We learn you are now a make-up artiste. How did you find yourself in this field?
I've
been doing this for a long time. I don't have an office yet because I
do a lot of things, so I really want to be sure of what I want to open
an office for. The bridal make-up comes up almost every weekend. From
one job, I get another job and I get another job from that one. Bridal
make-up has been very okay.
You are into interior décor as well,
I do that as well. I just finished working on a hotel in Calabar. It took me almost three months to complete the job.
But how did you come into this line? We thought acting was your love?
I
don't like being idle; I'm always up and doing. I like to venture into a
lot of things. I like to do new things. Acting is obviously in me.
Acting is beautiful; it pays. But I just like to venture into a lot of
things. But I love everything I do.
But don't you feel bad that you are no longer acting in movies like most of your contemporaries?
I
really don't have a problem with that. Acting is not what you can
retire from. Acting is always there for any good actor. I just finished a
job, which would be premiered in the US and Canada. I would rather be
into one beautiful big project, where you can demonstrate your talent. I
don't want to continue doing this home video thing; I want to do
movies. I'm not a square peg in a round hole. Most people who know me
also know I'm good, I'm okay. I've three scripts right now. Each time I
get scripts, my brothers and I talk about them.
Some people might say you went off the screen because the scripts weren't coming any longer.
Not
at all! It is not true. I was in Germany for about five months. I was
also in the UK for some period of time doing some things I don't want to
talk about right now. I've been okay with what I've been doing. I shot a
movie late last year. I was in Owerri. Mike Ezuruonye was also in the
movie. I did the movie because it was so challenging. We rehearsed with
real guns in the movie. It is not the usual kind of movie we are used to
everyday.
Tell us what it is like being in a family of actors.
It
is just like asking me how it is being in a family of doctors. There is
nothing wrong with acting or engineering. It is fun and interesting. It
is something we can all sit down and talk about. It helps to have a
brother who does the same thing that you do. We learn from each other.
Timaya said one of his greatest regrets was having you as his girlfriend. Did you hurt him that much for him to have said that?
Ah!
Empress! Seriously, I told myself that I wasn't going to talk about
this in the papers because I've learnt a lot. I've learnt that being
good is not really a good thing in this country. Trying to help people
is not a good thing too. Whatever you do, people will try to criticise
you. I've always been a good person. Apart from the fact that people are
not blind, apart from the fact that people are not dumb to know the
truth, I don't have to go to the papers to justify what happened in that
relationship. But I've been in the spotlight before he ever thought of
getting there. People have always known me for being nice. I hate proud
people; so, I will not boast about things I did for people. It is so
glaring who should really go to the papers and say the relationship was a
mistake. I don't want to criticise anybody. I don't want to talk about
it. I still give God the glory. Without events, there won't be history.
It has made me not to trust people or live my life for them.
We learnt you wanted to sue him. We
had a case recently and people said I sued Timaya for an X amount of
money. Obviously, money is not my problem. I started making money long
before Timaya ever thought of seeing millions. I just did what I had to
do. Let me give you a hint. We had some issues and I basically avoided
this same person for close to two years. I had my reasons. He was
somebody I was close to for a period of time and I know what he can or
can't do. So, I avoided him.
I will just say that Timaya was obsessed with me.
He saw me driving at a particular time, he overtook me, stopped in
front of me, pulled me off my car and beat me up. I did what I had to
do. I had to go to the police and report the case with the pictures of
my face swollen and all of that. I took the case very far. I had two
lawyers. But for the love of Christ, I had to let the case go. I've been
in this business for a long time. If I go to the papers, people might
say Empress wants attention. How can I crave attention when I've had it
for so long? He went to the papers and he got talking and talking and I
was reading and laughing. I didn't say a word all through that period.
The fear of God and maturity had to come in. Many journalists called me
to get my comments. I always told them I didn't want to comment on the
issue.
But would you, like him, say you regret the relationship? It
is obvious. I would have used that period of time to better other
people's lives or concentrate on my job or my family. But I was living
my life for people who didn't deserve it. If I had listened to one of
his new tracks before I dropped that case, I don't think I would have
dropped the case. I may preach about Christ and love, but I'm human.
