ENTERTAINMENT: “I HAVE CHOSEN TO REMAIN SINGLE 23 YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF MY HUSBAND BECAUSE…”

--- Veteran Actress, Princess Dupe Adetuwo, opens up

+ Her acting career and dreams for Ondo State entertainment industry

There is no gainsaying the fact that Princess Dupe Adetuwo is an epitome of beauty; an embodiment of creativity and intelligence.

This veteran Nollywood actress; movie producer; interior decorator cum politician, is a mother of 3. Back in her Alma Matta, Ondo High School, Ondo State, Nigeria, Princess Dupe Adetuwo represented the state in Table Tennis.

She even ended up as the Ondo State women’s table tennis champion. She has a burning passion for writing, which she picked as a hobby whilst in secondary school and landed her first screen role in the 1980s in the then popular TV show, “Mirror in the Sun”.

Recently, Event Diary Lifestyle, Princess Adeola Shittu had a 1 – on – 1 with this pretty Ikale Princess, who is the CEO of ‘Princess Dee’s Film Productions’ as she spoke on her career and other germane issues.

Princess, tell us about yourself?

I was born over 5 decades ago to the family of late Oba J. A Adetuwo, the Abodi of Ikaleland, Ikoya in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State. I am one of the Ondo State Culture and Tourism Ambassadors. I was a former SSA to the Special Adviser on Culture & Tourism to former governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and currently, I am a Council Member of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State.

I hold an HND in Business Administration from Auchi Polytechnic and I started my acting career in 1983. I love playing table tennis when I was still very young, I won Table tennis competitions twice for Ondo State.

I was a former Chairman, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ogun State Chapter and a member of TAMPAN, Ondo State Chapter. I own Princess Dee’s Film Productions.

Put us through your Acting Career and what inspired you into Acting?

Thank you for that. I am grateful for where I am today in the industry. I must say it has been God all through but the most important thing is the passion I have for acting, which started during my childhood. I grew up to know that my late father, the Abodi of Ikale land, Oba J.A Adetuwo the 2nd, was a great artist and an entertainer and this inspired me a lot. During his lifetime, he was into traditional music (as a Performer) before he became king. I was born during his reign as king and I grew up to a lot of traditional activities, festivals, dancing expenditures, all being coordinated by my late father and this gives me a lot of joy. He was a great singer and dancer. All this motivated me and while growing up, I have always had this dream of been watched on TV entertaining people, today I am grateful that I pursued my childhood dream and here we are today. 

How long have you been Acting?

Hmmmm…. plus or minus, this year marks my 36 years in the industry. I started my acting profession by featuring in the drama series of ‘Song of Birds’ by Uncle Jimi Solanke. It was on celluloid before it was taken to the National Theatre and Tade Ogidan was the cameraman.

I also featured in another series and that happened to be my steps to stardom and from there we moved to “Mirror in the Sun”. It used to be a popular series in the 1980’s and I will say the series brought me to limelight before I relocated abroad to start my own family and have kids. I also furthered my education but when my husband died, I had to return to Nigeria in the year 2005. On getting back to Nigeria, most of my contemporaries that we started together then, the likes of Sola Shobowale, Clarion Chukwura, Ngozi Nwosu and others, had become big names in the industry because they never left the industry as it was growing.

This made them household names but the fact that we all started together made it easy for me to join them when I returned in 2005. I have starred in many movies, TV drama series, stage plays and lots of sitcoms. 

How many movies have you produced?

I have featured in countless number of movies. I have done many stage productions like: “Home to Ajegunle”, “Melting Pot” with Larry Williams, and in 2005 when I returned to Nigeria, I produced “Tinu Mi Ni Momo”, I also produced “To roe nu” and I am on my third project now. Also, I have done many skits. I am a crossover Nollywood actress. I have featured in several English and Yoruba movies/TV soaps e.g “Family Circle” by Taju Adepetu, “Today” by Ruth Oyenekan. “New Dawn” created by Princess herself, “Song Bird” on celluloid by Uncle Jimi Solanke, “Country People”, “Zenith”, “Everyday People”, “Cracking Ribs” by late Obawole Amele, the Alara of Aramoko, “Mirror in the Sun”, “Dazzling Miriage” by Tunde Kelani, “Diamond Ring” by Tade Ogidan, “Village Headmaster”, “Papa Ajasco”, “Family Ties”, “Behind the Scene” by Tade Ogidan, “Legacy”, “Home of Ajegunle” by Larry Williams, “Havens”, “Super Story”, “Special Protection Anticrime Squad”, “Back to Soil” among others. Apart from the English movies and series, I have produced “Timu mi ni Momo”, “Edun Ara”, “Ireke” among others.

