How I deal with area boys -Mercy Aigbe
Mercy Aigbe
doesn’t really need any introduction. She is one of the hottest actresses in
the country, has starred in an uncountable number of movies and has made the
news for both professional and personal reasons. OSEYIZA OOGBODO BLOG tasked her on
the secret of her success.
It’s very difficult to become a truly successful
actress. What did you do to make it?
I won’t say it’s
my own making. I will say it’s the grace of God Almighty, because the Bible
says that your talent shall make a way for you. And I believe that acting is
the talent God gave me, so I stood upon that Word, so I put my God before
everything I do, then also hard work, professionalism and discipline, I can say
they are the things I’m doing to get to where I’m going to. But what’s actually
taking me to where I’m going to, I can say categorically is the grace of God
Almighty.
Apart from the grace of God, which is on everyone,
we’ve heard tales of actresses who paid producers to feature them in movies and
others sleeping with producers. What underhand thing did you do to support
God’s grace?
Sincerely, I
didn’t have to do any of those things. That’s why I said once you’re favoured,
you’re favoured. When you’re favoured, doors open, things you don’t expect start
to work together for your good because the Lord has distinguished you from
everybody else, so I didn’t have to do those things. But what I’ll just say is
that, that is not actually the way because some people might end up doing all
those things and they still don’t get to where they want to. So I just believe
it’s the grace of God and your hard work that matter. At times, you are
favoured, but you don’t work towards your goal, towards your objectives, you
don’t put in your best to be among the best in what you’re doing, so your hard
work really matters. Then you have to be disciplined in this kind of job. If
people see that you’re a professional to the core, you don’t come late to
locations, you don’t have unnecessary airs, you take your job like your job,
they would always want to work with you because they know you are a
professional. So I think those are just the things that one really, really
needs to get to the top.
Do you think your comfortable background has played a
huge factor in your success, in that you could afford not to be desperate while
other girls who have to survive would do anything to get roles that if you
don’t get, your parents would still have taken care of you?
I don’t know. I
can’t really say if it was a factor in my success. The only thing I can say
helped me was the training my father gave me. I can’t say it’s his money or
anything. It’s the training he gave me, the morals he has instilled in me, so
anytime I’m faced with any kind of challenge, I’m like ‘Mercy, what would you
do that your father won’t like?’ or ‘Mercy, what would your father say to you
in this situation?’ because my father is a very strict man, he’s a
disciplinarian to the core. You know all those kind of Benin men that believe
they just have to train their kids well. So it’s his training that helped me
not to be desperate. I also knew deep down that I would make it and that nobody
could stop me. The thing is that I’m very spiritual. I believe in God, that
whatever happens to you is God.
What are your achievements as an actress?
Hmmn, what I
want to achieve, I’ve not achieved. I’ve not gotten to where I’m going to.
OK, tell us what you want to achieve.
Let me keep it
under wraps for now. Where I’m really going to is close to my heart and it’s my
God I always tell it to, so don’t let me tell you my dreams and aspirations and
where I’m going to in this industry. But what I can definitely tell you is that
I’ve not gotten to where I’m going to. But at the same time, I give God the
glory for how far He has taken me. At least, to God be the glory, Mercy Aigbe
has come to stay.
How do you feel when people meet you and gush that
they are so happy to meet you?
I feel really
loved because that means they appreciate what you do, for people to want to
talk to you when they see you, for them to wave at you and all that. I feel
blessed and loved because I know the work I’m doing is being appreciated.
In the same vein, do area boys accost you for money?
Of course they
do. I think that is their own way of showing that they are your fans. And
anytime they see you, they are like ‘Ah! E fun wa lowo’ which means you should
give them money.
And when they request, what do you do?
At times, I give
them and at times I don’t. It depends on my mood actually. And it depends on
the way they talk to me.
What is the highest amount you’ve ever given them?
I can’t say an
amount in particular. I just give them as my mood dictates.
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