One-time Gulder Ultimate Search winner, Uche Nwaezeapu, does not hide his feelings. He has a crush on controversial actress, Tonto Dike and he’s not shy to say it. The gentleman who is now into acting shared the story with YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine’s JULIET IKEOKWU as well as another opportunity he once had to work with the actress, but missed it. Enjoy…
Tell us about your background.
I grew up in Lagos. I was born 32 years ago in Lagos. I’ve lived all my life in Lagos. I come from a family of five; I have a younger brother and a younger sister, then my dad and my mum.
When did you start acting?
I started acting in year 2000. I used to be part of a drama group back then. I acted for some years and then stopped. In 2010, I came back to acting. That was after winning Gulder Ultimate Search.
Can you tell us some of the films you have featured in?
I featured in Secret Act with Emeka Ike. Sometimes I don’t remember the name (title) of the movies because the names are given after shooting. I did Classic with Segun Arinze, Catwalk with Monalisa Chinda and Ini Edo, with Desmond Elliot directing. Those, I can remember now, and I’m working on more too.
What’s your take on celebrities that go bankrupt?
As a human being, whatever you do, it is very wise for you to invest so that you will be able to get more money. I was speaking with someone yesterday and he said that money has wings, it flies. If you have the money and you don’t use it well, it goes. You won’t eventually know what you did with the money. You may go out with N50,000 in a day and come back without it; and you will be wondering what you did with it. It’s very important that in whatever you do, you invest wisely to have something to fall back on.
What drives you?
My passion for hard work motivates me. I love success. I don’t just love it, I work towards it. That’s what drives me to be the best in what I do. It gives me courage and determination.
What do you hate about being an actor?
I’ll rather put it as what I will reduce, because if I say I hate it, then why am I in it? Every profession has advantages and disadvantages. But you wish you could have privacy. It’s not so because you’ve sold your privacy for fame or what you like doing. You can’t just do what you normally do before you became famous.
What else do you do aside acting?
I used to be a TV presenter. I just stopped working, but I’m working on my TV show, which is like a game show. I also have one or two businesses that I do.
What’s the most controversial thing that you have heard about yourself?
Actually, they are two. No! They are many, but I will pick two out of the many. My friend, Melvin, who went to Big Brother Africa, was also my runner-up in Gulder Ultimate Search, and his cousin and I went to a club and on our way back, because they both came with their girlfriends, I was in front, walking towards the car and behind me were my friend and his cousin having a conversation and the girls were behind them. The next thing I saw on paper was that I stepped out of that club with three girls. I was like what! I wasn’t even with a girl. Another one was that I was engaged to be married on a particular date. I was like what! I’m just one single guy, but I just laughed it off.
Ok, now that you have talked about relationships, are you in a relationship?
I’m not in a relationship.
So, how do you cope with your female admirers?
I cope with them fine because it’s not easy. Some of them want to be more than friends. They want you to be their friend, you tell them okay, I can be your friend. The ones you don’t want, you find a way to tell and they will understand. I really don’t like having relationships with my female admirers. I respect them and I like it to be like that. I like them to see me as a role model in whatever field they belong to; like ladies who want to go for Gulder Ultimate Search come to me for advise. I handle them well.
What do you look out for in a lady?
First of all, she has to be God fearing, very intelligent, very industrious. This could mean being a good cook. I like eating good food. She must look good. I like a good looking girl. Not necessary the most beautiful girl, but she must appeal to me. Also she must have a good shape; good things (Laughs).
Reading and watching movies, which do you do often?
I watch movies more because that’s the field I’m in. I watch foreign movies and Nigerian movies. I read at least one book every month. I’m also a spiritual person and in my church (Winners Chapel), we have books of the month based on the teaching.
How do you relax?
If I’m not watching movies, then I play games like PS 3 games with my friends or I hang out with my friends and we have drinks. I do that a lot.
Who is your role model in Nollywood?
I love RMD, Jim Iyke and Desmond Elliot. They are unique in their roles and ways. They are great actors and I respect them.
The actress you will like to work with.
I have a crush on Tonto Dike. I will love to act with her. I had an opportunity to do a movie with her, but the producer and I didn’t reach a comprise and here am I regretting later. I would have done it for free just to be with Tonto (Laughs). That’s me, playing. But I will like to act with her. And we have the same birthday.
What is the greatest thing that fame has done for you?
It has put me out there more. You know, it has taken me out of the Gulder Ultimate Search level. People can see that I have a lot of gifts and that I’m not just in the movies because I won the Gulder Ultimate Search, but because I have the talent and love for acting and it’s inside of me.
Which of your works do you like most?
It’s going to be hard. I think it has to be Secret Act. I have other ones that are not yet out. For now, it’s Secret Act. And it brought out another side of me that nobody had seen.
What is that thing that many people do not know about you?
When I was working with Cool TV, I did ask people this question, but this is the first time I’m being asked and I don’t even know what to say. It’s crazy. I never thought about it. I think everybody knows pretty much about me. I can’t think of anything now. Everybody knows my weak points. I’m that open. And people don’t know that I’m going to take over the movie industry by God’s grace. Within the next one to three years, everybody will know Uche beyond Africa. Not as a Gulder Ultimate Search winner, but as a great actor.
What advise do you have for youths that look up to you?
First of all, be sure of what you want to do, make sure you have God in your life. When you find out you have talent and God, then you set out. This means that you have to work hard, be persistent, be consistent, develop yourself, watch movies. If you have money, go to a movie school, get better, keep at it and you will have victory. Remember, winners never quit and quitters never win.