Nollywood star, Ifeka Doris had always loved acting. In her childhood years she longed to be on the screen just like her favourite stars she watched on TV. Seeing Nollywood actors busy on location as she walked through neighbourhoods with her mother fed the flame of her ambition. When she landed a kid actor role in a Genevieve Nnaji movie, it seemed like she had found a shortcut to her dream. But her father insisted on education first above acting. So, she postponed it until after she obtained a bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Lagos. Few years after completing her tertiary education, she went back to acting and today she is the most sought-after actors in the Nigeria film industry. In this interview with Guardian, the Enugu-born actress shares her journey into stardom among other issues.

Give us insight into your background?
My name is Ifeka Doris Ifeoma. I’m currently 26 years old. Background: I’m from a family of 4. I have 1 sibling, an elder brother. I grew up in Lagos. I had my primary and tertiary education in Lagos. I schooled in University of Lagos where I studied English Language and I graduated with a 2.2. I’m from Enugu state.

How do you feel been the face of that Buga product?
I feel excited. I feel blessed because it’s my first endorsement. Being the face of a particular brand, that means there must be something they saw. I’m not the only one they’ve been seeing; so for them to call me, that means there’s something special and I feel blessed.

What other platform can you sell their product?
I intend to use my Instagram, Facebook, Whatsapp. Even sometimes when I shoot films, people say your skin is skinning, I say all thanks to Karis.

What is Buga win all about?
Buga win is more like bet9ja. It’s just a game. A platform where people can play and win. Once you do, you register, you deposit, play and you win. It’s just about winning. You play a game and you win.

How did this endorsement come to you?
I got the endorsement through Mr. Femi Ogunsanya. We’ve lworked together on a project so I think his friend is the owner of the brand. He was looking for who will endorse for him like actors so he recommended me to the man and said this girl is doing very well in the East. She can actually help you make more publicity. That was how I was able to get it.

How do you feel about getting the endorsement?
I was like another one again. This my God. I was super excited and I was really paid so well for it because I think it’s a very big brand. They are doing it in a very big way.

Anytime they need you to go out to a particular place to storm a community or event, will you give it a shot?
Of course, because it’s part of the contract. It’s also part of the thing that I am suppose to do. Anytime they need me for an event. I should always come through for them. So it’s just a game platform where you deposit, you play, you win but it’s coming live. It’s not yet open to everyone but they are going to go live officially by the end of this month where everybody is allowed to play. They just want to create more awareness so that by the time it’s out, people will know about it and want to play. My job is basically to create more awareness, to always tell them Buga win is coming, Buga win is coming is the next big thing. So by the end of the month once they are live officially opened. I’m using all my platform to tell people about it.

You seem to have started as a kid actor? Can you share your journey to stardom?
Yes, I actually started as a child actor. I did my first movie in 2006 titled ‘Critical condition’. Growing up, I never wanted to be an actor, I wanted to be a nurse. It happened a day when I was still in Lagos. I was home so my mum went to make her hair. At the saloon, they were filming with Ramsey Noah. My mum came home to invite me and my friend were just playing outside. So she called me and say ‘come and see Ramsey Noah. So I came with my friend and I saw a lot of people just gathered and they were watching. So in my mind I said to myself ‘ wow I will actually want to do this someday. I just loved how everything was going. I love the attention they were getting and seeing Ramsey Noah, a lot of people, they were star struck. That was when the passion came. So I went to meet them. I was very young. I told them I wanted to act. At first they thought I was joking. After they finished that job, the man got my mum’s contact. That was how they contacted me and I came for an audition. That was like my first audition. I saw a lot of people, I saw a lot of artist and I scaled through. That was how I did my first movie with Genevieve Nnaji

Without any formal training, how did you hone your acting skills?
Well, I will say my mum was my coach because she loves acting but never got the opportunity. My mother prepared me for me. She saw that I loved to act and supported me wholeheartedly when the opportunity came. Today, she’s happy that I followed my passion. I remember vividly when I was young, I will bring the script, my mum and I, will sit and look at it together. Then, she will interpret the role and teach me. My mum helped me through all that and growing up, I watched a lot of movies. I have a lot of role models I look up to and I watch their films. I realized that acting is something I’m very passionate about.

Which of the movies was most challenging?
My most challenging job title is ‘Before I go.’ I played an autistic child, a child with autism. It was really challenging. When I got the script, I read it. I said to myself that I don’t think I can do this because that’s like playing an imbecile so I said to myself I can’t do this but the producer Touch of Excellence, she insisted that I must be the one because she believes I have the look to fit into that character. So, I made my research. I had to watch people with autism. I went on tiktok. I did a lot of research. I watched some movies and with the help of the director, I was able to sail through. When I was filming that project, I caught into character so much that I cried for real on set. As God may have it, I was nominated for an award from that job.

Which of the awards would you say you cherish most and why?
I would say I cherish Nigerians Achievers Award. All awards are good. So far I have like three awards in my name. I would say I cherish Nigerians Achievers Award more because I was nominated for a film that was challenging. You know when you are been given an award for a movie that was really challenging for you. That means there’s something you did right. It’s just like a reward for all my effort.

Have you experienced sexual harassment in the industry?
As an actor, definitely you must come across sexual harassment because some producers want to sleep with you before anything. So, yes I have come across it.

Do you still have old friends in Lagos. I discovered you studied in University of Lagos?
I’m not really that type that has so many friends. In my University I just have one friend till date and we still talk. Her name is Amaka. I just have her. I don’t know how to keep so many friends.

Many of the celebrities has been duped, What are you going to do to safeguard your fame and your money?
To be honest, there are lots of cases like that. Before I settle down I must make sure I get to a particular point where I can stand on my own even without a man. I can be able to provide for myself and family even without the attributing to a man. I feel like there’s this respect when you have your own money. You can always tell your man this is what I want. The respect will be there. He will be able to respect your own decision. I feel like when you have your money and when you’ve gotten to that point whereby any where you step in people will recognize and respect you. Definitely even when you are married. God may have it if you get married to a man who is very supportive and who understands you at the same time. You have to make him understand that this is my career and you must be ready to support me even before going into the marriage because you find out that some times men will deceive you and tell you ‘oh acting no problem, let’s marry, I will support you, I’ll do this’ but at the end of the day that when you are there, you see the man been very uncomfortable saying oh this acting, my wife can’t act. So you see the woman struggling. You see maybe at the end of the day they get divorce and the woman will be left with nothing and that. Some men are like that. So before you marry. That’s why I’m trying to take my time because at the moment my mum is actually disturbing me to settle down but I told my mum I will do that at my own time.

You seem to be a very reserved person. What is your social life like?
You’re right. I am a very reserved person. In fact, I don’t have so many friends. This job takes most of my time and I’m someone that love my space. When I’m not acting, I prefer to just be in my room may be talk to my man. I love my space a lot. I keep very few friends. So if I’m not working, then I’m just at home resting, watching YouTube.