Lateef Adedimeji is a popular actor who has become a household name. A lot of people love him because of his ability to interpreter different roles thrown at him. He started acting a few years ago but he’s done well in the industry. He can act in both Yoruba and English movies and that sets him apart from most of his counterparts in the Yoruba genre.
He won the best actor male at the City People Movie Award 2021 but he couldn’t make it down to the venue due to his tight schedule.
A day after the award, he visited City People Magazine head office in Gbagada to claim his award and pick up his plaque. That was when he was interviewed by a team of reporters led by the Publisher. He spoke about how he was able to act in the movie Ayinla. He also revealed his relationship with his friend, Bimpe.
Below are excerpts of the interview.
Let me take you away from the Movie Ayinla. Can you tell us your relationship with your colleague, Bimpe who everybody calls your girlfriend? How true is the story that you two are dating because we even heard you had a secret wedding?
We are working now (Laughs)! There’s no secret wedding!! I haven’t done any weddings. I have not wedded before, so this is Lateef Adedimeji, a young single man, trying to do his thing.
My relationship with Adebimpe is amazing! When you work with someone and you see a lot of good in it, there’s no crime in you trying to hold on to the person. You can have like ten thousand people you work with, there would be special people that you know you connect with. It’s not that I haven’t worked with a lot of people but there’s is this chemistry that works for us and when you notice this as an actor or as a business person, you can only hold on to it. A lot of people have been asking are you guys dating? The only thing I can tell people is that, if you want to know the reality, don’t rush. With time you will know what’s true and what’s not true. For me, I keep my relationship away from social media and all of that for the reasons best known to me.
If you want to know about me and Bimpe, just take your time. If I’m marrying Bimpe you will definitely know. If I did a secret wedding you will definitely know. If I had married, why would I want to keep my marriage away from people? So if it’s Bimpe you will find out and if it’s not Bimpe, in no time you will definitely know.
Who’s your ideal woman?
What I look out for in a woman is basically, be reasonable. Be a problem-solving person. Be someone a man would be in trouble and walk up to you and without saying too much he can find a solution. A man must see a reason that’s he’s coming home to a peaceful woman.
Does she (Bimpe) have all that?
Yes, she has it now(laughs).
What role would you say is the most challenging role you have acted in a movie?
I have played a lot of challenging roles but the recent one is Ayinla and it’s the most challenging. And why it’s challenging is because it’s hard to play a biopic. You are telling the story of someone that a lot of people know and if you don’t do it well; if there’s a way he does his mouth and you do your mouth in another way, people will say he doesn’t do mouth like that. So biopic is crazy! You have to pay strict attention to everything he does. After Ayinla, I have done two other biopics. Ige story is still alive. And when I got the script, I asked if I can sit down with the person. I did that and I was able to deliver. And the man in question said this is me. The second one is “ The Stranger”. I just finished the shooting. It’s a story of a doctor and the doctor is still alive.
How do you switch personalities? One minute you are Lateef Adedimeji and another minute you are another person and they all come out so real? How do you manage to do that conveniently?
Acting is like a religion to me, if I’m going to meet with God I will go with all my strength. That’s how I take acting. So when I get a script and it requires that I cry then I need to put all my heart into it. I have to cry. Not just cry; you have to do it like it’s real because acting itself is “make it real” and that’s the true definition of acting. If you do not make it real, it’s the same audience that would tell you what kind of cry is this? And if your crying doesn’t tally with the interpretation of the scene people would still get it wrong. So it’s very possible to have the right line and have the wrong reaction, so you throw people away and you start making the audience to be looking for balance. I interpret the line of my next actor and that pushes would me into my reaction. So it’s easy for me to switch because I understand the story is all about and what I have been able to interpret the character well.
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