I CAN SMOKE MYSELF TO DEATH. – TONTO DIKE

I CAN SMOKE MYSELF TO DEATH. – TONTO DIKE

It no doubts that Nollywood diva and A-list actress, Tonto Dike is one particular actress who has warmed herself into the hearts of home movies lovers due to her roles interpretative prowess and carriage. Her performance in movies has made her a toast of most movie producers in the industry. Like many a-list stars, the Ikwere, Rivers State born actress  has also being enmeshed in a series of controversies and has also become a regular target of most rumour mongers which many controversies woven around her person. The outraged that greeted the semi-nude role she played in a movie titled ‘dirty secret’ is yet to be abated when another rumour about her alleged romance with Whizkid surfaced. When asked about her role in the movie, dirty secret, considering her background as an Africa, she become unrepentant with and also showing no remorse about the role, ‘I don’t know what the Africa role is. I don’t know about be an African or not be an African. I am a human being and an actress. That is all I know. Be an African is not part of my job. I got paid to interpret a role as an actress and I did it perfectly well. I don’t give a f**k about what any body is saying out there.’

The movie which many critics described as soft porn featuring the like of Muna Obiekwe and Jibola Dabo was produced by Sanga Entertainment, a New York-based Company and  released last year November into the market. Tonto did something that has never been done before in the annals of Nollywood. She appeared frontally nude, and exposed her private parts in full view and instead of a simulated sex scene; it appeared the scene was real.

When asked by this reporter about how she felt about some of the criticisms coming her way which has made most critic to rechristened her as Toto Dick, The next movie star discovery also disclosed that her role has even helped her career and project her as one actress to reckon with in the movie industry with no regret whatsoever. ‘I felt it but I felt it in a very positive way. It really helps my career. It helps me with my job and my personality as woman. It’s a so much talk about movie and it even got me more popularity. It was really crazy to be part of it.’ She said. In her reply to her critics on her twitter page, she wrote, ‘why would we enjoy seeing  nudity in Hollywood? It’s a f..cking profession peeps, grow up. I am all out with my  job and f..ck you hard if you find otherwise. Rubbish f..cking pretenders. I hate  fake damn tradition. I have got a mind and heart my profession requires.” She is most times refers as someone who loves doing things her own way without caring about the opinion of others.

On her smoking and drinking habit which has made many to describe her as a smoking gun, the 25yrs old final year Petrochemical Engineering student of the University of Port-Harcourt came hard on her critics. ‘…how does that come into the way I act? Excuse me (voice raised). That is my personal life. If I want to smoke I handle a piece of cigarette and I have to smoke it hard. It my life I can decides to smoke myself to hell. It’s no body business.’ Continuing she said, ‘…how has smoking affected my acting job? You could get worried about it but talking about it I don’t feel distracted. It’s nobody business and it doesn’t affect what you see on TV.’

Tonto has features in a lot of movies which include Dangerous Beauty, Forest of Tears, Before The Rain, Strength To Strength, The Plain Truth, True Lies, Missing Rib, Last Mission, Secret Mission, Rush Hour, Final Hour, Fatal Mistake, Family Disgrace, Plain Truth, Miss Maradonna, Divine Grace, Tea or Coffee, 7 Graves, Crisis In Paradise, Insecurity, Mortal Desire, Burning Tears, Pounds and Dollars, Away Match, Away Match 2, Python King, among others

In an interview with NAIJANEWSROOM, the sultry and no-nonsense actress shed more light on her rumour relationship with whizkid, her view on the husband snatching allegation revolving around her colleague and Nollywood actress and her life as an actress.

Excerpt:

I understand you study petrochemical engineering. How did you veer into acting?

There was no point in time that I really sat down and said I want to be an actress. Acting just come to me as a big surprise though I believe God has a hand in every stage of my life.

At the time you were coming into the industry when you emerged as the second runner up in the next movie star you were also at that time a petrochemical engineering student at Uniport. Did you experience any form of resistance from your parents coming into the industry?

Oh Yes. I have lovable and great father. He is the father and he wants the best for his daughter. I just have to convince him that this is what I want to do and it wouldn’t affect my education. And so he let me be as far he was convince that my education wouldn’t suffer.

Looking at you and the so much effort you put into interpreting roles. It’s like you have always had the hidden desire to be an actress?

Well, I have always wanted to act but it wasn’t like I develop the love from childhood. I have always love the fact of coming out, facing the camera, dancing and recording a couple of song. I used to love all those things then. It was so beautiful but I never thought that it was something that would become a career someday. Moreover, I know my family will never entertain the fact that I wanted to be a theatre artist by studying Theatre Arts so as I grow older, I understand the fact that I was brought to this world to achieve a purpose which I have being following all the way. I can make rule for myself and make myself a better person more than I was before. I take my decision in line with what God wanted me to do.

When you started you were still a student. How were you able to balance both side in respect of the promise you made to your father that your education wouldn’t suffer because of your incursion into acting because acting require you be on locations for weeks?

Actually then I haven’t moved to Lagos. Then I could dedicate one week for movies and the other week for my studies.

What if it requires you being on location for maybe two to three weeks?

Offcourse I would take permission in school. As at then I was not playing any major role. All the roles I was playing were sub roles until I got a major role but then I have shuttle through a lot of places. Today I could be in Enugu and tomorrow Port-Harcourt. I didn’t know then that I could make a success of acting but I knew that there gonna be much success with being a Petro-chemical Engineer based on the fact that I hail from an oil producing locality where oil exploration is take place. I didn’t even know that acting can pay me well and bringing so much popularity.

How was the experience the first time you share the stage with big Nollywood star?

