After
her marriage a few years ago, popular Yoruba actress, Ope Aiyeola, who
was known for her regular appearances in home videos, relocated to the
United Kingdom with her husband.
In a recent interview, the mother of two, who has returned to
Nigeria, shared secrets of maintaining a happy
home, her absence/return to Nollywood and other issues.See excerpts below:
It was reported that you are back in full force into the industry.
Yes
I am, but not in the way people are putting it. My plan is to come home
regularly to work; but I still have my family and home in the UK.
When you were away, what did you miss most about being a celebrated actress?
I was always travelling round to different locations. I really missed that.
How has marriage changed your conception about life?
Marriage
has made me understand that two heads are better than one. Actually,
being in the right relationship is a blessing. Life isn’t a bed of
roses, but with a good partner and good people around me, and of course,
God on my side, I am always victorious.
What does it take to have a great marriage?
Well, God’s grace, true love, contentment, submission and of course, forgiveness.
People said you were arrogant. Has that changed now that you are married?
Arrogant? There is nothing to change. Or what do you think? Do you say I am arrogant?
But that is what we heard…
People are entitled to their opinions.
Why did you come back to Nollywood?
I never left.
If you never left, what were you doing during those moments that you were out of the country?
I was building my home. I still am.
Now that you are back, would your hubby not complain about the tight schedules and all?
Complain?
Yes, you know men and their attitude
My
commander in chief is the captain of the ship while I am the sailor;
so, he doesn’t complain. My man is not like the others, and that was why
I married him. He is 100 percent in support of my career.
Is Ope Aiyeola still as sexy as she used to be?
To my husband, I am very sexy. I love what I see when I look into the mirror, and you can be the judge of that.
As a married woman, do you still get advances from men?
Most
definitely. It just corroborates the fact that my hubby is taking good
care of me. People always admire good things, you know?
Do your male fans still harass you sexually?
No
one harasses me, but they express themselves; and you know people
express themselves differently. So, I no longer see it as sexual
harassment.
It was said that Baba Suwe got you pregnant and your husband threatened to divorce you?
Okay nah! There is no air to clear. People know the truth.
So, you never dated Baba Suwe?
All I can say is people know the truth.
On a lighter note, what did your hubby say attracted you to him?
My beauty of course.
Beauty and not intelligence?
Well, what the eyes see comes first before other things.
What’s the most priceless asset that you possess?
That would be my salvation.
Unlike
those years when you hit the movie industry, you seem now to be behind
in the female fold of leading actresses. Does that not bother you?
Behind? Never! I am ever in front. The results from the break are worth a million years break.
But people say you came back to the industry because you are broke?
Okay!
You haven’t answered my question.
I have answered you. My reaction to this is ‘okay’; or have you got a better answer?
What is Ope Aiyeola up to now?
I
have two productions on ground. One of the movies should be released
this month and the other in December. They are entitled Agbeko and Jaiye
Oba.
What’s your relationship with other female acts, especially Fathia Balogun?
We are colleagues
Just colleagues? Nothing more; you are not even friends?
Nothing more.
I thought you would have settled the issues you had with her years back.
Issues with whom? I have not got issues with anyone. Life is too short for all that
