Adunni Adewale popularly known as Adunni Ade is one actress respected for her role portrayal. Born in Queens, New York, United States of America, her venture into the Nigerian movie industry is quite a unique one which started when she warmed her way into the hearts of Nigerians with some online hilarious skills about three years ago before she went into mainstream Nollywood. Adunni Ade is a talented young woman who is gradually becoming a popular face in the Nigerian movie industry. In this interview with Morakinyo Olugbiji, the University of Kentucky-graduate of accounting speaks more about herself.
Tell us about your back ground ?
My father is from lagos, Badagry, my mum is from Kenturky.
My primary school was in Chrisland here in Opebi and my secondary school was Comprehensive school in Sango Ota. Afterwards I travelled back to the states to Kentucky where I studied accounting at the University of Kenturky before I came back. I didn’t come back right away, it was like 10/11 years afterwards, but before then I had started my career in the entertainment industry as a model, as a runway print model and acting came, so in all I’ve been in the entertainment industry for 10 years since 2005.
A lot of people feel that since you have 2 children you are married, do you want to clear the air about that?
Yes oo, I am so tired of clearing the air, I have said this, it’s not something, I don’t hide it because it’s a part of me and I don’t think there’s any need to lie, or make myself look good or whatever, but I have never been married. I was with my ex who was my children’s father Michael Boyd for 8 years and things did not work out and I just let it go and that has been 3 years ago.
Did you at any point have issues with Skin presentation coming into the industry?
I have never had issues with that but you know sometimes people take it as an issue, they say maybe it was your color that gave you away, no nothing was handed to me, I worked hard for everything I have today and everything that I am today as I always think in my heart, my dedication and desire to keep moving forward. So, no, my colour has never been of help to me, I feel it has always been my hard work.
In Nigeria, what was your first movie?
Actually, my first movie in Nollywood was a Yoruba movie produced by Saheed Balogun at that time, ‘You and I’. At that time I had not relocated back, I actually flew in to shoot the movie and when I was done shooting I went back.
Aside Saheed Balogun’s movie, you’ve had this knowledge and background of Yoruba Nigerian movie industry before coming back, what and what did you have in mind and what was requested for you to have?
I had in the back of my head that it’s not gonna be easy and am gonna have to work for everything that I want and whatever it is that I have to achieve, I have to work for it. So I didn’t have it in my head that everything was gonna be roses and I knew I had to work to prove myself not to prove to others but to prove to myself that this is something I could do
What are the few ups and downs you had at that early stage?
To be honest with you? Whenever am answering I always say the same thing, I don’t see anything as ups and downs, I just see it as part of life you have to go through things, is normal but if you want me to mention, maybe the accessibility to get contacts of producers or directors because things of that nature, it can be tough, at least for a new comer but I think when you work and do your job well you wont need to look for anybody, people will look for you.
In Saheed Balogun’s movie did you speak Yoruba?
Yes. Well, I never knew Yoruba myself, {Laughs} I do both Yoruba and English but I do more of English, out of 40 movies that I have been featured in I think Yoruba has actually been 3 or 4. I have worked with Toyin Aimakhu. I worked with her earlier this year for her movie ‘Iya Ibadan’ that one is not out yet, it was a great experience working with her.
I have also worked with Jide Kosoko, last year in Ekiti, I don’t know whats up with the movie, I don’t think it’s out yet.
Describe your personality?
I am just me, am a very calm person, but then I have a funny side to me. I have the giggly card but when it comes to work, am straight up professional. You cant be laughing all the time while working, you have to stay focused. You understand, I mean different perception of you sometimes funny, sometimes wild and some say whatever! I am just me, how you treat me is how I am gonna treat you. So if you come to me with a respectful approach, you’re gonna get the same in return and if you come at me as shenanigan, then most likely that’s what you’re gonna get but I love to make people laugh, I love to talk people to be comfortable around me.
Aside acting, is there any other thing you are involved in?
