Princess Allwell Ademola is not only a talented actress,
she is a producer/director extraordinaire. Still single, she reveals why
her marital status hasn’t changed despite her growing fame.
You started with English movies but have moved to the Yoruba sector, why?
I am a proud Yoruba woman and can say that was the first
reason. Uncle Jide Kosoko was part of those who brought me to the Yoruba
industry. Any time we met on any English set, he would always advise me
to come “home” but I knew I couldn’t speak Yoruba fluently and would
not want be on a set where people will be making jest of me. Some would
even think I am trying to show off. Later, I decided to work on myself.
My first attempt was not funny. I remembered Madam Saje laughing at me.
Again, one of the reasons it was easier for me to move from English to
the Yoruba sector was because I really didn’t want to use the word
tribalism but that is the truth. The Yorubas at one time were doing well
in the English sector of Nollywood. Talking about the likes of Jola
Fani-Kayode,Wole Amele, Joke Silva, Olu Jacobs, Akin Lewis, Olumide
Bakare and the rest of them. But all of a sudden, the Igbos pumped money
into the industry (been business people) and took over. So, it wasn’t
easy for us the Yorubas to shine again as we were sidelined.
You were on dreads for about five years but had to remove it because of a
role in your movie, will you have done that for another person’s
production?
The producer will have to pay me handsomely I must confess.
Please talk about the movie and its connection to your hair.
The movie is titled “Omo Afe Mi” where my character lost the man she
loved dearly to a mysterious death. And out of curiosity and pain, she
took off the most prized possession (her hair) to curse whoever was
behind the death of her lover.
Last year seems to be a very busy year for you, how many films did you produce in 2016?
I produced seven movies in 2016 and that was because I had an
overflow of ideas I have written and developed some years back I had the
opportunity to project them last year. I believe in educating people
through my films.
(Cuts in) and making more money?
It is not about the money per se but giving back to the society.
Are you saying you didn’t make money from your productions?
Producers will only begin to make money when the government helps us
fight piracy. I am a singer and if I don’t make money from acting, I
will from singing. Besides, I didn’t say I ran into loss.
Have you been embarrassed at any time because of your size?
That has happened a lot of times but I don’t allow it get to me.
There was a day I was taking coffee in my Pastor’s office and a lady
stepped in. The lady in question didn’t know what I had in the cup , so
she felt it was chocolate and started educating me on what is best for
me to eat. However, I was angry and asked her what made her think I
don’t like what I look like. I even went as far as telling her I don’t
wish to be like her because she was skinny. At the end of the day, she
was the one who left my pastor’s office embarrassed. My father once
taught me that nobody can make you inferior without your consent.
Another one happened at an eatery. I was telling the attendant what I
wanted which was fried plantain, salad and moimoi. The man next to me
screamed, saying I don’t need fried plantain in the presence of many. I
was furious and gave him what he deserved for embarrassing me.
If there is anything you love to change about yourself, what will that be?
My heart, because I am a soft and emotional person. When I like a
person, I like the person to a fault and when I dislike you, I won’t
pretend about it.
Why is Allwell not married?
I would have been married some years back, I lost my man two months
to our wedding. He was shot by armed robbers and I mourned him for two
years. After then, I went into another relationship with my best friend
who was supposed to be our best man. (He was my friend and he later
became my man’s friend.) I later realised I didn’t know him well enough
after we dated for eight months. That was another heart break. Haven
suffered two heartbreaks , I decided to take it easy and fell in love
with my job. For now, I am fine without a man.
So how do you manage sex since you are not in a relationship?
Sex for me has to do with my mind. If I was in a relationship, I
could be very active sexually but since I am not in a relationship, what
could bring the thought of sex into my mind? Even when I was in a
relationship, I forget about sex when I am very busy. However, because I
am human and the urge comes, what I do is call some friends and we hang
out together. Thank God, there is also sex toy. Sex toy will not break
one’s heart or impregnate one. But that doesn’t mean that I use sex toy,
I am telling you the options available.
Source: Vanguard