Background
My name is Sylvia Ezeokafor. I was born
and raised in Abuja. I am from Anambra State. I am the youngest of six
children. I studied Theatre Arts at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka,
Anambra State.
Awards
Last year, I won the award for Best
Rising Star at the Nollywood Movies Awards. I won the Best New Actress
award at City People Choice Awards. Lately, I got the Most Promising
Actress, Best of Nollywood Awards.
Journey into acting
As a child, my mother was my influence. I
had a lot of stuffed toys because I had no friends. Whenever I returned
from school, I would pack my toys together, play and talk to them. My
mother always watched me, recognised the talent and encouraged me to
study Theatre Arts. I was a pure science student and wanted to be like
Einstein and Newton. After school, I moved to Lagos where I didn’t know
anyone. There were times I got home very late at night and cried myself
to sleep out of regrets. On the other hand, whenever I got good roles, I
would be happy. My mother was my motivation but I lost her when I was
20. I didn’t want to let the dream die, so I ventured into acting.
Nollywood
I am who I am and I believe there is
enough space in the sky for every star. I respect my senior colleagues
and I watch their movies for inspiration.
Style
It is your personality. It is who you are
and how you see yourself. My style is very Afro-centric. I am an
African and I like my brown skin. I cannot bleach it and I try to
portray it in one way or the other. I like to dress in African prints
too.
Most expensive accessory
I have to be philosophical about it – my most expensive accessory is my heart. Why? Without it beating, I wouldn’t be alive now.
Beauty routine
I cannot do without mascara. This may be
due to my big eyeballs. Even when I do not wear any make-up, I always
wear mascara on my lashes. I eat fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of
water and exercise regularly.
Saddest moment
When I lost my mother.
Dislikes
I do not like people who wear pity as an
adornment. Pity hasn’t done anybody any good. I also hate it when people
borrow small stuffs from you and never return them. DVDs and novels are
never returned when people borrow them.
Leisure
I love to see movies. I go out to swim or
to the zoo to watch animals. I am an outdoor person and very
adventurous. I like to be in touch with nature.
Nudity
I do not have a problem with nudity in
movies. I am an actress. And my body is my tool. If I have to act nu*de
in a movie, it will depend on how good the script is, how favourable it
is to me as an actress, the kind of movie and most importantly, the
director. He has to be a director I trust. He has to be someone who
produces without demeaning my acts. Lupita Nyong’o was nu*de in the
movie, ‘12 years as a slave,’ and she is an Oscar nominee now. It’s part
of the job. Sex sells and it happens every minute in Hollywood. In
Africa, we want to be Africans and non-Africans at the same time. It’s
something we knew before we signed up as actors.
Advice to younger acts
Keep believing. Dare to dream. Einstein
said, ‘I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination.’
Thoughts become things and you should dream as big as you want. Do not
be limited by your circumstances because you never know what tomorrow
holds. Never give up on yourself because life is not easy all the time.
PUNCH
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