Regina Chukwu is an
actress, producer and director who has made her mark in the movie industry,
shooting and taking part in many major movies. With 12 movies and counting, to
her credit, she is hungry for more. She tells Tosin
Cleggabout her journey, motherhood, her career in the different sectors of
the industry and much more
Regina the Lagos girl
I was born in Lagos and grew up in Lagos in Alimosho. I attended
Alimosho Primary and Grammar Schools then later went to Lagos State Polytechnic
(Laspotech). I think right now, I am living my dream, as a kid of being an
actress and see myself on TV. I watched a lot of TV programmes when I was
younger and I admired people on my TV screen. So, I think am living my dream
now.
I’m a Nigerian first before being Igbo
I was born and live among the Yorubas in Lagos. Yoruba is a
language I understand very well and I think I speak Yoruba more than my
language. Going into the movie industry, I wanted to go into the English side
but Yoruba movies affected me and they were welcoming and made me feel at home.
So, I started off with them.
I have always loved
acting
But the person that showed me the right steps to take was this
young guy that lived in my area in those days. He would say ‘Aunty Regina I
like your face o and if you act you would make it’. Then I was like I would love to act but for now, I don’t have
time for that, as things were not too okay for me then and I was like not now.
But he comes every other day to disturb me where I was selling to tell me to
let him introduce me to somebody who would be my mentor in the industry. Then
one day I decided to go with him and that was how it started. I joined the
guy’s circle and stayed with him for a year or two then I moved to Kunle Afod
circle. I understudied him for a few years and did my first movie. That was it
and the rest they say is history.
When I came to the industry, I thought it was going to be easy
and that I would just come and there would be rules and that’s just it. But it
wasn’t easy, as it was difficult and roles weren’t coming, nothing was
happening and nobody believed in anybody as they didn’t believe in wasting
their time on who they are not sure of. So, the first one was the fact that it
was difficult for me to get roles, so I had to become a makeup artiste on set
and with that, I became acquainted with so many people and when I go to
production and probably they need extra cast I would be able to take a role.
Later on, I shot my own movie and became the lead cast, and that
was it. I produced myself and it was called ‘Ogunso’ and everyone was like who
is this new girl and all that. After Ogunso, I shot another one, Idaro and
everyone started getting accustomed to me. Then the biggest of them all came,
which was ‘Akun’ where I played a stubborn character.
It was the movie that
brought me to the limelight and paved way for me. It’s a nice movie and people
still make reference to it, such as ‘that grandma daughter, that girl that
played a secondary school girl in the movie and she is even Igbo’ and all.
I have produced about 12 movies and the first actors I was
opportune to work with in my early days were Antar Laniyan, Toyin Adewale, Baba
T, Liz Dasilva, Funke Akindele, Iyabo Ojo and more, as I have worked with so
many producers and actors.
My kids are everything
to me
I have a boy and a girl and they are no longer kids though. They
are teenagers and the challenge is that I have been the only one catering for
them since we lost their father. And it’s not been easy and it’s been 15 years
since their father died and it was a painful phase taking care of them. I’ve
been their mother and father, doing so many things that ought to be done by
their father. As a young widow in the society, I bless God and the kind of
children He blessed me with. They are the kind of children that would
understand if we don’t have one or two things, and they manage with me. We have
been blessed with good health and love around us so I just thank God.
Talking about successes
Looking back at the journey and where I started from and where I
am today, it’s a success story for me. So many people we started the journey
together have abandoned this profession, but I’m still here and relevant.
That’s a success story for me, as I have produced about 12 movies. Also, I basically
raised my kids with this work and it’s a success story for me. My life is a
success story, and even my kids are going to university. So many things
represent my success story, as I have come a long way.
My ongoing projects
I have shot some movies that hopefully would get to the cinema,
and I am still hoping to shoot more this New Year and I pray to God to help me
to finish them. And I have a movie titled, ‘Encounter’ and that’s one of the
biggest movies I have shot so far. So I’m hoping it goes to the cinema this
year.
Life has taught me
that whatever will be, will be
Sometimes you look at yourself and feel you are probably losing
something or somebody else is getting something or what’s wrong with me? Or is
there something I’m not doing right or are other people having this and am not?
But I believe when it’s your time, it would come, as everybody has their own
special time to be celebrated. Just keep pushing and doing that thing you love
to do best.
I deal with fame
pretty fine
And fame hasn’t cost me anything I do normally. I’m a free
person and I still do the things I used to do, except the fact that I used to
sell wares beside the road, and now I live a better life. When I’m off the set
I’m still Regina and if being a celebrity has done anything for me, it’s to be
a better me.
I like business
And I would love to do buying and selling. I like it so much
more and, asides from that, it’s acting and everything that has to do with
filming. For my hobbies, I like travelling and seeing beautiful places and
watching movies a lot. I like Korean movies and staying indoors enjoying my
space. The happiest you see me is when I’m in front of the camera and I like
going to locations.
I see myself where God
wants to place me
I see myself as a better person, as the plan of God for me is a
better one. I know where he wants to place me is better.
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