Ghanaian actress Leonora Okine has described her first experience on the set of
M-net series ‘Tinsel’ as “amazing”.
“It
was more comfortable than I expected it to be. Everyone was so nice and encouraging.
It wasn't intimidating at all. The team is amazing,” she told NEWS-ONE in
exclusive interview on Wedn
esday.
Leonora
replaced Nigeria’s Matilda Obaseki, who has
played the role of Angela Dede since the inception of the series viewed by
thousands of Africans. Leonora
made her debut in season five, episode 776 of the
series.
Currently, all eyes are on her, with many
thinking that it will be a big challenge for her to play the role that has been
played by another person for the last five years.
Below
is an interview Leonora Okine (LO) granted NEWS-ONE
(NO) via phone:
NO: So Who Is Leonora
Okine?
LO: I'm open-minded
and feel everyone has a reason for doing what they do so I tend not to judge
people. I provide mobile content solutions as a consultant in addition to
acting. I'm Presbyterian. I studied Operations and Project Management at GIMPA.
NO: How Did You Enter Into Acting?
NO: How Did You Enter Into Acting?
LO: I went to
Sparrow Productions to discuss the public's involvement in selecting Miss Ghana
via SMS and voice calls. Shirley hinted that I could play a part in her first
TV series she was about to film, ‘Different Shades Of Blue’. I decided to get
her girls instead but that didn't pan out. I was worried I wouldn't be taken
seriously if I combined work with acting as I was bent on becoming successful
in the mobile content provision industry. She still auditioned me and cast me
for the part in 2006 which I accepted. So yeah, I'm grateful for that.
NO: Would You
Have Still Entered Into Acting If You Didn’t Audition For The Series?
LO: Truthfully,
no, but the thing is God does work in mysterious ways. If it were left to me, I
wouldn't have bothered but Shirley made a lot of sense and she had a vision I
respected a lot.
NO: What Then
Was Your Career Ambition When Growing Up?
LO: (Laughs) I wanted to be a neurosurgeon but then changed my mind because I felt the journey was going to be too long! Again, I'm sure God had His own plans for making me lose interest. If you can't enjoy the journey, then it's not for you, I guess.
LO: (Laughs) I wanted to be a neurosurgeon but then changed my mind because I felt the journey was going to be too long! Again, I'm sure God had His own plans for making me lose interest. If you can't enjoy the journey, then it's not for you, I guess.
NO: So After ‘Different
Shades Of Blue’ What Happened?
LO: I just went back to concentrating on my career in the content provision, and then went back to school just basically not feeling ready to take acting seriously.
LO: I just went back to concentrating on my career in the content provision, and then went back to school just basically not feeling ready to take acting seriously.
Then while in
school, late 2009, I got called to play Stephanie in ‘Desperation’. I accepted
it because I felt I could combine school and work... which I was able to manage
somehow! I couldn't have done it alone because it was truly hectic! After
season one, came the movie ‘Enemy of My Soul’.
In 2009, I played Tamara in ‘Secrets’ (Eagle Productions). It was fun. Then in 2010 came ‘Insurgents’, ‘Beautiful Monster’ (movies). So at this point I began to wonder if acting shouldn't be a road to take. Finally, I decided in 2011 that I will take acting seriously so I felt ready to go through the whole nine yards; auditions and all. I'm actually glad I took my time to come to a decision to willingly entertain TV and film lovers for as long as I can.
In 2009, I played Tamara in ‘Secrets’ (Eagle Productions). It was fun. Then in 2010 came ‘Insurgents’, ‘Beautiful Monster’ (movies). So at this point I began to wonder if acting shouldn't be a road to take. Finally, I decided in 2011 that I will take acting seriously so I felt ready to go through the whole nine yards; auditions and all. I'm actually glad I took my time to come to a decision to willingly entertain TV and film lovers for as long as I can.
NO: You Have Done A Lot In
Your Six-Year Career But Its Sounds And Looks As If You Are A New Face In
The Industry. Were You Maintaining A Low Profile And Why?
LO: I was
maintaining a very low profile and mainly because I am a very private person.
Another reason is because I hadn't come to a firm decision until last year. This
is actually the first interview I'm willing to give.
NO: How True Is
The Report That You Have Joined ‘Tinsel’?
LO: It is true.
LO: It is true.
NO: How Did It
Happen?
