Why I always have problems with people –Bukky Wright

Adore her or detest her, Bukky Wright is not an actress that one can easily ignore. Unknown to many movie fans, she never really wanted to become famous nor be in the limelight. Bukky has waded through testing scandals and controversies that could last her a lifetime, but she is unruffled. SEGUN ADEBAYO met with Bukky in Lagos recently, where she opened up on her pains and gains of being a celebrity, among other issues. Excerpts:

You have been in the industry for sometime now and you have equally experienced the good and bad sides of being a celebrity, would you say you have enjoyed your stay?

When I was about to join the industry, I could remember vividly that I prayed to God to guide my path and lead me aright. I would not say I have not enjoyed my stay because I have had some great moments and some not too good moments too, but I am not the type that dwells on this or that.

I love to talk more about how far God has helped me to achieve my set goals and how I am working to be a better person.

You prayed, how do you mean?
Even life itself is a big risk. In anything you do, if you are not willing to take a risk, then you are not ready to raise your game. I knew I was about to tread an unfamiliar terrain. So, my best bet was to ask God to lead while I follow. I have always seen myself as an actress, I knew I have got the talent, but I was waiting for the right time to exhibit it.

So how did you go about it?
It was funny. You can imagine when people started telling you, Bukky you can do it. At first, I met with Sunny Okim, who told me that I could be well paid if I could appear on the cover of a magazine.

He wanted me to appear on the cover of his magazine. So, from that point I decided that I was going to come into the industry fully. I went for an audition of a soap opera that was handled by Fidelis through the help of the same Sunny Okim. Fidelis auditioned me and gave me the role. From that day, my journey into the movie industry started on a good footing.

At what point did you decide to stick to the name Bukky Wright?
It has always been Bukky Wright since my first day in the movie industry. I refused to let that name change. Changing it has never crossed my mind.

Why did you refuse to change the name?
Honestly, I don’t know why. I have always been like that. I just love the name and I won’t change it.

Sometime ago you were rated as one of the most controversial actresses in Nollywood; does controversy suit you and does it really get to you at all?
It does not get to me. It takes the grace of God and determination to stay in this kind of profession without going through controversies here and there, but I have never allowed controversies to get to me.

I understand the fact that I have a price to pay for being a celebrity. But that does not mean I should start jumping over the place because I am a celebrity or because I want people to know I am still relevant. Those who say I am controversial don’t know me. I am different things to different people. I am sure you would have your own idea of who Bukky Wright is by the time this interactive session is over.

Some people believe that you left the industry because you were not being patronised anymore as a result of the controversies and age, which obviously was not on your side again. Did you see things that way?
I am a woman of many parts. When people don’t see your face in movies for a long time, they tend to conclude that you have left the industry or you are no more relevant. They will come up with different untrue stories just to drag you into their world. But they have forgotten that I am into other businesses that need my attention. A lot of people will also tell you that Bukky has been missing in action because they could not afford her fee.

Why should it cost much to have you in a movie?
To have Bukky Wright in a movie does not come cheap. I think I have been able to pay my dues over the years. Let me also tell you that It is not about being expensive. That is what a lot of people don’t understand. They might say it is expensive to have Bukky Wright in a movie, but at the same time, If I like your script and the people I am going to work with, trust me, It does not have to do with the money. I do a lot of work for people that I don’t even charge them a penny. The script and the character I am playing might even allow me to downplay the payment. I really admire people with courage and good working relationship.

What is it about your name that at the mention of it, you hear all sorts of things?
I think you have to explain what you mean by all sorts of things.

I mean people always have something to say about your person?
If you are talking about people’s opinions, I will say everybody is entitled to his or her opinion. I have learnt to let people do the talking while I do my work. Apparently, my work brings the talks. I don’t have any problem with what people say. A lot of people who don’t know me, and they tend to link what they see in movies to my real person. These people have forgotten that in every movie that you see, I am playing a character; it is not me.

So, who is the real Bukky Wright?
The real Bukky Wright is God-fearing, down to earth, but very blunt to a large extent. The funny thing about this job is that people won’t complain if you act in a movie where you are asked to cry from the beginning to the end. It will surprise you to hear that some of my fans do tell me that when I am crying in movies, they also cry. What that tells you is that I am doing what I have to do rightly, interpreting my roles passionately.

