Abiola Adebayo popularly known as “Biola Eyin Oka” started her acting career with Wale Adenuga Productions by featuring in some of their TV dramas, which include Super Story, Papa Ajasco. But she came to limelight after featuring in Yoruba movie titled “Eyin Oka”. She joined the industry 17 years ago “2002” and has remained at the top of her career till date. Biola is also one actress who despite the fame has been able to stay off scandal and maintain a very low profile.
In this interview with City People’s BIODUN ALAO, she talked about her journey into the industry, and why she often takes up roles that contradict her real lifestyle in movies. and why many believe she is Oga Bello’s daughter. And lastly, she also talked about her latest movie titled “Sorry”. Below are the excerpts.
What project are you working on presently?
I just released my movie titled “The Switch”. I am also working on another one titled “Sorry” pele. People should expect “Sorry” soon.
Lots of producers complain of not making money after producing, so how do you cope?
First and foremost, I don’t produce movies back to back, I give as much as a year intervals to produce movies. I only feature in movies back to back. Then it’s not like people don’t make money at all, it is just that, they might not be making enough profit the way they expected due to lots of factors. But we still have people who still produce every now and then despite the complaints. Also the profits you make from movie production, as a producer depends on the platform you put your movie.
It also depends on the movie in question. So we might not be making so much money, but I am sure we are not losing. It’s not good yet, but it’s not totally bad.
How have you been able to maintain a scandal-free career and also not active on social media?
I would say maybe I am just not a social media person. Naturally, I am a very private person, an introvert to the core. So because of the type of job I do, that is why I have to do the Instagram thing, little by little, one way or the other, but because, it is not my thing, you might not get to see me often like that. you don’t get to see me everywhere too, that is just my person though, that doesn’t make me better than any other person. It’s different things that give people joy. If being in people’s faces is what makes and keeps you happy, then why not, fine. It doesn’t just work for me, because I am not that type of person. Like I earlier said, I only operate my Instagram account because of my job, because I don’t want to be a laid back kind of person, which I am naturally. I don’t like controversy, I don’t want to be tagged a controversial person. Though some people don’t mind, they believe it even gives them more fame, some people create and pay for controversies on their own. If as an artiste, that puts you in the limelight, and also makes people know you, it is fine. For me, I just don’t like it.
How long have you been in the industry?
I have been in the industry for over 17 years.
What have you been doing to keep up the fame for 17 years?
Well, firstly I will say it’s God’s grace. Secondly, nothing stays longers in people’s hand except through the grace of God. So I want to appreciate God’s grace upon my life. I think, if you are diligent at what you do, and you develop yourself more, you get better. God will always be with you, coupled with the fact that you are respectful and humble. With God’s grace, you will get to where he has destined you to be. Though sometimes different things keep people away from this career, it could be marriage, a better job, migrating from one country to another. It could be anything, that keeps one away from the job, but for people that want to stay long in the industry, you need lots of humility, be diligent, always upgrade yourself then you will grow.
But a situation, whereby you just remain stagnant without working on yourself, fans get tired of seeing just one particular thing from you over and over again. If you can diversify and do things differently, and with the grace of God you will remain there.
Over the years, I have built myself, worked on my talents, developed myself educationally, career-wise and also in my attitude, dealing with people and all that, so I have been working on myself and still working on myself.
Why the urge to further considering the fact that you have a flourishing career?
Basically my belief is that no knowledge is wasted. I believe in doing things that add value to my life. After my master degree programme, I have started thinking about what else to do.
Now, if you say, because I am an actor, and I don’t need any master degree programme now, what about in future? Nobody knows tomorrow holds what if I get to do something with it tomorrow. And even if I am not using it, I already have it. I have added so much value to my life in one way or the other. I believe in developing yourself, don’t just sit up and watch people, keep busy with things that add value to your life. Lots of people have been asking me if I will be going for my PhD? I said I don’t know. Not because I don’t like the idea, but trust me, I don’t have the strength yet.
But honestly, if I am not doing my PhD, I am definitely going to be doing something else. Just because I want to keep improving myself. I want to live a fulfilled life. I keep telling people, it is better to die a graduate, than to die an illiterate.
Some people don’t have the opportunity though, but I strived to achieve this myself. Nobody pushed me to do it and I didn’t have the opportunity to do it. But I was determined to do it. I wanted to do it in the U.S. but I could not afford it, so I did it in Nigeria, which was affordable for me, so it’s not like I had the money and time, but because I was determined to do it. So I always encourage youths, adults to always do something, because you can’t tell what life will be like tomorrow.
Are you presently in a relationship and what attracts you to opposite sex?
Basically, I don’t get attracted to men easily I have not really got attracted to anybody or man based on his physique, looks or anything. I get attracted to people by their character, attitude, the way they relate with women and people around them. Sometimes, people want to give you a reference because you are a celebrity.
Sometimes, I watch the way you treat my driver, my friends and younger people with no status. That gets me attracted to you, be it a female or male, I like people who are smart, I don’t like dullards, because you will keep getting me angry all the time. So I like intelligent people around me, so I can learn from them. I like people who have value for time, for life and who want to improve people’s lives in one way or the other. Fine, it might not be instantly but with time. That is how I get attracted to people, both female and male. Most friends I have now, are the ones I got to know with time, over the years. And we have lots of things in common, though, they might be extrovert while I am an introvert, but we still roll together. I still see things in them that make us compatible.
How do you cope with roles that contradict your person?
I think most of us are usually different from what they see on screen. There was a time people were telling me you are always too gentle in your movies I have heard that a lot, also at times, they will be like oh you fight and look for trouble a lot in your movies. Honestly, it contradicts my lifestyle. Take for example, when we were shooting the switch. I had to go and learn how to interprete the role of a very lousy aggressive lady before I could act that role. So when people see me outside and say oh, she is a very lousy and abusive lady, don’t get deceived with her quiet look. I just smile. If I play the role of an armed robber in a movie, does that make me an armed robber? I just thank God people are getting more enlightened now about all these things. Some now get to differentiate our personal character from the role we play. Also, our producers tend to stereotype us for a particular role. The moment they watch a movie and you were able to interpret that role well, anytime such roles comes up, they will always think about you and call you up to act the role.
They don’t even want to try you for other roles. And people will just conclude, it’s because I am like that in real life, that’s why they cast me for such roles. At times, our character traits tell too, but that is just five per cent actually. Naturally, I don’t trade words no matter how angry I get, I will rather walk away, and I do that often in movies.
I get tired of talking easily, I let things go easily even in my relationship.
So are you in any relationship now?
Ehh, let that question go. Basically, I don’t like to put my private life in people’s faces.
Why do lots of people think Oga Bello is your father?
But really? He is my father now. Laughs!!! Or what do you think? Who doesn’t like Oga Bello? He is a great man. On a serious note, I think because of the surname or because of my resemblance with one or two of his biological children or maybe because we are from the same Kwara State but I am not from Ilorin though.
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