There are things that you should just let go. Can you imagine the
arrogance? Music is not meant for you to come out and brag about what
you don't have. I respect Tuface a lot. He sings songs that make
meaning. He is not bragging about what he is not and you can learn
through his music. His music is inspiring. If you have a problem with
someone, face the problem. Do you have to sing about it? Why not do
something that people can embrace, something that can go farther than
this country? Why would you waste your time and go to the studio only to
come out singing about an actress? Empress was something he regretted
yet he sang with my name. Empress was somebody you regretted, yet you
used my brothers' names in your song. E dey pepper you for bodi so much.
It is because I'm or I was so important in his life. You regret Empress
yet you gave me a ring? Please! It is high time we stopped talking
trash. I might have said I don't want to talk about this but right now, I
don't think I would mind having one on one debate with him. But then,
I'm too much for such. It is obvious who should regret the relationship.
It is obvious who should be thankful. In life, when you achieve
something you never believed you will achieve, it is like a blow to
them.
How did you feel when he beat you up? How
else would a battered woman feel? You will feel angry and frustrated. At
that point, a lot of things will go through your mind. This is not what
I want to talk about in the papers. It is not a good thing for any
female. I'm going to do a movie on people who hit women. It is not
something I want to rush into. I want to do it right.
How come your brothers kept quiet if you said he beat you up?
My
brothers didn't keep quiet. They were not brought up to be brutal. A
lot of friends wanted to fight for me. A lot of musicians were on my
side. One of my brothers wanted to be confrontational. But I told them
that two people can't be mad at the same time. The way we were trained
is obviously different from the way some other people were trained. My
brothers will always respect my feelings. John is a triple black belter.
He doesn't even need to fight. He will just hit you one place and you
will die. He is one of the best in karate and you know these people are
trained not to get angry. He is calm.
Would you have married Timaya? I would have made my mother the saddest woman on the face of this earth if I'd married Timaya.
I would have sent my mother to an early grave.
She is the best thing that has ever happened to me. She is my
happiness. My mother has never advised me wrongly and she has never
advised me to be involved in anything evil. If I had moved out of my
family house, I would have been wayward. But when you are under the
umbrella of a good parent, you will hardly go astray. If I try to go
astray, my mum will put me on the right track since I'm still living
under her roof. If I had wanted to rent my own flat, I would have rented
over 100 flats.
But we thought you moved into Timaya's house?
I
didn't move into that house, I got that house. Please, I don't want to
talk about it. Let's just leave that side. When I said I lived my life
for some people, you should understand what I'm saying. I never moved
into any man's house. I've never done that and I will never do that.
Elikem, the Ghanaian representative in the just concluded BBA said he is
not bordered of the sex tape of his girl, Pokello doing it with her
former Zimbabwe lover who is a rapper called Stunner.
Elikem who is still in Zimbabwe, have finally opened up on his intention for his girl, Pokello. He said 'I have heard the bride 
Angelo have stood tall to defend his girl, Beverly Osu. He said Beverly
is a good person made him to read his bible. I wonder how Beverly just
can't stop news moving around her. Maybe because of her 
Sushma Verma, an India girl is defying educational norms by pursuing a 
A Reno woman by the name Marianne Theresa Johnson-Reddick, born January
4, 1935, died last month, amazingly, to the relief and comfort of her
children whom she spent a lifetime (in their words) "torturing in every
way possible." 
The September edition of MODE Men Magazine features the annual MODE
Men’s Best Dressed List. On the list are top business executives,
entertainers and male style icons. Though I don't quite agree with the
very interesting list, because I think so many names are missing while
some are not even supposed to be there....you too can check the list
below and tell us what you think the list.
There's a pic of him with Mercy Johnson here because he finally
addressed the long-standing rumour that they once had a fling. Kenneth
Okonkwo says it's not true. But first read what he had to say about his
sexual prowess. The Nollywood pioneer told Entertainment Express: