For effervescent Nollywood screen diva and songstress, Stella
Damasus, the past is in tomb while her future is in God’s womb. She
believes that thinking about her past mistakes is like going back to her
mother’s womb.
The single mother who recently
signed a multi-million-naira fashion label contract with a USA based
“SDA Collection” as the Brand Amabassdor of Amvictorious in a recent
chat affirmed that men don’t always toast her, she voiced her conviction
thus: “They call me old layer now, since I’m not among the hottest and
freshest actresses around. They have those they run after now.”
The Owerri born actress further disclosed that she would soon hit the market shelves with her own album.
Excerpts
“There
are certain things I don’t like to talk about. But the truth is, I only
look out for things that will benefit me in the long run. And one of
the things that puts me off from some of these contracts is the
attachment of a time frame.
“I’m
involved in a lot of things. I’ve just finished the final audition for
my foundation: Stella Damasus Art Foundation where I am offering a
three-month training for talented young Nigerians free of charge in the
areas of acting and singing.”
I’ve also just
finished auditioning applicants for the second session. I did the first
session last year, and I have graduated some people. I also have a new
company, which is based in Abuja. We are doing a lot of things ranging
from organising seminars to producing movies.
We
organised a seminar in Cameroon recently , and after the seminar, we
decided to make a movie for the people to see how quality movies are
done. We are currently editing the movie titled: “The Unspoken”. It will
be out very soon.
I am also doing a documentary
now, which is very dear to my heart. And when it commences I will let
the press know about it. My new deal with Amvictorious took a lot of my
time . We had series of meetings and consultations. The company is
planning to set up a branch in Abuja. All these things took a lot of my
time.
At the moment, I’m a columnist with PM News. I make sure that I write my column every Wednesday in PM News.
I’m trying to be the best I can be in whatever that I’m doing.
“I’ve
done three movies that are yet to hit the market. I did “Behind Close
Doors” Part 3 and 4”. I shot the movie about three years ago.
I
don’t know why it has not been released into the market up till now. I
also did “Bent Arrows” a Lancelot Imasuen production which is yet to
be released too. And recently, I did “Two Bride and a Baby” by Blessing
Effiong,”. The premiere has been done at the cinemas.”
The
most important thing is not about flooding my face in movies that would
make me a better person. Within this period, I went back to school to
study acting in the UK. In fact, I’m actually going back there very
soon.
I want to improve on my acting skill and my diction. I must continue to avail myself of the opportunity of being retrained.
Recently
too my production company did a 13 episode TV Show called “Changing
Life”, showing on AIT, OSTV, UK and Ghana. Soon we will begin airing it
in Canada.
Right now, I’ll soon start shooting the second season of the show as well.
When you have all these projects in front of you, I need time to sort out my life, business and my children.
My
first daughter is going to be thirteen, in August, while my second
daughter will be ten too. I need time to stay with my children. I want
to be part of their growing up.
I take out a few
months in a year, do the things I need to do, and go back to tender my
children. I try not to expose them to the public, until they have come
of age and decide what to do with their lives. Whether they want to
become stars like their mum, is left to them. Paying attentions to my
kids is very important to me. That is why I’m not so particular about
featuring in movies nowadays.
“Not
really. My music is not suffering. I’m not a recording artiste, but I
own a band and I still do my live performances. I don’t go to night
clubs to perform, instead I perform at weddings, product launching,
naming ceremonies and all that. You might not see me on screen doing
music, because I’m concentrating on my band now.”
For
the past one year, I have been working on my own songs, trying to
arrange them well because after over 15 years in the industry, my fans
are expecting something good from me.
“I have to be
careful not to come out with something that will not meet their
expectations. And before the end of the year and by God’s grace I will
drop two singles.”
“I don’t ever
regret anything that I have done or gone through. They are all part of
my working experiences. I like the pace at which my career have gone.
And if after 17 years of being in an industry and I’m still so relevant
that people still believe in me and want me to endorse their products,
then, it means that God dictates my pace. I can’t run faster than my
legs can take me.”
“Since I surrendered myself and
my career to God, He’s been able to order my steps. I’m not allowed to
be everywhere. I’m only at places where I have to be attended to. I
don’t have any regret at all. I’m happy the way my career has turned
out. I’m happy with the pace with which I’m going.”
“If
you have asked me this question ten years ago, I would have answered
it. But after more than 17 years in the industry, I don’t bother
anymore.”
They call me old layer now, since I’m not among the hottest and freshest actresses around. They have those they run after now.
I’ve been able to carry myself in the industry in such a way that God has been providing for me and my children.
“So,
I don’t succumb to male’s advances because of money or fame. The small
fame that God has given to me, I’m contented with it.”
“I love Jesus. I’m in love with Jesus and He loves me so, more than anything else in this world. I’m happy.”
A woman threw powder on Kim Kardashian in the lobby of a West Hollywood hotel where the television personality was hosting an event.
