My hubby loves to see me in mini – Chioma Toplis
Despite being the busiest actress in
Nollywood,plus-sized actress, Chioma Toplis has continued to be an item in the
industry. Since 2004 when she had her break in Nollywood, the busty role
interpreter is not resting on her oars. Based in the United Kingdom, the
fair- complexion actress who combines acting with her business of selling and
buying has featured in many flicks such as Iraq and Iran, Zara, Sincerity,
Deadly Friend, Proof of Life, Mad Ghost, among many others. Married to a
Briton, the controversial sexy actress in this interview, addresses some
of the issues bothering on career, controversies, marital life and dress sense.
What has been happening to you
recently?
I am fine. I have not been regular
in Nigeria this year. I had been on holiday with my children abroad. I need to
put certain things in place before returning to the country.
When was the last time you visited
Nigeria ?
I left the country in November last
year. I am not a noise maker. Nobody hears about me whenever I’m around. I’m
not really a party goer. I am always on my own doing my thing. In fact, I’m
more involved in my business than going on movie sets. It’s only when I am free
that I consider hitting teh set.
Have you been shooting movies in the
UK ?
No, I don’t go for auditions
in the UK. While in the UK, I get more involved in my boutique business. I
don’t have a shop but I run my business from my house.
With your business, do you
still find time to pursue your acting career?
Of course, I still go on
location. You know, in Nollywood, you work with producers that are your
people. I don’t go about canvassing for jobs. If you need me, you know
how to reach me. I’d go for jobs that I’m invited to be part of the cast. It’s
not every movie that I would want to feature in. No, Iam selective.
Is it deliberate or that your
business does not give you the chance to focus on acting?
It is partly because of my business
and my family. I really want to be focused but at the same time, I have to
engage myself in other things that would food on my table. Scripts don’t come
my way most often. But I have to do other things that are profitable to
me. Sometimes, I might be busy with my business when script will
suddenly come my way and I might not be chanced to grab it at that moment.
*Chioma Toplis
You run a boutique in Lekki. Do you
supply Nollywood with costume or props?
I don’t, but I have been providing
my own costuming ever since I joined Nollywood. It is only when I’m required to
wear traditional outfit that they producers provide costumes for
me. In spite of this, I don’t costume other stars. My
boutique is located in Lekki, and I sell wholesale. That’s why I don’t
have too many people as customers even in Nollywood.
What role did you play in your
last movie?
I have forgotten the title of
the movie. But I can remember I played the role of Mariam, Apollo’s friend in
that movie . When it was released, people were calling to commend my
acting prowess. I don’t like feauring in movies regularly. I believe in doing
one quality job at a time. And each time, I star in a movie, people
always recommend the work. I’m looking forward to starring in a blockbluster
movie. To some people, I am an arrogant person. But the truth is that I
am not arrogant. I still want to maintain my dignity.
What is your take on the state of
the Actors Guild of Nigeria ?
I am a member of the guild. But I’m
not interested in the politics of the guild because I know that what is
happening therein is not peculiar to the guild alone. It happens in many other
organisations. But I will be happy if there is peace in the industry. I
am particularly happy that for the first time a woman is the piloting the
affairs of the guild. Perhaps, it means that one day, our leaders will
give a woman the opportunity to rule this country. I don’t have anything
against anybody as a member of the guild.
As an actress, what role can you not
play in movies?
I don’t think there is any role I
cannot play in movies. However, due to our culture, I cannot play certain
roles. If I’m overseas, I can play any role. They have a way of packaging
their movies even when you think there is lots of nudity. They do it in a way
that you are not going to go nude. If I find myself in Hollywood, I will
interprete whatever role I’m given to play. When people kiss in
Hollywood, it looks real. But in actuality, nothing serious happened. In
Nollywood and given the kind of culture we have here, it’s a big issue.
You will be castigated and your family will disown you.
How do you combine your business
with your acting career?
