Tobi Bakre: Being actor gives you power to be anything

From being a finalist in the Big Brother Naija, Season 3 reality TV show, Tobi Bakre has transitioned to become one of the most sought after Nollywood stars. In the last two years, the graduate of Banking and Finance from University of Lagos has featured in action-packed movies such as, Brotherhood and Gangs of Lagos. The actor, model, host, compere and photographer has also unleashed his acting dexterity in Africa Magic Original, Slum King, a film that got him the Africa Magic Viewership Choice Awards (AMVCAs) for Best Actor in a Drama. In this interview with IJEOMA THOMAS-ODIA, he spoke on the series and his new passion for acting.

You have featured in a lot of action-driven movies almost playing the role of a bad boy. Do you ever feel a stereotyped character in movies?
Being stereotyped means different things to people, and for me, it’s a compliment. For a character to be stereotyped shows that it’s hard to see another you for specific roles and more than how other people see it. It’s also a compliment and gives a more exciting room for diversity. I see concerns when I go online, like is he being stereotyped, but I enjoy these films. People share those fears, but I don’t share them because for that genre of film. I’m a good fit for that, and I’m killing it. And then, I feel if I now choose to, which I’ve done, but like those projects are not out there, but you know other people would crave to see me in a love story, in very diverse drama, and I’m very open to those things, and I still would do those things. Also, action and these kinds of films are gaining a lot of audience in recent times more than before. It used to be lots of drama. People used to love acting, but now the industry is doing more challenging action-related projects. They can see that the audience is loving and receiving it well. So, I’m more than happy to be the face of that part of things.

How were you able to pull your character in Slum King?
My character, Edafe, was raised in a loving family with amazing parents. What you call the ideal middle-class or upper-class kind of family. You know, morally upright and based on unforeseen circumstances, his reality changes in a split and the shortest time possible. He had to live a life he never lived before and he is just fighting his inner demons. The character goes through unfortunate circumstances. As a result, some things stick with him, and he is fighting demons as he navigates life. He tries to achieve his sole aim, and we see whether he does or doesn’t achieve it.

What’s the biggest challenge about taking on this role?
The biggest challenge was that there is that bit when you get into character, and because most of the places we shot were as close to the road as possible, we spent longer times in such space. The character grows more on you. So, I had played the role long enough that things that never used to come to mind started coming. Of course, I have a good life, but sometimes, I find myself dreaming of death, and there was a point where I reckoned that this was coming from the fact that I played this character for a long time.

What do you think is the take home from the series?
First of all, it is relatable. Everybody can relate to it, and there are so many characters. I remember my first time carrying the script. I just had to drop it almost immediately because, after about five pages, there were about 20 names already. You like how you stick with who is who. So, it’s a story of different people and different families. It’s not a story about just one person you know. There are different dynamics and relationships in the story. It’s one that one will fall in love with other people, dislike different people, and be mad at people. So, there’s no one way to it. It’s a project that you have to love the 360 of it. It’s one of those series where finding a favourite is hard.

How do you ensure your character does not conflict with your personality?
Sometimes, you need to give a bit of yourself to the character, making it unique and impossible for somebody else to do it the way you would. So, I give a bit of me into the character, and even,m sometimes not a bit of me. All of the things I have in my personal life, I use some of those things in a different space. I try not to let the energies from those characters flow back into my personal life. However, I do learn from these characters, like their determination, ability to take risks, which is the goal-getting spirit that some of these characters have. I accept the positive and try to leave away the violence and criminal ideology part of it.

What do you like most about being an actor?
The fact that you have the power to be anything! If you are given a script whether you like the character or not, you have to act the part. Every role you are given has to be challenging because you have to do it well. When they say be a mad man, you have to do it well.

What kinds of role can’t you take?
For me, when it comes to acting you have to be versatile, you can’t really limit yourself, except it is a role preaching immorality to a large extent I am not going to take that.

How do you find time for family with the work that you do?
If you know me well and my other siblings; you will realise we are so big on family; no matter how tight my schedule is, I still make out time for my family because they are my closet circuit. I bond happily with my family; we go on picnics, adventures and others just to make up any lapses.

You just welcome another child, how is fatherhood generally?
It’s a beautiful experience, I can’t believe I am a father to two beautiful kids, I welcomed my daughter recently and I can tell for free that I am enjoying every bit of it. One thing fatherhood has taught me is to cut down on so many things.