LO: I was called
to go for auditions a few months ago but prior to that, I had auditioned for a
different role last year in Lagos.
NO: That Does
Not Make ‘Tinsel’ Your First Production In Nigeria?
LO: Oh no. It is my second. First was ‘Echoes’.
LO: Oh no. It is my second. First was ‘Echoes’.
NO: Your Role In
‘Tinsel’, I Understand, Is Angela Dede?
LO: Yes. Angela
is a 30-year-old movie executive who has abandonment issues. She's intelligent,
distrustful, self-reliant, closed, unforgiving and confused with issues around
her. She feels she is misunderstood.
She has been
diagnosed with a psycho-neurosis which requires her to be on constant medication
she doesn't like. She has brief periods of insanity at which point irrational
thoughts seem very rational to her; all normal traits become heightened. So she
becomes sensitive, defensive and paranoid when she's having an episode or is
not taking her drugs.
NO: How Would
You Describe Your Experience On Set For The First Day?
LO: It was more comfortable than I expected it to be. Everyone was so nice and encouraging. It wasn't intimidating at all. The team is amazing!
LO: It was more comfortable than I expected it to be. Everyone was so nice and encouraging. It wasn't intimidating at all. The team is amazing!
NO: You have made new friends
I guess?
LO: Oh that I
have. And in all departments as well! It's been a very fortunate experience.
NO: There Are
Talks About The Actress You Replaced, Have You Had The
Opportunity To Meet Her?
LO: Yes I have.
We met on set. What talks? Her name is Matilda.
NO: The Normal
Talks That You Are Replacing Her. But Have You Heard Anything
Different From That?
LO: No, not yet.
NO: Was She Nice
To You?
LO: She was
welcoming. We shook hands. I have been asked how it feels to play a role that
has been established by someone else for five years.
NO: So How Does It Feel To Play That Role As You Said? And Why Did You Accept It, Considering The Fact That Somebody Played It For Five Years?
LO: It feels like every other part. All I need to do is to tell the story how I understand it and to the best of my ability. The thing is, we are from very different backgrounds and so our interpretation would be similar but not the same. She told it the way she could with guidance of the directors. I'm telling it best as I can with the help of the same directors. I know no one is expecting us to be the same in every instance.
NO: So How Does It Feel To Play That Role As You Said? And Why Did You Accept It, Considering The Fact That Somebody Played It For Five Years?
LO: It feels like every other part. All I need to do is to tell the story how I understand it and to the best of my ability. The thing is, we are from very different backgrounds and so our interpretation would be similar but not the same. She told it the way she could with guidance of the directors. I'm telling it best as I can with the help of the same directors. I know no one is expecting us to be the same in every instance.
NO: Would This
Be Your Biggest Challenge As An Actress?
LO: Every character I get to play is a challenge, simply put. This is yet another story I have to tell. Replacing someone isn't a challenge. Fans’ expectations might be considered a challenge but I don't believe they expect me to be same as a previous player.
I'll do what the script requires. The directors will do their best to help me bring the character to life. If they like the delivery, they will use it.
LO: Every character I get to play is a challenge, simply put. This is yet another story I have to tell. Replacing someone isn't a challenge. Fans’ expectations might be considered a challenge but I don't believe they expect me to be same as a previous player.
I'll do what the script requires. The directors will do their best to help me bring the character to life. If they like the delivery, they will use it.
NO: Your Family,
Background And School?
LO: I have five brothers and two sisters. I'm the fourth of us eight. I read science at St. Mary's Secondary School then did a bit of Biological Science at the University of Ghana, Legon, then Operations and Project Management at GIMPA.
NO: Where Do You Come From?
LO: I have five brothers and two sisters. I'm the fourth of us eight. I read science at St. Mary's Secondary School then did a bit of Biological Science at the University of Ghana, Legon, then Operations and Project Management at GIMPA.
NO: Where Do You Come From?
LO: My dad is
from Dawu Akwapim in the Eastern Region and my mum is from Nungua in the
Greater Accra Region. Dawu is on the Akwapim Ridge.
NO: Your Last Words
LO: Don't criticise,
condemn or complain. If you do get criticised, remember there's a difference
between just and unjust criticism. Ignore unjust criticism. So long as you know
in your heart that you're right, don't think twice about unjust criticism.
Credit: NEWS-ONE
nice
ReplyDeleteyou have made Ghana proud
ReplyDelete