Her role interpretation skills and beauty have endeared her to many. Fathia Balogun rode into the movie industry and grabbed the klieg lights exuding finesse and got better with the times. Having started out in the entertainment industry more than three decades ago, Fathia is like wine that gets better by the day. Her failed marriage with Saheed Balogun may have taken a chunk off her personal life and career but the thespian with great movies like Farayola, Aje metta, Asa and Simisola Otelemuye has soldiered on. She recently won the Best Indigenous Movie in Yoruba with Iya Ala‘lake at the AMVCA 2015. Now she’s up to something new. In this chat with SAMUEL ABULUDE, she speaks on her new works and why government needs to save moviemakers from going into bankruptcy.

What have you been up to?

I have been showing my movie Iya Ala’lake in different cinemas. Promoting the movie which got an award at the AMVCA has taken a lot of my time. Thanks to my fans and others who voted. The movie is unique in itself. Then I’m working on a new movie titled Sijuade, it’s a traditional movie.

How was it playing the role Ala’lake?

It was very challenging, I wanted to do a different movie from the ones I had been doing. So I called Muyiwa Ademola and informed him about it. We have a foundation together, called Unique Charity Foundation. Myself, Muyiwa Ademola, Femi Adebayo and Sanyeri came together to form the non-governmental organisation in order to give back to the society. So with Muyiwa’s ingenuity, I was able to play the role. It’s a difficult role. Ala’lake is a comedy and I played the role of an old woman and a singer which I had not done before.

Why did you choose such a movie and was it patterned after Were pioneer singer Iya Ala’lake?

Not really. We just weaved the story around her as a singer. In doing this, I had to dress the way a 50-year-old woman dresses in those days. I was doing what I’ve not been able to do in years. So it has opened other roles to me.

You mentioned that you were not a Yoruba after accepting your AMVCA 2015 movie?

They got it all mixed up. I didn’t finish my acknowledgement statement on stage. I said that though I was not Yoruba but I loved the culture and I’m proud of it hence I’m a Yoruba actress. I couldn’t have denied my people the Yoruba movie industry.

What informed your new hairdo (now wears low cut hair with a grey highlights)?

You mean my new look (smiles)? It reflects my mood for now. It shows that Fathia is no longer the small girl that people used to know. As you can see, there’s a little bit of grey hair on this though I’m not as old as my hair shows. Just let’s call it a fashion statement. Interestingly, I dressed like an older woman in my latest movie, ‘Iya Ala’lake’ and it was a learning curve on its own. I had never done something that demanding before. The movie is a comedy and I had to play a role I hadn’t played before. I had to look like it, a singer and an old woman.

As a mother and actress who also does a lot of other things, how do you combine all these roles?

I hope you know I also have a shop and it will be one year soon. I don’t have to make noise about it. I have a boutique in Abeokuta. As regards combining all my work, you know that as women we are good at these things-multi tasking. For me I know when to rest from hitting different locations. I can tell myself, I’m going to work for two weeks and stay at home to refresh and look after my children who are growing up fast now and other chores. That is for me. At this stage of my life, I know when and how to make money and relax. Movie making has given us a name but we are yet to see the money-the megabucks. For now, film making is not going on well. If truly we are celebrities that we call ourselves, we should have all the trappings of it but ehh in Nigeria no be so! We work hard for everything and pirates are dealing with us big time. We spend about N10 million or say N5 million to shoot a movie and we give our marketers who can’t even make N2 million profit. That isn’t good business. Movie producers and marketers are being short changed by pirates and they are becoming more daring because the agencies do not have the political will and the machineries to fight these pirates. That is why those of us in this business are careful about investing much money into shooting movies that we can’t make profit from. We are divesting into other businesses because movie making is not lucrative anymore.

So, why are you still in this business?

This is what we love to do. This is our passion. One has just got to be smart in this business. We are hopeful that the PMB government would put its foot down that pirates and piracy will no longer thrive in Nigeria or be reduced to its barest minimum, that these devils called pirates will no long have a conducive environment to operate in Nigeria. Corruption will not thrive like before and people, I mean actors, movie producers and marketers will reap from their hard labour.

So what has been your staying power, having been in this business for two decades?

I just feel this is what I know how to do best. I love my work and I’m passionate about acting and showing to the people why they need to be God fearing and work hard for their money instead of seeking short cuts. I know what I’m doing and I’ve been privileged to have met people who guided me in this profession.

How have you been able to look radiant and beautiful over the years?

I take care of my skin. I do beauty treatment every month. My skin colour was inherited from my father. As you know, I’m Urhobo from Okpara waterside in Delta State.

Are you a snub as some people think?

Not at all! People who don’t know you and you don’t know them either, expect you to greet them because you are a celebrity. I don’t snub people. I love my fans. I may not be perfect as a human being, nobody is anyway. I was not brought up like that. I’m a respectful person. Because I don’t greet you or give you attention does not make me a snub. I get moody at times like you and other people do.

How would you describe yourself in three words?

I’m a God fearing person. Fathia is reserved as against what people think. Behind this figure and alluring personality is a shyness that only those who are close to me see. And above all, I’m an understanding person. If you give me your reasons why this is this and if it’s okay by me, I’ll accept. I’m not a difficult person. Ask people around me. Fathia is a nice person and that’s why people are always around me.