Ramsey
Nouah is one of the most-sought-after and handsome actors in Nollywood who has
been consistent in his career. Nouah who is known as ‘loverboy’ for his many
roles in romantic movies, in this interview, the 2010 Africa Movie Academy
Award winner for Best Actor in a leading Role shares the pathetic story of his
journey into acting, the industry and why he stopped attending public functions
with his family.
Nouah is one of the most-sought-after and handsome actors in Nollywood who has
been consistent in his career. Nouah who is known as ‘loverboy’ for his many
roles in romantic movies, in this interview, the 2010 Africa Movie Academy
Award winner for Best Actor in a leading Role shares the pathetic story of his
journey into acting, the industry and why he stopped attending public functions
with his family.
How did you begin your journey into the movie industry?
My
journey into the movie industry actually started when I was trying to sit for
my GCE examination. I didn’t have money to purchase my GCE form, and there were
no jobs then. It was hard to secure menial jobs and I couldn’t bring myself to
do such jobs. Later, a friend of mine advised me to try my hand at acting. But
I didn’t welcome the advice because I prefer to act in Hollywood. It was funny.
journey into the movie industry actually started when I was trying to sit for
my GCE examination. I didn’t have money to purchase my GCE form, and there were
no jobs then. It was hard to secure menial jobs and I couldn’t bring myself to
do such jobs. Later, a friend of mine advised me to try my hand at acting. But
I didn’t welcome the advice because I prefer to act in Hollywood. It was funny.
Later I went for a couple of auditions and
precisely in 1990, I went for a soap opera audition called Fortunes and was
engaged. Later it had problem with the title and so it was changed to ‘Mega
Fortune.’ I was one of the key actors in that soap and it was better than
Telemundo.
precisely in 1990, I went for a soap opera audition called Fortunes and was
engaged. Later it had problem with the title and so it was changed to ‘Mega
Fortune.’ I was one of the key actors in that soap and it was better than
Telemundo.
After starring in that soap, I did a couple
of movies that didn’t see the light of day. I was supposed to have featured in
the famous “Glamour Girls” but the producer was too stingy. He was very
professional, and actually brought a letter inviting me for audition for
“Glamour Girls” and I played my role. He jumped from his seat and shouted yes,
that’s the guy I’ve been looking for.
of movies that didn’t see the light of day. I was supposed to have featured in
the famous “Glamour Girls” but the producer was too stingy. He was very
professional, and actually brought a letter inviting me for audition for
“Glamour Girls” and I played my role. He jumped from his seat and shouted yes,
that’s the guy I’ve been looking for.
He invited me for negotiations and to my
disappointment, he was pricing me like I was a meat in the market. It didn’t
work out. I actually became a hustler working with marketers and other
practitioners. I was in all the episodes in Fortunes as Jeff Akin-Thomas and
was paid N100 per episode. I was paid N1,200 for only a quarter. I was in that
soap just for the passion. Things were bad that I didn’t have clothes, my
trousers were torn.
disappointment, he was pricing me like I was a meat in the market. It didn’t
work out. I actually became a hustler working with marketers and other
practitioners. I was in all the episodes in Fortunes as Jeff Akin-Thomas and
was paid N100 per episode. I was paid N1,200 for only a quarter. I was in that
soap just for the passion. Things were bad that I didn’t have clothes, my
trousers were torn.
I actually patched my trousers by myself.
Thank God my mom taught me how to sew. With the 1,200, I rushed to Yaba to
purchase second hand clothes. I looked at myself after I had washed and ironed
them and said, “Ramsey, you have arrived now.” I wasn’t thinking of the cash or
fame though I was in serious need. I didn’t even know the benefits of being an
actor.
Thank God my mom taught me how to sew. With the 1,200, I rushed to Yaba to
purchase second hand clothes. I looked at myself after I had washed and ironed
them and said, “Ramsey, you have arrived now.” I wasn’t thinking of the cash or
fame though I was in serious need. I didn’t even know the benefits of being an
actor.
