By Rita Okoye
Calista Chika Okoronkwo, an Imo indigene with a degree in Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is a successful actress and model. This seasoned thespian has graced the silver screen in numerous blockbuster films.
In this interview with Saturday Sun, Calista discusses her unwavering passion for acting, the challenges she’s faced in the industry, and her relationship deal breakers.
Enjoy!
How did your journey into the entertainment industry begin?
I learnt that nothing good comes easy, and persistence is key. Back in the day, we used to hustle a lot. From one audition to the other, like two or three auditions a day, and then you might not even be called back for anyone. Persistence is what has brought many of us here. I can mention names, we used to attend auditions together. Sometimes, one person would go ahead of us and write our names at different auditions. We had a fighting spirit. Because we knew we had a passion for this and that was what kept us going.
How was your first time on set?
My first time on set was bittersweet. It was bitter because I had some people making some comments like “Who is this person that they gave this role?” But I didn’t let those comments on set affect my performance whatsoever. The three scenes they gave me felt like 30 scenes, and I wanted to prove a point. Then, it was sweet because that first time on set, I was able to impress the director who started giving me more roles after that performance. So, I think it was a good one.
What were your initial challenges when you started and how did you overcome them?
My initial challenges were the fact that I would attend several auditions and never really get called back for any. I used to struggle between going to auditions and passing for an actual production in my school, it was quite difficult. At the time I started to take acting as a career, I had also been admitted into the University of Nigeria to study Economics. So, it was a bit difficult, because most times I would attend auditions and then, any time I get called back, I would not be able to make the production, because I would either be on my way to school or I’m already in school, and I couldn’t leave school and just come back for production. It was a bit difficult. That was very challenging, and all I had to do at that point was focus on my studies squarely. I said to myself that I couldn’t juggle these things because acting is very jealous – you have to face it if you want to be consistent. There is no way I can face it when I have my books to read; I have examinations to write and courses to register for. It was a challenge then. That was the reason I had to face my studies squarely.
How did your parents find out about your choice of career and what were their initial reactions?
My father was not too happy about the fact that I had chosen to be an actress at the time, because he said he wanted me to be a medical doctor. And so, it took a lot of time before it could sink in that this is something that I like to do. During my secondary school days, as a junior student, I was already a Drama Prefect. It was a bit unusual because, in my school, there were usually senior students, but as a junior student, I was already there. I used to coordinate a lot of dramas, hence the perfect title. My dad just knew that I had something inside of me, and at a point, after my mother talked and talked, he started to budge. He took me to my first movie set. He drove me himself because he wanted to be sure what was going on there. He was very protective. My mother didn’t have a problem. She loved the fact that I was going to be an actress because she loves to watch movies.
Who were those you looked up to while growing up?
While growing up, I used to look up to Joke Silva, so much. I love the way she speaks, I love her carriage, her poise. She is just second to none. Her delivery, I loved her so much and I still do. She is one person that I have looked up to.
Some celebrities are popular but not rich, where do you belong?
I don’t even know where I belong. I want to believe that I belong to the group that you haven’t mentioned here. I am a work in progress. I am not rich, I can’t say I am popular. I am just a face that a couple of people know. This isn’t being modest. I have not gotten to the stage where I feel like I can say that I have arrived. I am not in any of these groups which you have mentioned.
What do you think fame has deprived you of?
Fame has deprived me of absolutely nothing. I still stop at my best roadside bukka and eat what I want to eat and drink what I want to drink without anybody having to look at me in any way because I have not ever looked at myself as someone who is high class or anything. If it’s this food I want to eat, I go there and eat, if it’s that place I want to go, I go there. I don’t think fame has deprived me of anything. Maybe just my privacy, because sometimes you want to walk into some places quietly without getting noticed, but a lot of times I get approached by people who want to take pictures even when you’re not in the mood to take pictures, but you know you just have to smile for the cameras.
How do you think society perceives you as an artist?
I cannot tell, but I’ve met a lot of people who have asked why I don’t like to kiss in movies. Even now, I’ve gotten messages from people who ask: ‘Why am I so reserved? You don’t like to kiss, You don’t like the parts where you expose your body, why is that? We think you are too modest.’ Well, sometimes, if you are brought up in a certain way, it is hard for you to portray yourself as what you’re not, even though in the career I’m doing, I play pretence for a living; when it comes to modesty, it is something I don’t pretend about. Naturally, I am a modest person. I am not the kind of person who would love to expose her cleavage, who would love to expose her butts or any part of her body that is supposed to be covered. I would say I am uptight when it comes to that area. I think that is how people would perceive me. It is not a bad perception.
Have you ever been sexually harassed by anyone in the industry?
No, I haven’t. I read and hear about the ordeals of people, but it hasn’t happened to me. Maybe because coming into the industry, I had someone who was watching over my back. He was the one that was even bringing the jobs for me most of the time. So, I have never really had anybody ask me to sleep with them to get certain roles.
Now, everyone wants to be seen on TV, what’s your advice to young aspiring actors who want to be famous like you?
I would say, first of all, grab yourself an education. Education is key in life. No matter what you are doing, make sure you get your degree first; that is very important.
It is not bad to chase your dream early. But if you want to be focused on your dream and face your career squarely, try to be educated first. Education always has to be your priority. When you do that, you can decide to face acting squarely. There is no rush in life.
What kind of man turns you off?
The one that turns me off is a man who is not teachable. Most times, certain people believe that they cannot be corrected. No man is an island and no man can know everything. Every single day, we keep learning. The man who stops learning is a man who is six feet under. I believe that if we are in a relationship, we should be able to rub off on each other. If there is something I don’t know, you can teach me, and if there is something you don’t know, I can teach you.
I cannot stand a dishonest person. Just be straightforward. I think it is even more work when you try to be dishonest. But when you are honest, it is a lot easier. Just be as transparent as possible. That would save us a lot of stress.
Who’s your kind of man then?
A man who is honest, enterprising, tall and very spontaneous is a huge turn-on for me. A man who knows how to shower me with gifts. Send gifts for no reason. Some people will deliberately not call you on your special days. They won’t even send you gifts on your birthday, and then two days later, they start calling and texting. If you are close to me, you would know that I am someone who takes people’s birthdays very seriously. I do well to reach out to my friends on their birthdays. If I cannot tolerate friends who don’t value my special days, I will not tolerate that from a man. I love gifts and surprises. I’m not a person that just likes to take, I also like to give as well.
What can make you reject a suitor?
Don’t lie to me. I feel like if I am going to spend the rest of my life with you, you should be able to tell me everything about you and I should be able to tell you everything about me, even your darkest secrets. If I later find out things about you that you didn’t tell me, it is not going to go down well. If we’re going to spend the rest of our lives with each other, there should be no secrets.
Can you marry an actor?
I can marry just about anybody, as long as it is someone I feel can make me happy for the rest of my life. If it is someone I connect to and I feel we are going to make a great couple or union that will stand the test of time, this is the most important thing. I can marry anybody, but I must feel a genuine connection with the person that can last a lifetime with God in it.
Lastly, what role do you still look forward to playing?
I think I have played virtually every character, but I think I look forward to being in an action movie because I have never really been in an action movie, and I want to know what it looks like and if my entire body would come out to play in an action movie. I would love to be in an action movie someday.
