The first thing that sets your mind racing on entering Gloria Anozie’s Ojodu, Lagos home is this quote about her being fat and not being crazily concerned. A toothy smile from her will calm your nerves as you try to find out why she is fat and proud. Then, a cup of Lipton follows immediately. Thus, sealing the chances of your kicking off the interview on that premise. Gloria Ijeoma Anozie, ever smiling and fun to be with, let it all out to AZUH ARINZE. Amidst ‘tea-sipping’, the duo chatted, laughed, exchanged banters and…Enjoy!
Who is Gloria Anozie?
Azuh Arinze knows very well who Gloria Anozie is. You know me very well. I can be very playful, I can be very serious. I don’t have airs. I’m very plain. I’m also a mature woman.
Tell us when you were born, where you are from and some of the schools you attended?
I was born on February 5, 19-nineteen something. My full names are Gloria Ijeoma Anozie. I went to Fountain Primary School, Adelabu, Surulere, Lagos, Methodist Girls’ High School, Yaba, Thomas Jefferson High School, Dallas, Texas (for my A-Levels) and El-Centre College, Dallas. That’s it…that’s enough.
Where are you from?
I’m from Ohuhu LGA in Umuahia, Abia State.
How did you get into acting?
I stumbled into it. Liz Benson and Jennifer Emeka Ossai invited me to come for an audition after seeing what I did on Charly Boy’s Show. They liked it and because they were looking for somebody to play Doris in Glamour Girls 1, they sent for me. I went for the audition and passed. And that was even the first time I was meeting them.
Let’s talk about your favourite things. The things you like…
(Cuts in) I like teddy bears (goes into her bedroom, comes out with one).
Which food is your favourite?
Rice and dodo, but they say it is not good for me. I’ve tried to stop it, but… Then, I like ogi (akamu), coffee, tea and cocoa.
What about your favourite drink?
I’m not really a drinker. Take wine occasionally, sip brandy once in a while. I don’t crave it. In fact, if it is only people like me we have in the world, breweries will go bankrupt.
Which brand of music is your favourite?
(Smiles) I like reggae, I like R & B, slow music, I like jazz as in big band jazz, I like African music.
Your favourite colours?
Colours? Em…red, blue, black. I like bright colours really. Another thing is I read a lot. I’m a reader; novels, books…
Your favourite car?
I’ve not really thought about that.
What’s your phobia?
Phobia? I used to hate staying in the dark, but I don’t mind it anymore. Phobia? I don’t know. I think one of the most important ones is that I don’t want to die early. I want to have my own children; my grandchildren just like my grandmother.
Who is your role model?
My role model? My father (Mr. Ndubuisis O. Anozie) is my role model. We call him Nduu (general laughter).
Do you have any regret?
Any regret? Hmm! A lot of things I should have done that I didn’t do. I don’t think they are regrets per se. I used to be very slow, but now I’m faster.
Let’s share your happiest and saddest days?
You see, you have happy moments everyday. I don’t think I can remember any now. I am a very happy person. I rarely get sad. I can be introspective; I can be dejected, depressed, but only for a little while.
Why did you pierce your nose?
I don’t know. I like it. I think it fits me. Other people pierce four, five holes on their ears, I pierced my nose, just one.
What role did you play in Izozo?
I played Mama Rosa, the character that was taking girls to Italy and Holland under false pretense.
How will you describe the role of Mama Rosa?
Mama Rosa is a very influential and flamboyant person. She had the money to throw around. She is a society lady and a very, very, very sharp businesswoman.
What about Izozo itself?
Ah! Izozo is a beautiful movie. Izozo is what we need now, especially because of what is happening in the Niger Delta. The story centres around the oil producing areas, plus how they lost their source of livelihood and resorted to sending their girls abroad to practice prostitution.
What was it like working on Izozo’s locations?
Oh, beautiful. There was a lovely sense of comradeship. Everybody was everybody’s friend. I worked with some very important people. People I call my uncles in the industry: Olu Jacobs, Sadiq Dada, etc.
What do you hate most about yourself?
My weight (laughs). But I’m working on it. I feel it is just a weakness, but I’m trying to make myself strong.
What do you like most about yourself?
My friendliness, my smile. I’m a fun person. I don’t let things bother me. I like the fact that I’m a woman. I’m not a liberated woman o; I’m just a realistic woman.
Which of your roles do you think are your best and your worst?
My worst (sighs)…it won’t be nice to say that. I think all of them have been very challenging. But my first, Glamour Girls 1, was my best. I didn’t see it as work then. I was just having fun. They’ve been challenging and they’ve all been good too.
Tell us the lowest and highest fees that you’ve ever collected?
I don’t discuss money. I don’t think it is important. Money is not what makes me decide to take a role. Sometimes, it is secondary. Except when I don’t like the role. That’s when money comes into play.
Say something to your fans.
Tell them that if they feel that I’m one of their role models, they should go to school because I went to school. And if they want to act, they should not sleep around to get roles. They should have a sense of direction. They should have an alternative goal, in case the first one doesn’t work out.
NB – This interview had been published earlier