That’s why I don’t have time
on my won. It is also why you don’t always see me out there. I am not a noise
maker. When people see me they feel I’m just here for the fun of
it.I do other things here. I’m into interior decoration. I have not done a
national or international job before now, but I have been doing a lot of
personal jobs. I have friends who invite me to do one or two things for them.
What is your relationship with some
of your colleagues in the industry, particularly Oge Okoye ?
I don’t want to talk about that now.
When I first came into the industry, I took everybody that came close to me as
friends but with the passage of time, I realised that not everybody that laugh
with you are your friends. As a result, I started choosing my friends and
not them choosing me. I chose the ones I feel I can call my friends.
Could you share some of the ugly
experiences that made you to take such a drastic decision?
I’m not going to recount any story
now. But it is not about one person. It has to do with people I called my
friends and who were around me then. My mind is an open book to
everybody. But I have learnt my lesson from whatever happened between me
and the people I called my friends. I have also forgiven everybody who has
wronged me in one way or the other. I have moved on with my life.
It wasn’t a pleasant experience I tmust tell you. It has to
do with back-biting, jealousy, and stabbing one in the back. I experienced a
lot of things. But unfortunately, these people who were
criticising me were not my equal. I am down-to-earth and may be, I appeared to
be older than them because I know when they were born. You just put
yourself in and flow. At the same time, I can do anything I want to do and be
what I want to be without them. None of them introduced me to anybody in the
industry. Everything I have done in the industry today, I have done for myself.
Did their action somehow
affected your marital life?
No way
There was a rumour that your marital
life was affected negatively
My husband doesn’t have that kind of
time. Anybody that is bringing my family into any controversy is just wasting
his or her time. I am just an easy going person and it has nothing to do
with my marriage.
You are saying your marriage was
never threatened?
It can never be.
Why do you dress the way you dress?
I wear what I feel comfortable in.
In fact, I dress according to the occasion. Presently, I have cut down on the
kind of clothes I wear because of the fact that one is no longer a
child. I have decided to reduce it a bit especially when I am in Nigeria. It is
not that I flaunt my cleavages a lot but it depends mostly on the kind of
clothes I’m putting on at that moment.
I have reduced the way I wear
mini-skirt. I just want to be wearing clothes that suits my age. I am going to
be 40 sometime this year. Not that you won’t see me in other wears like when I
am going clubbing but I have really cut down on those wears. To my husband, it
is not a big deal. He even loves to see me in mini.
For sometimes, I have not made my
coloured hair. Anybody that wants to talk about my dress sense, the person
should go ahead and do so. Some people misunderstood me, they judge the
book by its cover. Some people may conclude she’s irresponsible. If
I am irresponsible, I won’t be in marriage of 18 years now. I wouldn’t have
brought up my son who is going to be 19 years soon.
I am so proud to say I have three
children whom I brought up single handedly . Over the years, my
husband doesn’t live with us. He is always working outside the country.
Now, he doesn’t live with us. He used to live in Dubai but now, he
resides in Kuwait . When people sit back and gossip someone, they
should remember that I have three grown up children I brought up from the
scratch. If people want to judge me by how I dress or any other thing, that’s
their business.
What attracted you to your husband?
I met him here in Nigeria . One of
my friends who is married to a Norwegian man invited me to a sent forth party.
He was also at the event. I was sitting at a corner when he sighted me
and immediately sent somebody to come and ask me what I wanted to drink. I told
him I wanted to take a bottle of coke. I don’t take alcohol. Later, I thanked
him and he gave me his complimentary card and that was it. He told me he got
attracted to me because of my set of teeth. One thing led to another
before we knew what was happening, we got married and later moved to the
UK. Hie is an enigneer.
How do you cope without your husband
most of the time?
In the first 10 years of our
marriage, we used to live together and we were moving with him. But when
our children got permanent school in the UK, I didn’t want to be moving
them anymore.
How do you cope with your male
admirers?
If I am beautiful why won’t men come
after me? Even ugly ones, men still chase them. When they come to me, I usually
tell them that I am married and nothing more. Naturally, I know that most
Nigerian men don’t like to have anything to do with married women