I have also featured in “Iyan Ogun Odun”, “Esin Iwaju”, “Inu  Egbin”, “Eje”, “Demola  Oninure”, “Temi ni ti e ko”, “Ranti Orisun”, “Mi ose ko gba”, “Igba Ewe”, “Ale Ojo Yuppy”, “Asogbodilu”, “Placenta”, “Afunso”, “Koro Aye”, “Mafi kan gba kan”, “Gbewiri”, “Owo Asela”, “Omi Ewuro”, “Okokoriko/Elebolo”, “Oro to wo seti”, “Mosera mi”, “Ibironke”, “Awodi Oke”, “Oro Enu”, “Kedere”, “Mama Commander” and many others.

Looking back at your journey as an actress, will you say you are fulfilled?

I will say yes I am fulfilled to an extent. I am fulfilled because I am a very ‘contented’ person. I am not looking for too much, my life is simple and with what God has done for me so far, I will say I am grateful and fulfilled.

Going by the level of your colleagues in the industry, why did you choose to relocate home (Ondo State) and not stay in Lagos or other state, just like your contemporaries?

Thanks so much. I have lived all my life in Lagos, and to the glory of God, I have properties there but again I love life on the country side. My children are grown up and are all based abroad. On the other hand, I am approaching retirement age, so I felt I need to move closer to my people back home and see how I can touch lives from the little I have. I am happy here and my impact is felt here. I will continue to make impact and moves to see that Ondo State is placed on the world map as one of the great states that encourages theatre industry in Nigeria, so help me God.

As an international cum home based actress, how do you feel with the changes in the Ondo State movie industry in the last few years?

I am happy and I will say things are getting better in Ondo State entertainment industry compared to years back. I will say things are really taking shape and I am happy with the development. We are not doing badly at all, and very soon I believe Ondo State will overtake Lagos State, we will overtake Ogun State and beat the likes of Odunlade, the likes of Lateef Adedimeji and many more. These are what we working on and very soon we shall get there.

Will you say your contribution or better still, your presence, has contributed to the changes we are all seeing in the industry today in Ondo State?

Thank God for what He has done for me so far. I will say yes, I have tried my best and like that popular adage: “charity begins at home”.

So it has been a dream come through and the joy of putting Ondo State movie industry on the world map where things happen. In my own capacity I try to bring our people together, to cooperate with one another, to join hands together to achieve more goals and to show some love to ourselves in other to make the Yoruba movie industry grow. I belong to the English and Yoruba movie industries, I am a cross over artist. I was former Chairman of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Ogun State chapter. So I am highly experienced and the experience I garnered over the years has helped us and here we are.

How cordial is your relationship with TAMPAN members in Ondo State?

As an elder in TAMPAN, I will say I enjoy good work relationship with them and I will continue to enjoy it. I am also a member of AGN and I am cool with them.

You once coordinated AGN Ondo State chapel, how are they doing, to the best of your knowledge?

I know they can do better but they are not moving as expected. I pray that their Chairman, Ajisafe, will meet our expectation and take to advice. On the other hand, TAMPAN is doing fine.

Is any of your children taking after you?

Hmmm…. you see acting or let’s say entertainment, runs in the family. Two of my children are already into it. My daughter who is a Lawyer by profession, is into modeling and movie making aboard. Being a graduate notwithstanding, she still finds time to act. Also, my last born, he sings and also raps. And this makes me happy.

Why have you not remarried 23 years after the death of your husband?

Hmmm…. This year makes it 23 years that I lost my lovely husband. He was a very good and kindhearted man, the kindest man I have ever seen. It is not that I have not been in a relationship after his death. But while growing up, I had a covenant with my God that I want 3 children and God gave them to me, I am blessed.

You will agree with me that, any man I am in a relationship with now will surely want me to have at least a child for him, and I never wanted any extra luggage (laughing). On the other hand, no single guy will want to marry me, expect a married man and I am not ready to break any home and I don’t like hide and seek relationship. When I am dating you, I want everyone to know we are dating but when you start hiding up and down, it pisses me off. This and other reasons made me decide to be married to my children and be myself.

Your advice to aspiring actors/actresses in Nigeria?

My advice to aspiring actors/actresses coming into the industry and those who are already there is that they should remain focus and be determined, they should acquire more knowledge through training, to know the rudiments of acting and have passion for the job. Also they should be prepared for the challenges that come with the profession.

What is your view on the issue of Sexual Harassment in the industry?

The fact remains that you can’t rule out Sexual Harassment, it is everywhere but it is now left for you to make the decision on what you want and prove to them that you are good at what you do. You don’t have to be sleeping around before you can get there, although we still have the very few ones who are decent in the industry. Sexual Harassment is everywhere.

Have you ever been Sexually Harassed in the industry before?

I won’t say harassment per se but I have been approached by the so called producers that they want to make me a star by giving me a lead role but they will have to sleep with me first. Unfortunately those who tried it, regretted trying such with me. It all depends on your body language and how you present yourself to them. It will interest you that some of our people even pay producers in other to feature them in productions and still offer them their bodies. So most of these producers, not all, but at least 90 percent of them will always think everyone is the same.

Tell us, what is the secret of your beauty?

Hmmmm, the secret of my beauty has been God, like I said earlier, my simplicity outlook towards life, I take things easy, I don’t give rooms for anything to trouble me and I thank God for the “beauty”.