It took me time to be used to my fans
rushing at me and appreciating me until my producers told me it was normal. As
time went on the job actually began paying my bills. With the first major money
I earned, I bought a sound system, TV and later Air conditioner. By 1996,
filmmakers discovered that I am a better actor as a lover boy so I was typecast
as a lover boy. I played love in my life and grew tired. Whenever they brought
love stories, I asked if there wasn’t any other issue they could talk about.
rushing at me and appreciating me until my producers told me it was normal. As
time went on the job actually began paying my bills. With the first major money
I earned, I bought a sound system, TV and later Air conditioner. By 1996,
filmmakers discovered that I am a better actor as a lover boy so I was typecast
as a lover boy. I played love in my life and grew tired. Whenever they brought
love stories, I asked if there wasn’t any other issue they could talk about.
Later in 2003, there was a nose dive as
pirates made it impossible for filmmakers to get back their money so, they
began churning out films. Some of us who are more concerned about making Nollywood
a brand, began thinking of how to make things better. At this point, cinema
came as a huge breakthrough, Bank of Industry has also been helpful unlike the
banks. Today I’m very happy about how things turned out.
pirates made it impossible for filmmakers to get back their money so, they
began churning out films. Some of us who are more concerned about making Nollywood
a brand, began thinking of how to make things better. At this point, cinema
came as a huge breakthrough, Bank of Industry has also been helpful unlike the
banks. Today I’m very happy about how things turned out.
You were the guest speaker at a Nollywood event held at the Pan
African University, Lagos, recently, how was the experience?
African University, Lagos, recently, how was the experience?
I saw that as an opportunity to exchange
ideas. A lot of people don’t know what’s going on in the industry so I was
elated when I discovered that there is a Nollywood Study Centre there. That
means Nollywood is going pretty far. So, with honour I obliged to come and
share my experience with people who are aspiring to join the industry and also,
to let people know that the industry is not secluded but an open market.
ideas. A lot of people don’t know what’s going on in the industry so I was
elated when I discovered that there is a Nollywood Study Centre there. That
means Nollywood is going pretty far. So, with honour I obliged to come and
share my experience with people who are aspiring to join the industry and also,
to let people know that the industry is not secluded but an open market.
Before AY’s “30 Days In Atlanta”, you have been missing on screen.
What happened?
What happened?
It’s not like I went off the screen. You
know that I have been one of the pioneers wanting to fly the new Nollywood. You
know the industry lacks structure, it’s almost like buying and selling which it
shouldn’t be. It’s like you come and act, they pay you off and there is no
future for you. It ends there ; there’s no pension plan, some of my colleagues
were sick and when they died, we had to start begging from people to bury them.
That’s too bad.
know that I have been one of the pioneers wanting to fly the new Nollywood. You
know the industry lacks structure, it’s almost like buying and selling which it
shouldn’t be. It’s like you come and act, they pay you off and there is no
future for you. It ends there ; there’s no pension plan, some of my colleagues
were sick and when they died, we had to start begging from people to bury them.
That’s too bad.
What else do you need since the past President Goodluck Jonathan
set up a grant for filmmakers to access?
set up a grant for filmmakers to access?
The grant is not enough to sustain the
industry. We need structure, the structure I’m talking about predominantly is
distribution. The distribution channels. If we have more cinemas in the country
there will be a huge improvement. “30 days in Atlanta” for instance, showed in
only 13 cinemas in Nigeria and gross more than 160 million naira before it was
pirated by our Alaba brothers.
industry. We need structure, the structure I’m talking about predominantly is
distribution. The distribution channels. If we have more cinemas in the country
there will be a huge improvement. “30 days in Atlanta” for instance, showed in
only 13 cinemas in Nigeria and gross more than 160 million naira before it was
pirated by our Alaba brothers.
