‘I Want To Keep Doing Dirty Characters’ - Rita Dominic

Petite in stature yet a powerhouse in her field,
actress Rita Dominic tells NET about her
experience as a first time producer, the many
challenges she has had to face since becoming
an actress, and how she feels about the growth
of Nollywood.
You’ve been off the scene for a while now.
Where have you been?
Rita Dominic: I was working, re-inventing myself,
shooting my films and starring in different films
for other people, and now is my comeback.
You have spent over 12 years in the
industry, building a reputation as an
actress, what made you decide to veer into
production?
Rita Dominic: I just wanted to give something
back to an industry that has done so much for
me; that’s why in the movie, I didn’t play the
major role. We have Linda Ejiofor and Femi
Jacobs, two up and coming actors, who played
the lead roles. These are people who are very
talented and need to be encouraged. Again, after
acting for so many years in the industry, one
wants to try other aspects of film making. I knew
I always wanted to try production and I felt last
year was the best time to.
How do you respond to speculation that
you went into production because acting
roles weren’t coming as they used to?
Rita Dominic: No. If I was going into production
to make sure people keep seeing me, I would
have cast myself as the lead role in the movie. I
have a passion for the arts, I have always wanted
to try out all the aspects of production. It is my
way of giving back to the industry by
encouraging new talent. A lot of people have the
notion that people in the industry don’t want to
give the new people an opportunity, but that is
not true.
What was it like, producing and acting in a
film?
Rita Dominic: Difficult. Very difficult, and this was
made worse because I also played a complex
character in the movie. I didn’t want to do it. I
argued with my business partners, because I
didn’t understand how I was going to play a
character that was that complex, and at the
same time, concentrate on making sure the
production was of standard, but I sat down and
thought about it, and decided to do it.
With the success of your movie, are you
likely to dump acting for production?
Rita Dominic: I will produce more films and I will
act in more films as well, but I will still be picky
with the kinds of scripts I do.
Is the next thing on your plate directing a
movie, maybe?
Rita Dominic: I am not sure, but who knows?
Never say never
Or perhaps, singing?
Rita Dominic: Never. I am not a singer but all the
parts of production, I might try.
Both your parents are medical practitioners
as parents. How easy was it convincing
them about acting as your choice of
profession?
Rita Dominic: Funny enough, I had all the
encouragement I needed since I was a kid,
because I started this since I was like five or six
years old. I remember her [my mother] getting
me prepared for all the variety shows for the
weekend.
The teaser and poster of your upcoming
movie shows that you went through a lot.
Would you say this is your most
challenging role yet?
Rita Dominic: In the last year, I have done a lot of
challenging roles, one of which was the Kenyan
film that won me the award of Best actress in
Africa. Before I shot that film, I had never been
challenged like that in my 12 years in Nollywood.
I played a woman who was a drug addict, and
had mental degradation. I had to learn to speak
a little bit of Swahili and speak like a Kenyan and
not a Nigerian. Another one is the film, Streets of
Calabar, which I won’t say much about. My role
in the movie, The Meeting is also a very
challenging one, a fifty year old woman. What I
have been doing in the last two years is to
concentrate on my career and do certain kinds of
films. I just needed to show the ugly side, I think
I have played the beautiful side of life for years,
and I wanted to show people this side exists, and
do something completely different. I hope I
succeeded in doing that.
What is your dream role?
Rita Dominic: I just want to keep doing dirty
characters. I want to keep dirtying myself as an
actor. I want to keep pushing the box.
When you say dirty, what do you mean?
Rita Dominic: When I say dirty, I advise you
watch the movie Shattered, and you will
understand. I’m talking about the characters
people in the society look at with a feeling of
disgust.
Looking at you and the way you have been
responding, you strike me as an introvert.
Am I wrong?
Rita Dominic: That is me o. What you see in the
movies is totally different. I am a very shy
person, people don’t believe it because I am an
actor. Even the biggest actors are shy people,
and I feel it is because they can hide behind the
characters they play, but when it is time for
them to be themselves, they are very shy. When
I am on the red carpet, I am a different person
and I just wear that character.
You were quoted to have once said that
you never thought you would be still
relevant. Did you actually think so?
Rita Dominic: I don’t actually remember that
interview but it’s actually true. I never really
believed I could still be relevant in the industry,
because if we look at what makes me and my
colleagues special, it’s the grace of God. There
are people who are talented around, and we are
still relevant. It’s God’s grace. We have people
like Linda Ejiofor, Tonto Dike and others who are
talented, but still I’m here and still relevant, it is
the grace of God.
Does that mean you planned a short stay in
the industry?
Rita Dominic: I didn’t, I just felt I was going to do
my job as an actor and leave the rest to God. To
be honest, there are many actors and actresses
who are more talented than I am, may be they
are not relevant anymore, so what makes me
different?
After spending over 10 years acting in
Nollywood, your first Kenyan film won you
‘Best Actress’ at the AMAA; does this
bother you?
Rita Dominic: I am not surprised, because of how
thorough AMAA is with the criteria. I always felt
when you do a good film, you will be recognised
for it, be it in Nigeria or anywhere else. The only
thing I would say is, I put a lot of work in that
film because of the character and the story, so it
could have actually been a Nigerian movie, I just
felt that at that point in time, that was the first
film I had done after my hibernation, and AMAA
thought it was time to award me, and I am
grateful for that.
But do you not feel cheated, spending over
10 years without an award?
Rita Dominic: I have always been nominated for
AMAA, but I don’t even mind. I always said to
myself I want to win AMAA for a film I worked
hard for, and Shattered was one of such films, so
I was elated when I was announced winner. I felt
like I was given a pat on the back for a job well
done.
Does being Africa’s best actress put you
under pressure in anyway?
Rita Dominic: Yes it does, because I am
constantly looking to do a better film than the
film that won me the award.
After a long time, there is a female
president for the AGN. How do you feel
about this?
Rita Dominic: I feel really excited, she is a friend
of mine. She is the first female president, maybe
we just needed to have the change and see what
the change can do.
How about the controversy going on about
the election being unconstitutional?
Rita Dominic: I don’t know about that. All I know
is IB won it and I am willing to support her.
You are on top of the list of celebrities
expected to get married this year, but you
still haven’t said anything till date. When
do you plan to get married, Rita?
Rita Dominic: Very soon.
How soon?
Rita Dominic: Don’t worry, very soon.
Has it been difficult finding the right
person or you have found the right person
Rita Dominic: Leave it like that. You are not
getting that answer.
What is your take on Nollywood actors who
see Hollywood as the next thing and aim to
be part of it?
Rita Dominic: I feel it is important that we build
our industry to a point where the international
colleagues are tempted to want to come to
yours. We should also give it that respect, so it
gains respect from other international film
industries. Now Hollywood has built theirs to
attract other people to their industry, I feel we
should do the same.
Finally, what is your own evaluation of
Nollywood?
Rita Dominic: We have what we call the new
Nollywood, which tends to shoot very high
quality films. It started with the movies of Kunle
Afolayan, Ego Boyo, Emem Isong, Obi Emelonye.
It can only get better from here on. The quality
has improved. You will be surprised at the quality
of films that will be released next year.