I was about
21 years old. It was what I had been looking forward to, but it wasn`t a
nice experience.
What makes a good actress?
It's the ability to interprete all the roles given, any role at all.
Would you allow your daughter to go into movies?
No. I don't
like it, may be, something else but definitely not the movie industry. I
don't know why I don't want to involve my daughter in that line. It is
not easy handling things and all that. I love my daughter to be popular,
but probably in other profession not in the movie industry.
Culled From: The Sun
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