It sold even more than Avatar, only in 13
cinemas. Imagine if it is in 20, 100 or even 200 cinemas, you do the math, and
understand that Nollywood is a big industry that can sustain itself.
cinemas. Imagine if it is in 20, 100 or even 200 cinemas, you do the math, and
understand that Nollywood is a big industry that can sustain itself.
Why did you call being a celebrity a cross?
Well it is a bigger cross than you can
think about because you have to be concerned about your looks. You must make
sure that everything is on point. Dress properly to suite every event. You have
to build on your looks and image so that people will admire you. It makes you
classy and a role model. Your behaviour or attitude is another selling point.
If you maintain good looks and image, big multinationals will be after you.
think about because you have to be concerned about your looks. You must make
sure that everything is on point. Dress properly to suite every event. You have
to build on your looks and image so that people will admire you. It makes you
classy and a role model. Your behaviour or attitude is another selling point.
If you maintain good looks and image, big multinationals will be after you.
If your track record is bad then there’s no
space for you. People look at us and want to be like us not understanding that
we wish we had a more normal or simple life style. Ramsey will dare not be seen
fighting on the streets. I better turn the other cheek to be slapped a second
time than retaliate. Although there are benefits for instance, the pay is good,
you got to be admired but then, its a cross.
space for you. People look at us and want to be like us not understanding that
we wish we had a more normal or simple life style. Ramsey will dare not be seen
fighting on the streets. I better turn the other cheek to be slapped a second
time than retaliate. Although there are benefits for instance, the pay is good,
you got to be admired but then, its a cross.
As a celebrity, who are the set of people who avoid most?
It is the Press! I might just say hello to
a girl and the next thing is, Ramsey Nouh is toasting one girl. The media
almost destroyed my marriage. But thank God they failed and my marriage is 14
years now blessed with four children. I told my wife to keep away from the
press, let me handle them. If they don’t see you, there will be nothing to say
about you. Because of that, I have stopped appearing at public functions with
my family.
Aside the restriction, how have you been able to deal with the
press?
press?
The best way to deal with the press is to
ignore them. Whenever they start telling lies about you, just ignore them. The
greatest mistake you’ll make is to respond to scandals. When you ignore them,
the stories die off with time.
ignore them. Whenever they start telling lies about you, just ignore them. The
greatest mistake you’ll make is to respond to scandals. When you ignore them,
the stories die off with time.
What else has being a celebrity done to you?
It has prevented me from enjoying quality
private time with my family.
private time with my family.
If you are to change anything, what would that be?
Get back my private life.
We see same faces in so many movies, does it mean that producers
don’t call for auditions anymore?
don’t call for auditions anymore?
Auditions are publicised even on the social
media. The problem is that producers want to put their money down and get it
back. So, content must be sold and if they use new faces, it wont sell.
media. The problem is that producers want to put their money down and get it
back. So, content must be sold and if they use new faces, it wont sell.
How then can up and coming actors break into the industry?
Just believe in yourself, be passionate
about your career and let nothing stop you from pressing forward.
about your career and let nothing stop you from pressing forward.
What’s responsible for your transforming into a star actor?
Hard work and passion. Also, the mirror has
been my best teacher. It helps me learn to get into character and improve upon
my job. I am concerned about how to make the industry great, so passion remains
my motivator.
been my best teacher. It helps me learn to get into character and improve upon
my job. I am concerned about how to make the industry great, so passion remains
my motivator.
Most challenging movie?
The most challenging is “Dangerous Twins”
because there was no technology sophistication at the time of production.
Everything was done manually. One scene took two days to be shot, so it was
tasking. But then, it was part of the tutorial to be professional.
because there was no technology sophistication at the time of production.
Everything was done manually. One scene took two days to be shot, so it was
tasking. But then, it was part of the tutorial to be professional.
Culled
from Vanguard
from Vanguard
