Doris Simeon, is of the believe that husband's these day are shying away from their responsibilities.
Speaking with Oge Ezeliora, Simeon shed more light on her her love life,
broken marriage, new found skills as a producer and her determination
never to look like an old woman.
What project are you working on at the moment?
I just produced four movies which are set to be released soon: two
Yoruba movies and two English movies titled, Aseju, Soul Betrayal, Alone
in the dark and Olorire.
How do you juggle being an actress and a producer?
Acting is easy. Acting is fun especially if you are focused on what you
are doing. Producing a movie is challenging – you’re faced with the
stress of sourcing for scripts, cast, crew and finance.
How do you feel seeing younger actresses progressing quickly in the movie industry?
The industry is wide and is expanding day by day. I am glad about this
development. We must create opportunities for upcoming actresses.
Nollywood is not only for Doris. I am happy that people are looking up
to me. I am mentoring actors and actresses.
How did you feel the first day you had to face a camera?
I was shy the first time but after series of rehearsals, the rest is
history – I focus on what I was told to do. (My first time before the
camera) was for a popular television comedy called Papa Ajasco produced
by Wale Adenuga Productions. I was doing that before I went into
full-time acting – joining Nollywood.
Is being an actress a blessing to you?
As an actress, God has blessed me and I can’t deny it, though it has
not been easy. Being an actress is the best thing that has happened to
me. My gratitude goes to God first. He has always been there for me. I
can’t complain that I have been robbed of my private life. My life is
always out there. Above all I am happy being an actress.
How do you excel as a bilingual actress?
For Yoruba movies, the scripts come more often than the English movies.
It is the same job but different languages. Shooting Yoruba movies is a
bit difficult because you have a lot of job to do – translation is
there. But the English movies are easy. It’s getting better now because
these days, you now find actors from different circles coming together
to shoot films and celebrate things together. This is something we have
been longing and praying for. We thank God it’s working out well now.
The English movie industry is highly competitive but the jobs are easy.
If they ask me to speak English, I will speak. If they ask me to speak
Yoruba in any movie, I will speak it so fluently.
Have you always had a beautiful life?
I was born in Lagos; I can say I had a sweet childhood. I was pampered
loved and well taken care of by my parents. I have a diploma in
Production Management from the PEFTI Film Institute owned by Wale
Adenuga. My parents originated from Okpella in Benin, Edo state. My
father had many wives and many children. It was a polygamous home but we
were well cared for. My mother was a peaceful woman and she loved her
children so much.
What is your fashion dislike?
I
don’t like dressing shabbily. I don’t like dressing like an old woman. I
hate tying a wrapper around my boobs – that’s a complete turn off for
me. Do you know I don’t even have a single wrapper in my wardrobe?
What’s your marital status now?
I am not legally divorced – the divorce suit is still in court. Yes, I am single and I am a happy woman.
Don’t you think being a single mother is now fashionable in Nollywood?
Single motherhood is not peculiar to Nollywood. If you go to the
banking sector, there are single mothers there; in the military, in law
firms and other fields, there are single mothers. It is not our fault;
it’s just that men no longer want to play their role as husbands. I am
not a supporter of single parenthood: every man or woman has the right
to live their life the way they choose. It’s just by God’s grace that I
am acting and producing. Emotional trauma is not what I will encourage
anybody to pass through. God created every woman for a man. So marriage
is good.
Is there any possibility that you and your ex will reconcile?
I don’t dwell in the past. I don’t want to talk about that anymore. I
have moved on. I have no regret at all. I have only learnt to be
stronger. The truth is that I have forgotten about everything. Time has
erased it (the emotional pain I went through). I am now a better person.
Today, I am closer to God and I put God first in everything I do. I
never gave up on love. I have found love again in Jesus. I am married to
my career right now. I am in a relationship anyway but I want to be
private about it. I thank God because I am a better person. My career
and business are going on well.
Will you remarry?
I
am single and ready to mingle. If God sends a man to me I will not
reject him. I am not bored. If it’s God’s plan for me I will go ahead
(and get married); if not, then I will remain single.
Do you still have a good relationship with your ex-husband and his wife?
Yes, I do.
What’s unique about you?
It’s my patience. I am also playful. I am playful to the extent that a
lot of people think I am not a serious person. I am a very funny person.
Apart from acting, what else do you do?
I am into
hair-dressing. I started making hair as a little girl. Now, I have
fulfilled my childhood dream of owning a big salon of my own. My mom was
a hair-dresser and fortunately for me, I learnt a lot from her. I have a
salon at Ogba. Right now, we are also into households and interiors
décor.
