She was once rated among the top 10 most beautiful and sexy actresses in the early days of? Nollywood. Also rated side the likes of Liz Benson, Regina Askia, Sandra Achums, Eucharia Anunobi, among others, Ayo Adesanya dazzled the movie industry in the late 90s and early 2000. But while some of her contemporaries are no longer fully into the profession, this Ogun State-born actress has been waxing stronger. In this exclusive interview with Ajibade Alabi, she spoke about her failed relationship? why she prefers Yoruba movies to English movies? and other issues.
Can you introduce yourself
I am Ayo Adesanya, an actress, a mother, a business woman and a film producer. A heavy woman (laugh), I am from Ogun State, Ijebu to be precise. I am a graduate of Communications and Language Arts from University of Ibadan.
Tell us about your journey so far in the acting profession?
I have always wanted to be an actress right from the beginning. I started right from nursery school. I also acted when I was in secondary school and in church too. So it has been part of me right from the very beginning.
How did you join the industry?
I actually went for an interview where I met Ifeanyi. He was the one that invited me for an auditioning and in that audition given ‘a waka pass role’. That was my first role. And that was how the journey began.
What informed the decision to act in the first place?
Like I said earlier, I have always loved acting. It is just inborn. I feel good acting. Right from my childhood I would I will end up as an actress.
Who are your contemporaries in the industry?
Bimbo Akintola, Sandra Achums, Eucharia Anunobi and some others I cannot remember their names now.
What about Regina Askia?
Haa! Regina started before me. The reason why people always believed we stated together is because we acted many films together. Like in this film “Most Wanted,” where I played a lead role with her; that film shot me into limelight. So many people thought we were contemporaries.
People see you to be controversial. Are you really controversial?
I don’t know where you got that from, but all I can tell you is that I am not controversial, I am a normal person.
After Goriola Hasan,your ex-hubby, what next?
What next as in what? I am living my life as normal. Goriola is a closed chapter in my life, it is one of those things in life, life continues. Would I continue to ruminate over that? Abeg, life continues.
Have you found another love?
Yes I have found another love. in a new relationship.
But has love been fair to you?
Yes o, love has been fair to me, and I thank God for that
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You once said your eyes are the sexiest. Are you still holding on to that view?
Of course I still believe that.?? My eyes are the sexiest part of me, and people always talk about my eyes and do not doubt it. They are sexy, and captivating!
You are one of the very few Yoruba actresses, who dumped the English movies. Tell us why?
I just feel I should go back to my roots. Even while I was still acting English movies, I appeared in Yoruba movies too. For instance I acted in Iru Oka alongside Ramsey Nouah, a Yoruba film while I was still in the English movie caucus. So it was not as if I did not act in Yoruba before or I just dumped English for Yoruba, no. I just wanted to be fully into Yoruba movies.
As a cross-over actress what can you say is the difference between the two?
There isn’t much difference; but the only difference is that Yoruba is richer in their story line and they have very deep story lines that teach morals. I am not castigating any tribe here; mind you I am just expressing my opinion.
You must have encountered sexual harassment as an upcoming actress. Can you share your experience?
Who told you I have experienced sexual ha rassment before? Anyway I did not experience such a thing. And I do not believe any one is harassing anybody. If you are talented and you know what you are doing nobody will ever harass or molest you.
Fine, as a fine lady, you are bound to be ‘toasted,’ it now depends on you to succumb to whoever you want to date; it is not a matter of life and death. So I don’t believe anybody can be harassed sexually, except if you are not talented.
You have acted in many films, which one can you say is most challenging?
All my roles have been challenging. For instance my role in Osuka, where I played two roles. In that movie I played the role of a young girl and an old woman, which was very challenging.
But you need to watch my latest film, titled “ Amoope Alasela” in this one I played a dual role. I must tell you it was very daunting and tasking.? I had to change many times to play the roles of different people.
The director had to wait for me to change. And there was a scene where both characters? met, so it was very demanding.