Rita Uchenna Dominic
Waturuocha is currently the actress who has the entire spotlight on her. With a
very successful acting career and the crown that seals her as the best actress
in Africa, this year, Rita is surely basking in an euphoria of Bliss. It has
however not always been like that for her. She had once been an upcoming
actress looking for roles. In a chat with me, she speaks on her
personal projects, her fashion statemenst, and surprisingly her single status
which she has always been silent about.
TV and movies has taken most of Rita Dominic’s life. From a
very young age, she had always wanted to act. As a child she had featured in programs
such as ‘Children’s Variety Show’ and ‘Junior Opinion’. She also won several
dance competitions both at the local sports club and whilst at Federal
Government College Ikot Ekpene where she had her secondary school education.
She says she had never considered any other profession even
as a child. “Thank God I have the career I have now because I don’t know what I
would have done. Maybe I would have been a dancer because I love choreography.
I get very excited when I watch different kinds of dances, “ Rita says.
Despite her early start on the silver screen, Rita says she
did not have any inclination she will be where she is today. “I knew from a
young age what I wanted to do but I didn’t know how successful. I am still
working hard to keep growing.”
Born in 1975, Rita who hails from
Abiah Mbaise local government area in lmo State is a professional to the core
with a strong educational background. She graduated from University of
Portharcourt with a Bachelour’s Degree in Theatre Arts in 1999.
Recently made named the best actress in Africa by the
African Movie Academy Awards(AMAA), Rita has walls full of awards which she had
gathered over the years. She however says she did not expect to win at the
AMAAs. “I never expect to win anything. What I did was work very hard and I
left the rest to God. That day I was
sitting with Uche Jombo who was also nominated and we were both very nervous.”
Her win she describes as humbling. “It is a very humbling experience. I am very
proud of this award.
Her very first major award was in 2004 at the City People
Awards. She was named the Most Outstanding Actress. Since then she had gone
ahead to win many more. “I cherish any
recognition I have received in my career but this one(AMAA) is the biggest so
far. Today, AMAA is the most coveted
award in Africa Cinema. The competition
is much more serious and it is for the whole continent. All the actresses nominated in my category
did very well in each of the films they were in,” she says.
All these awards are from various movies. So is there a role
Rita will not take? “Yes, roles that don’t add value to the anything. As long
as there is something to learn from a character, I will always be ready for
it.” That is why she says she does not regret any role she ever played. “I
don’t regret any role I take because I always feel I have learned from each
experience and each of experience has led me to where I am today. We learn and
we grow.
At the moment Rita is in Ibadan on a set of a new movie,
which would probably be another Rita Dominic classic. “My first film this year
was Streets of Calabar shot by Uk based company Spirits Creations. I play
another intriguing character there. We shot for a month in January and I am
excited about the character I played in that movie.
Then since March I have been in Ibadan working on Izu
Ojukwu’s latest period film “76”. It is
a film that shows a story of an Army wife whose husband was accused of
participating in the 1976 coup. Izu is
shooting on film to give the movie a certain look and feel. We rehearsed for
two months before we started shooting and I just feel the producer Adonai is
such a blessing to the industry. It has been very challenging playing this
woman called Suzie but I have loved every minute. I am so happy with the all
Nigerian cast and crew. They are serious and hardworking. Sometimes Ramsey and
I just look at the crew working and we get very excited that the level and
quality of the work.
Of course I still have my own production “The Meeting” where
I play one crazy 50 year old receptionist to a Minister. I am very happy with
my character there too. The past year has been about taking challenging roles
and interpreting them well. I am getting
deep into my characters to understand them and play them well,” said Rita.
Charles Aniagolu, the producer of the movie “Streets of
Calabar”, which she is on the set at the moment seem to be so excited about
having Rita on his set. He says this about working with Rita; “Off set, we
found Rita to be an extremely warm, friendly and charming personality. On set,
she was brilliant and compelling to watch.
We thoroughly enjoyed her very potent performance and were impressed
with the meticulous attention she paid to the development of the sub plot.
Getting the balance right between the enticing allure of a
smoulderingly sexy, devious goddess and her alter ego - a truly horrific,
exquisitely terrifying mob boss, could not have been easy. But she managed to
do it seamlessly. We cast Rita in this movie because we were impressed with her
solid range of performances and felt she could deliver. She didn’t disappoint,”
Charles said.
Many see Rita as a very wealthy actress. Though she did not
deny the claim, she is religious about her financial status. “From your mouth
to God’s ears. As long as God has kept
me alive and in good health, I am blessed.” To keep the cash flow going, Rita
has not restricted her business to acting alone, she has set up some business
on the side. “I co-own a production company called The Audrey Silva Company and
we produce films, Tv programs, adverts and documentaries. We produce quality
contents.”
Asides acting, the next thing Rita is known for is her
fashion and style. Many young and old women do copy her style. Some tailors
would display her posters in their shops, promising customers they can achieve
the designs. “I style myself most times but lately I’ve been getting lots of
advice from Remi Fagbohun who is fantastic celebrity stylist. I wear a lot
Nigerian designers like JD7, House of Nwocha Lanre Da Silva.
Many actresses do not like discussing about their marital
status or their romantic relationships. So it is always a tense moment while
asking these questions. This was pointed out to Rita and she was in laughter. “That
is not true, I generally don't talk about my personal relationships not
"single status" as you put it. Over the years, I noticed that as
public person, if you make your personal life a public issue, people will help
you well well. I can be quite sensitive
so I choose not to discuss who I am dating. When Mr. Right puts a ring on it, I
am sure you will see it around my finger.”
So which actor does she see attractive? She won’t hear of it. “Mr. Hazeez, you are
too funny with some of these questions o. Isn’t it so inappropriate to be
talking about work mates in that manner? Can I ask you the same question about
your female co-workers? Will you answer such a question? Really, I had a few in
my head, but the interview was about her.
She however could speak about what she looks for in a man.
She says she looks out for “A man with good heart and a man who has fear of
God. He has to love me for me and I will do the same.” At moment she says she
is living a full life and has no regrets in life. “God is more than good all
the time and he has reason for every life he creates. We just have to fulfill
God's destiny.”
As a player in Nollywood she believes that the industry
should be taken seriously as a business that it is and has been contributing to
greatly to our economy. She also wants the professional level of the people
entering the industry to increase.
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