The very first time I was on stage I didn’t know those stars very much. Everything was new to me. I didn’t want to make a mistake. I probably might have been frighten a little bit but people like uncle Larry Koldswealth really, really talk to me and they make me believe I could do it. But all these people were stars and the way you see them on TV could affect the way you work with them. But they make me realize that this not the time to just be with the stars but this is the time to prove myself.

Do you have any problem with the any of the directors then?

Ehhh! I have a problem with one or two people when I was coming up because I was really very, very stubborn but I couldn’t remember who or where or how.

I believe you must have heard about the death of one of the pillar of the movie industry Sam Loco Efe. How did you receive the news of his death?

It’s really very sad we lost him. He was a very kind man. He was one of the most experience and versatile actor. We will miss him even though most of us are not related to him. We pray for God to grant his soul external rest. I pray for his family and pray for God to give them the strength to bear the lost.

There have being so much rumour and speculations about your person as time making you look like one of the most controversial actress in Nollywood. The latest was the rumour the round that you and whizkid are an item?

(Laughs) The thing is that most my personality is really confusing to people. I am highly lovable or I am so loving or I can love people so much. I am very humane. I don’t know where the rumour come from but anybody that has being able to touch me in what ever ways deserve my love without knowing who you are or where you come from. For one to even tweeted me, ‘the most beautiful girl” I have to reply and I have to call him beautiful names for the fact that he tweeted me and make them understand that I appreciate the fact that they actually send me a note or a tweet appreciating my work and I think that is were the rumour came from.

Do you think a relationship could be possible maybe in the future?

That is not important. I think we should talk about other things.

How true is the rumour that you are a heavy smoker and can’t do without cigarette?

I don’t still have that scandal even if it’s true or not and I don’t still have that past if it’s true or not. We are just so shallow minded. How does that come into the way I act? Excuse me (voice raised). That is my personal life. If I want to smoke I handle a piece of cigarette and I have to smoke it hard. It my life I can decides to smoke myself to hell. It no body business.

Yeah! Just like you were smoking before this interview started?

It’s left for me to think about it. It’s left for me to continue. How has smoking affected my acting job? You could get worried about it but talking about it I don’t feel distracted. It’s nobody business and it doesn’t affect what you see on TV.

How true is the rumour that you are asthmatic as a result of your excessive smoking?

(Laughs out loudly)I think my health problem have nothing to do with my job. If I have a health problem then I have a health problem. It’s not something that is meant for the public or the world.

How true is it also that you are into lesbianism?

Aha! There is nothing that is surprising to me even if it’s true or I haven’t heard about it before and I don’t live my life based on what people say about me.

Taking about your relationship status. Are you into any relationship at the moment?

I am not. I am just waiting on the best man to come in. I am just having fun and waiting for God to direct me at the moment.

It hard to believe you are not in any relationship?

Yes. I am not in any relationship and that is all I can say.

Is there really any different between Tonto Dike the actress and the real Tonto Dike?

Absolutely the actress is somewhat with different characters depending on the roles but Tonto Dike in person is a homely, lovely and accommodating girl its just that most people judge actresses by the roles they play.

So when will I be coming to eat your wedding rice?

(Roar in laughter) Ahaaaah! We just leave that for God to decide. He is the master planner. He is the only one that knows the end from the beginning.

Why is it that most actresses find it difficult settling down or a good guy?

I have never being married and I don’t know how they do it.

Can you tell us the description of your ideal man?

I just need a man who love me and love God and can listen to me.

Can you tell me about your family?

I have five siblings.

How about your parents?

My father is alive and healthy but my mum is no more but I have a beautiful step mum.

Sorry about that. How old were you when she died?

I didn’t even know her. I was still young them. I was about three years.

I believe you have heard about your friend Mercy Johnson whose marriage plans is hanging as a result of a woman that surface from Canada who is reportedly married to Mercy husband to me with two kids?

Well I heard about it but I think people take so much advantage of the fact that we have papers that are ready to carry all these stories. I just think it just stupid; it’s just silly for whoever the woman is to come out at this time. Even if she want to claim her husband it’s not the right way. Who the hell are you to go to the press? Who the hell are you to go on papers? Have she work hard enough to be on papers?

Much blames is being heap on mercy for failing to find out about the root of the guy…

(Cuts-in) I don’t care whether she did or she did not. If I was the woman I would not even do what the other woman is doing. Nobody know was transpired between him and the woman that is why nobody will ever know what is happening but if she loves him and she want to go ahead with the marriage that is it. That is it.

What if it’s confirmed that the man is still legally married to the other woman?

It’s left for them to deal with it. They know what they are doing. I just think everybody should leave them alone. Let them sought out their issue. They know what are doing. The man and the other woman know what they are doing.

Has anything bad been written about on papers which move you close to tears?

Yes, there was a story about me four years ago. I can’t even remember it. It brought me down and I wept like a baby but I have gotten over it and move on.

The movie, dirty secret, you acted in alongside Muna Obiekwe and Jibola Dabo which was released last year November really generated so much criticism. Do you feel some of the bullets coming your way?

I felt it but I felt it in a very positive way. It really helps my career. It helps me with my job and my personality as woman. It a so much talk about movie and it even got me more popularity. It was really crazy to be part of it. I got paid to interpret a role as an actress and I did it perfectly well. I don’t give a f**k about what any body is saying out there.

Some critics felt your semi nude role in the movie is un African?

I don’t know what the Africa role is. I don’t know about be an African or not be an African. I am a human being and an actress. That is all I know. Be an African is not part of my job.

These days most actresses or actors are into movie production. Any plan to toe that line someday?

Definitely, when the time comes. This is something you do for other producers as an actresses so it possible to produce my own movie someday to generate more money.