Before you released Omotara Johnson and your latest flick, Kani, you seem to have been living a low profile life. What do you think is responsible for this?
I am not the kind of person who releases movies indiscriminately, but I still act in other people’s movies. If you say I have reduced the rate at which I jump from one location to another, I will say you are correct. Some producers still want me to play these campus girl roles. It will amaze you to know that I have turned down quite a number of scripts like that lately. Don’t worry, I am coming out with a bang very soon; it will shock all of you.

People still rate you as one of the sexiest in the movie industry, do you see yourself as one?
Well, some of my younger colleagues do say that I should grow old and allow them to take the roles that I take, despite my age. That tells you that the producers still believe I can interpret the roles better than some of them. That’s because I have been able to take care of myself. I keep fit for myself and for this business.

There is this issue of lesbianism in the industry and some people have pointed the finger at you that you are the ring leader, but up till this moment, you have not come out to deny the allegation...
I will say that over the years, my skin has grown so thick that I don’t really care what people say about me. As far as I am happy within myself, I am okay. Nobody is going to make you thick except yourself. As long as I am happy, I don’t care whatever anybody says.

You haven’t answered my question?
The major price I have paid for being a celebrity is my privacy and it hurts so badly. I want to be able to sit down with the people that know me, walk on the street like any other person. I also want to stand by the roadside to buy roasted plantain, but this job won’t allow me to do that. I don’t have to respond to everything people say about me.

But why do you think people could have fingered you in such a thing and not somebody else?
Let me tell you something, from my very first day in the industry, the first thing that crossed my mind was negative press. And, since the day I decided I want to grow, I said to myself, Bukky, it is not your life again.

Has this got to do with some of the roles you have played before?
People will always talk. They will say things that you don’t like. I think that one of the major problems in the industry and why I have issues with people is because I don’t mix with them. Unfortunately, many people have misconstrued that. There are lots of people in this industry that would say, I have not seen Bukky Wright before. That is to tell you what I mean. Even If I am on location, I don’t talk. Those that we have known each other for a while, we sit down to gist and after that, we move on with our lives; it ends there.

But to some people, silence means consent?
I am not the kind of person that wants too many people on her side. I always love to be unpredictable. I have heard a lot of things like that. Same people will tell you Bukky Wright is a fighter; she likes to fight and harass people, but could you please ask them, how many people have they ever seen me fight before? How many people could come out and say she met Bukky doing what they say I am doing or I have done?

How long are you going to remain silent about issues that are capable of ruining your career?
Everything in life has its pros and cons. If I don’t want people to talk about me, then I will have to become irrelevant. People are talking because I am relevant and they can relate with my person. Somebody that has never met or seen me before would talk as though we stay together under the same roof that is how far people could go just to talk.

So these things don’t make you feel sad?
As a human being, there are times that a false story will hit you, that you will feel so bad about it. I am human, but what will I do? I think I should thank God that they challenged God through me because the more they talk, the higher I go.

How does your husband react to some of these things?
Most of the time, he does not like seeing or hearing anything about that and he would want me to take an action that would serve as a deterrent to others, but I will say no.

Tell us more about him?
My husband is a perfect gentleman and I thank God for his life. In fact, some people will even use him to blackmail me when I am not taking their scripts. I have been able to carve that little bit of privacy for myself, husband and children. That is how far I can tell you about him.

I learnt one of your children is into music...
I have a son that is into music and I have started preparing him for the challenges ahead of him. I told him that there are times they would write things about you that you know it is not true and as long as your family can trust you, it will help you.

Why do celebrities like to live fake lives?
I think it is crazy for any celebrity to paint the picture of what he or she cannot achieve five years from now. They call it showbiz and you have to show, but sometimes, you have to put that aside and be yourself. I am not the kind of woman that likes to do what others do. I love to be myself and those who know me would tell you that is Bukky for you.

How do you treat your skin?
This may sound crazy to a lot of people, no matter which body lotion I use, I don’t joke with my shea butter, which the Yoruba people call Ori. I don’t do any body therapy. I don’t go crazy in the name of fashion. I won’t pierce my body or wear a tattoo. I am not condemning those who do it, but I think it really makes you look unattractive when you have all those things on your body.

You started your career from the English genre, but you have not been featuring in English movies anymore, why?
Yes, I started from the English genre and I still do. But one thing I have noticed is that If you don’t have that Igbo name, they don’t consider you as an English act. To a large extent, I do English movies. There is an English movie coming out very soon that featured myself, Akin Lewis, Bimbo Manuel, Uti Nwachukwu and many other people. It was directed by Teco Benson.