By Bolaji Olabode
Hailliote Sumney a Canadian-born Ghanaian actress better known as Haillie Sumney has revealed that she was shaking during her first movie kiss with Nigerian actor, Deyemi Okanlawon.
Sumney has featured in movies like Heels and Sneakers which was produced by Yvonne Nelson, Lagos Fake Life, a movie produced by Mike Ezuruonye is one actress who quit her career as a nurse at the Riverside Hospital in United States, to pursue acting in Africa.
Recounting her experience when she played her first kissing role, Sumney stated that she was scared.
In a chat with Kemi Filani News , the beautiful role interpreter said: “I was very nervous to play a romantic role for the first time. Unknown to many, I am naturally a shy and private person. My first kiss was with Nigerian actor, Deyemi Okanlawon in the movie “Kintampo” produced by Chris Attoh. I remember my hands shaking and palms sweating. Deyemi told me to calm down. He then showed me how to ‘fake kiss’ for the camera”.
The brand influencer and TV personality also opened up on what her experience was like breaking into Nollywood.
Hear her: “Breaking into Nollywood was far from easy. It was not a walk in the park. However against all odds, my resilience and persistence saw me through. Knowing the right people also helped me. My childhood friends that were into in the TV and movie industry also helped .It is good to always maintain good relationships. That is one of the lessons I learnt from that experience”
Going down memory lane, Sumney said that it wasn’t easy for her when she started out in California.
“I grew up in California, the land of Hollywood so I have always wanted to be a part of that. I would go for auditions, do adverts here and there, but it was never easy to break through”.
Speaking further, she noted that it can be irritating when people focus on her beauty and not on her actual talent. She added that people get carried away by her beauty.
“Sometimes it’s quite irritating when all they see is your beauty and not your talent .I guess they get carried away and mesmerized”.
On the Nollywood stars, she would love to work with, Sumney mentioned Richard Mofe Damijo and Genevieve Nnaji saying she has never read anything negative about them.
“I look forward to working with Genevieve and RMD. I love their acting, class and poise in general. You never hear them in negative news. I have had the delight of meeting the two of them. I met RMD at a movie production meeting so I know working with him is soon in the pipeline”.
Asked if she can cope with a cheating partner, she said: “No one would want to be cheated on by the one they love. Who wants to share who they love with someone else? Africa sometimes does promote polygamy. It is not an easy thing to deal with in Africa”.
