INTERVIEW WITH YORUBA ACTRESS BIMBO OSHIN

Bimbo Oshin-Ola Ibironke needs no introduction in the movie industry in Nigeria at a point in her career, she was off the stage and during that period there were conflicting stories about her professional career, the top actress is now back in the industry and better, doing what she knows how to do best, in a recent chat with a local celebrity magazine, City people, she talked about her life career and others.

AT WHAT STAGE ARE YOU NOWIN YOUR CAREER? WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT OF YOUR MOVIE CAREER SO FAR?
I started acted in 1996. I just had a passion for it but I didn't know I was going to get this far. I give God the glory, So far so good.

WHAT MADE YOU EMBRACE ACTING?
At home, when I was younger, my brother and I used to get a tape recorder and does drama sketch. We used to do that in the house. From that the passion for acting just started. I was in school one day when a friend of mine who was in LASU came to my room and said she met Araosan and he did audition and said I do want to go into it. I was like Whoa! It's not a bad idea. Out of curiosity, I followed her, we did the audition and from there I stated going for rehearsals just to brush up.

WHAT MOVIE BROUGHT YOU INTO LIMELIGHT?
Akobi in 1997/1998. It was after this that I started falling in love with the profession. After Akobi other people called me for jobs and decided to start off big time. I realized it won't be a bad idea to act.

WHY ACT IN YORUBA MOVIES ALONE?
Because that was how I started. My friend took me to Araosan and I started from there but along the line I did some soap operas with Tunji Bamishingbin, Deji Adenuga, Super Story, I have done 2 or 3 English movies.
BETWEEN ENGLISH AND YORUBA MOVIES, WHICH ONE DO YOU PREFER?

I am compatible with both.
WHAT HAS KEPT YOU GOING IN THE YORUBA MOVIE INDUSTRY, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THERE IS NO MONEY IN ACTING?
I give glory to God. Without him I am nothing. I thank my husband too. He has always been there for me. He is my pillar. He tells me what to do and what not to do.

HOW EASY WAS IT GETTING MARRIED IN AN INDUSTRY WHERE MANY ACTRESSES ARE STILL SINGLE?
It is God. It is not by own doing. I know when to draw the line between work and home. I love the institution of marriage a lot. I respect it. It's all about balancing the two roles. I am a working mother.

HOW DID YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH OLA IBIRONKE? TELL US YOUR LOVE STORY. WHAT WAS THE ATRACTION?
He is very intelligent. I love intelligent people. The first time we met, he threw me off my feet. We started from there. He is a perfect gentleman. You know what I mean.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO TAKE TO SWEEP A BEAUTIFUL LADY LIKE BIMBO OFF HER FEET?
He is very honest. He is very humble, easy going. He is God fearing.

WAS IT A LETS SEE HOW IT GOES THING OR YOU INSTANTLY DECIDED TO MARRY HIM? HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
Yes we dated for a while, saw the qualities in each other and we decided to get married. We dated for 3 years. I have known him since 2001. We met at Golden Gate on the stairs. I was coming down and he was going up. He stopped to greet. Hi, what's up? And we took it from there.

HOW DOES HE COPE WITH YOUR SCHEDULE?
He quite understands. He knows when I am working and when I am not.

COULD IT BE BECAUSE HE IS INTO THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS?
Maybe. He is into that industry, but I guess it has to do with understanding. He knows the kind of person he is married to. I know the kind of person I am married to. He gives me time to be on location, he does not stress me. He does not stress me. He does not disturb me. He is just a wonderful man, very wonderful man.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHO IS BIMBO OSHIN?
I am a very respectful person, easy going, simple, mind my business. I am from a family 8, I am the 7th. My father is late. I love him so much. My mum is alive and kicking. I am from Ondo State. I left Ondo when I was six years old to live in Ife and Lagos. I went to staff school in Ile- Ife fro my elementary school. Then Girls Academy in Lagos, then University of Lagos to study Philosophy. I was in Year II when my friend came to invite me to acting, I would have been a business woman. I don't like this 8am- 5pm work. I was into selling and buying of women stuff.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU WILL ATTRIBUTE THE SUCCESS OF YOUR MARRIAGE TO?
God, my husband. Being a good wife, then my mother-in- law. She is absolutely fantastic.