Actress Mary Data Uranta Confesses Nollywood actress Mary Data Uranta has become a scarce face on movie screen for the past few months.
.
The actress has confessed why she left the controversial movie industry.
.
In this exclusive interview with The Entertainer, Mary Uranta said intercourse has become a mandatory condition for getting movie roles in the Nigerian movie industry.
.
She said it was not easy finding her feet in the industry because most times she ended up with people who were only interested in taking her to bed rather than exploiting her talent.
.
In an exclusive chat with The Entertainer, the actress opened up on her ordeal in the hands of film producers and declared that the intercourseual harassment was so much she decided to take a walk from Nollywood. That decision took her to the UK where she studied at the London School of Arts.
.
"At a point, intercourse became a condition for getting movie roles so I just took a walk. There were times when I missed getting roles because I wouldn't succumb to pressure so I left and did other things including studying at the London School of Arts. But the passion was so strong I knew I just had to return so, I took time to look for professionals; people who would be interested in my talent and not taking me to bed, " she recalled.
.
However, the United Nation's Peace Ambassador declares that intercourseual harassment is not a big deal today because it is a thing of choice. Hear her: "It's a natural thing in the industry; men will always chase women so I don't think it's peculiar to Nollywood.
.
It's the same thing everywhere you go. I think those in the banks and other sectors also get harassed. So, it's not what I love to discuss.
.
"Definitely, harassment will come but it's a thing of choice. Movie or no movie, a producer can see you and get attracted to you. Same thing goes for an actor or marketer, so for me, it's not a story to talk about."
.
Childhood
.
Mary is an indigene of Okpobo but grew up in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. She lived all her life in Port Harcourt before relocating to Lagos to pursue a career in acting.
.
Commenting on her childhood, she said: "I had a great childhood. I never had it rough or tough growing up. Fine, I'm from an average home. But it's never been bad. I had all I wanted as a child. I'm from a family of 13. Seven kids from my mum and four step brothers including mum and dad. It was fun growing up with my brothers and sisters, we were one happy family.
.
Passion driven
.
Right from childhood, Mary had always dreamed of being an actress so when she was in her teens she started shuttling between Lagos and Port Harcourt just to attend auditions.
.
"I've always loved acting," she recalled. "I have been very passionate about it. I used to come to Lagos then from Port Harcourt just for auditions, my friends and I actually. We used to go to Asaba, Enugu, Owerri and even within Port Harcourt just to get auditioned.
.
But after a while, I said to myself, 'If Lagos is the place where it's happening, I think I should just move to Lagos instead of coming and going.' And that was it."
.
Challenges
.
According to Mary, her journey into acting came with a lot of challenges because her parents were not down with it. "They had a way of coming up with good excuses about why I shouldn't act so, I never had the full support at the initial stage from anyone around me. Actually, my parents didn't have a problem with me doing it as far as it was in Port Harcourt. Probably that was because I was very young at the time," she says.
.
Consequently, Mary had to sneak to Lagos to attend auditions and also get an apartment in view of her plans to finally relocate to Lagos and pursue her dreams. "My coming to Lagos was even a problem.
.
Initially, I didn't tell my parents that I was relocating to Lagos. I came quietly, got a house, furnished it and was still going to Port Harcourt and back as if I was around. But later I had to tell my mum. And she was like 'how would you cope all by yourself?' But I assured her that I would cope. So, that's how I became a Lagos girl. Ever since, I have never looked back," the actress stated
That's too bad for the industry. I pray they get those perpetrators and fish them out as soon as possible. They are the bad eggs amongst the good ones