Biodun Okeowo, popularly known as Tolani Osinrin, is one of Yoruba Nollywood's sought-after actresses. Like most actresses, she makes headlines for both her professional and personal lives. And she made the news earlier this year for allegedly dating her male colleague, Kunle Adegbite, and conniving with him to beat up a journalist. OSEYIZA OOGBODO met her and she told him what she could about the allegations.
What is the latest about you?
I'm still me, no latest oh. However, I recently won the Exclusive Impact Awards Most Outstanding Yoruba Actress award, and I'm planning to open another wine shop inside Alade Market.
What do you have to say about Pa Kasumu?
I implore government to support us in helping this gifted thespian.
Why is it that many of your colleagues are never able to take care of themselves when they have health challenges?
That's not true. We can take care of ourselves, but when health is a problem, the bones become weak, and the person will be unable to work well and income slows down or stops, saved income might or would have been exhausted on medical bills and the person will then be at the mercy of others like colleagues, governments and so on.
So far, your name has not been linked with endorsements. Why?
God's time is the best. Endorsements will come at God's chosen time.
How many people have you helped into the industry?
I can't blow that trumpet about how many people I've helped into the industry but I've helped quite a lot.
Do you agree that Omotola and Genevieve are the most successful actresses?
I agree based on press ratings and what they personally disclosed as their assets, but there might be other successful actresses who don't disclose their assets.
What are you doing to be as successful as them?
I'm not running anybody's race or wanting to be like anybody. I'm praying to fulfil God's purpose for my life so as to be me and make it in life and be successful. So I'm not pursuing them to be exactly like them. NO! We all have different destinies and fates. May we all have good destiny and fate in Jesus name. Amen.
Many people see actresses as loose people. Do you agree with them?
We are not loose. Wearing skimpy dresses or acting a slut doesn't make you a whore. Though there are some girls who just came into the industry and are parading themselves as actresses, but they are not, as they are not grounded. They have no root or professional background in the field. They just come to make name through the screen to make them more valuable to men. Those sort are not actresses.
What's your greatest achievement so far in acting?
My greatest achievement so far is the grace God gave me to make a name and be known. And my prayer is that God should please help me to sustain the name.
Tell us about yourself and Kunle Adegbite. Are you dating or not?
I choose not to answer any press question concerning Kunle Adegbite.
You were both accused of assaulting a journalist. How true is that?
Nothing of such happened. It is a cooked-up story.
Many of your colleagues have attempted music. Will you do so too?
Well, co-incidentally, I sang in my yet-to-be-released movie, Ore. But if the opportunity to really be singing comes up, I will give it a trial.
What do you intend to achieve as an actress?
I intend to leave a golden pattern in the intricate garment of Nigeria and movie viewers as one of the best actress-producers who made a great change in the society with her stories and interpretations of roles.
How long have you been acting?
I started acting in February 2006.
And how many movies have you done since then?
Sincerely speaking, I've lost count because I've done so many.
Why is it that you guys never know the exact number of movies you've done?
Well, it won't be easy to keep things like that in mind all the time. It's something one would have to sit down and do a collation to know the exact number.
Have you ever done any English movie or production?
Yes, I did two soap operas.
Do you agree with the popular notion that English Nollywood is better than Yoruba?
I don't believe the English sector is b e t t e r t h a n u s o h .
There's an adage in Yoruba that says: 'If you p o r t r ay your calabash as important, people will also see it that way with you, but if you portray your calabash as a broken one, so will people treat it.' For me, I'm proud of us in the Yoruba sector and we are doing pretty good for ourselves in terms of movie making.
Skimpy dresses in movies is just for the movie. But skimpy dresses in real life is bad and doesn't have another name
I don't agree with this one at all. If u don't want to be called that then don't wear such dresses.