Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014 — 33
My journey has been satisfying, frustrating... — Keira Hewatch
Keira Hewatch, one of the ‘Lekki Wives’ hasn’t ridden to prominence in the movie industry on the back of a horse of chance, the beautiful, voluptuous actress has paid her dues,and what makes her stand out isn’t just her ebony beauty but her zest for life and depth in her ability to interpret roles. Keira has shown what she can do in movies like Kajola, Two Brides and a Baby, Lekki Wives, among others. Here,she opens up on her journey so far and on what has helped her on the way. Excerpts: By KEHINDE AJOSE
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ow has your acting career been so far? My acting career has been a journey; an experience, where I have learnt who I am as an actor; where I have evolved ,and grown into the artiste that I am now. It has been tough, exhilarating, frustrating, satisfying, sometimes a struggle, most times, triumphant and I am grateful for every single second I have lived to experience it. I have been truly blessed in what I do and I don’t have to complain. But don’t get me wrong, I complain a lot; about certain work situations and some of the things that are at the fringes and the mechanics with which the industry operate but I can never complain about the fact that I’m an actor!’Yes, I’m not where I want to be just yet, that will happen soon enough,but I’m not where I started from. That’s saying something and I’m grateful about it. Are you into acting for the money or for the pleasure? I am in it for both. I am very passionate about my craft. Passion is the only thing that can make a five-year-old decide on something and then pursue it as a twentysomething-year-old woman. I am an entrepreneur, which means that I am also about C M Y K
the business Any successful person who says they went into their career solely because of the passion for their work is probably lying because when you love what you do, the best thing in the world is being able to be financially secured as a result of it. Sure, you can start out on something because you love it with a fierceness that defies everything else, but you are also hoping that you can pay your bills as well. Tell us about your most challenging movie role? I think that would be Kajola. First of all, it was a movie that flopped in the cinemas. Kajola was said to be a work of imitation; we were said to be aiming or shooting above our station,
trying to copy Hollywood , Instead of our people to encourage the unconventional film, they were out criticizing it. When Lekki Wives first came out, some Nigerians took to social media sites and tore us to shreds. We were copying Desperate Housewives, we were copying Hollywood reality shows, we weren’t original, and we were crap. They watched it, when it was released, and some of these people came back to apologise. For me, it was heartbreaking the reception I got for Kajola especially as it took such a toll on me physically, emotionally, and otherwise. It was challenging in a way I would’nt love to experience again. There are people who loved it and Continues on page 36
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