…Says “I love money and so I have to work for it”
By Rita Okoye
Folorunsho Adeola, better known by her stage name, Arike Gold, is a veteran Nollywood actress and filmmaker with a distinguished career.
In this interview with Sunday Sun, the affable Mass Communication graduate from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, discusses her journey into the industry, the impact of social media trends, and more.
What does fashion mean to you?
I’m a very simple person when it comes to fashion. I like simple outfits. I’m not a serious fashion person.
During movie production, do you get to decide what you will wear?
That doesn’t depend on me. It depends on the director and what he wants, or what the script wants. I can’t decide on one. But when it comes to simple outfits, I just go with what I have.
Sometimes, do you chip in your ideas in movie production?
You have to understand the character you are playing. If you’re the one styling yourself or there’s a stylist for your outfits, it depends on what character you are playing.
What would you classify as your most expensive fashion item?
My hair. I love hair. Very expensive.
When it comes to acting in Nigeria, a lot of people feel like in the industry, it is down to friendships. I wonder if it is not that way, how will people gather wealth?
It’s been like that before we got to the industry. When you get to the industry, you first do things for free, before you get paid roles. I don’t know about now. Everything has changed. You can even be a celebrity on social media before becoming a celebrity on television. Then, we used to do it for our friends, using it as a means to build our portfolio and promote ourselves. But now, it has to come with money. The dynamic has changed, I can’t say much. I’m a celebrity of the ‘old days’, but then we used to do it for ourselves, to celebrate ourselves. Like my friend has this project, I’ll hop on it, so that we can all become celebrities together.
When is your big movie out?
I’m working on it. I took a break for a while because I needed something that would give me money consistently. I’m still acting, but I just had to pursue that business. I love money, and so I have to work for it.
What’s your advice for budding actors; would you advise them to focus mainly on acting or would you advise them to have their side hustle?
That would be their personal decision to make. From my experience, I want to do something that will consistently give me income even if I am no longer in the acting business. If I have a business, even when I’m not present, it can be managed by someone else. But when I’m acting I have to be physically present. If I have my established business, it can be managed even when you are absent. That is why I had to take a break and diversify, to find something that could give me regular income.
How do you maintain this beauty?
It’s not easy. I honestly don’t know. I don’t stress myself. I just do me, and I don’t force it.
We never heard anything negative about you, no scandals or controversies, what’s your secret?
Well, I’m a very secretive person. If you are dating me, even if we see each other outside, we might not say ‘hi’ to each other. I’m a very private person, I don’t want things that will affect me. If the news carries fake stories about me, it might get to me and I don’t want it. It is also partly because of the kind of home I grew up in. My parents have already told me that they don’t want to hear negative things about me, so I know how to manage myself. I don’t want something that will tarnish their image. I’m still trying to maintain my family heritage, and I am proud of myself because it has been long. They don’t want me to spoil their name, and I am trying to keep that promise.
What is it like to maintain celebrity status?
It is not easy. Especially when you don’t have money. Money is a major factor. It is not like outrageous money, but at least a level in your finances where you can sustain your life, maintain your fashion sense, and maintain a lot of things. If you don’t have it you might be depressed. Celebrities need to be celebrated more. Sometimes, these celebrities cry inside their homes, and then they go out and smile for the cameras. But they are not happy because they cannot live the kind of lifestyle that they want. Celebrities usually can’t go anywhere without money. People will be out there asking for money, and you feel the need to give. It is not easy.
What are the things you wouldn’t do in the name of fame?
In your industry right now people do a lot of things just to trend. I would never do something my parents would not be proud of. Anything that I would do that my parents would start to call me and express worry, I would never do it. I think I owe them that. I have a lot of love and respect for my parents.
Do you think social media should be regulated?
I love social media. I think it should be there. I am generating a lot of income through social media. I am selling my business online, and people who buy for us are mostly not in Nigeria, so I want my business to be on social media.
What pays you more? Business or acting?
Acting pays more. I sell turbans and I do event planning as well.