Yes, I’m a Model, that’s my 24/7 job, that one is gonna be there forever. I have little things that I do. I do work for my father, here and there. He is a business man, he owns Westman Nigeria Limited, it’s an industrial company. I just help him set up appointments with new clients; you know to gain new clients for the company. I do that but not too much.
Let me bring you back to a couple movies you acted in, which one of them would you say is your best role ever?
You want to put me in wahala, I cant say oo, before the producer would say eheh you didn’t like my own movie abi? I love them all because they were all different roles, Everyone of them has it’s own character and how it should be portrayed and as long as I am part of it I enjoyed it all.
Quite recently your son ventured into acting, he was featured in a Rukky Sanda’s movie, how do you feel;Because according to Rukky Sanda, your Son was outstanding?
In fact he played the role extremely well.i’m just as excited as he is ,if not more excited for him. Now the truth is when I have to drop him off on set, I didn’t stay on set, because I want him to be free, comfortable to get loose and set into character. Everytime I’d come back and pick him up after filming, it was nothing but great review of how he had performed very well. So to be honest I am just excited for him. I am really proud of him and hopefully, he really wants to be a footballer, but if he wants to do this for a while, fine! i am not gonna hold him back. It was very terrific because a lot of kids auditioned for the role like 60 of them and she gave it to him, so I’m so proud of my son.
Ok, let’s go trace your style, you have this beautiful way of dressing, I must commend you for that, how do you arrive at your concept?
I don’t have any beauty secret or concept. I don’t do anything out of the ordinary. I mean, if they saw my face I just wash my face. I use healthy products, I don’t like using all these chemical products because I have a pretty good skin and I don’t want anything to spoil my face using chemicals. So I like everything simple. My style, I say this all the time I don’t care if it’s rag am putting on, if it’s revealing, I don’t care, whatever. If the shade is edgy as long as I look good in it and I feel good in it, am gonna risk it. So regardless of how I look to other people, if I feel, wow, I look good in it, am gonna rock it, that’s always been me.
What is your favorite color?
I wear a lot of red and pink. I love wearing different shades of pink, I like what soothes me and red and pink I feel brings out my colour, my look. It just compliments me and yes, I like even dressing if I have something extravagant on, I don’t really like too much jewelry. Many times you will see me with a neck piece and not earrings or earrings and no neck piece or sometimes none at all. That’s just me, I just feel that your beauty should come out on it’s own and not with the help of jewelry and make up, just to keep it nice and simple. I don’t have one favorite really, but pretty much the same colours people see on me. I wear a lot of black too it doesn’t mean that it’s my favorite colour, I love a shade of grey, I love pink, royal blue and purple.
What’s your view about love?
I am a sucker for love, I love hard, that’s why I take my time before diving into any relationship with that person I will love. You know I will do whatever I can in a relationship to make it work because in just don’t get involved with people any how. If the chemistry or connection is not there you’d never find me there but in my heart if I feel like I have some sort of connection with that person, I’d try and take it as far as I can and if I know it’s not gonna work, I’d end it quick. But am a big sucker for love, Love is good. There is still some love out there even though people try to deny and say there is no more love, there is still love.
Fashion and style, what is your Highest fashion acquisition?
Shoes.. I feel your shoes makes a statement in the outfit, if you have a simple black dress and you put on a nice plastic heel shoes, so to me heels say it all, if I have tonnes of shoes….. I have close to 200 shoes in my wardrobe.
Your love for tattoos are quite exceptional. You have one at very obvious places, Any story behind the tattoos?
Every tattoo I have represents something that has happened in my life or something that represents something in my life so I just don’t get them for getting them sake. I get them for specific reasons. I just want to say they express who I am as a person.
Tell us about the one you have on your hand and where else are they in your body?
On my right hand I have half of a heart with wings, which means am looking for my other half, asides that am a sucker for love. On my left hand I have the sign of Gemini which represents that I am a full blown Gemini, on my back which is obvious I have a feather which is crossing out a bird, which means freedom for me, that happened at a time in my life I was in a dark place and when I got out of the situation I just got that tattoo to represent my freedom
Lastly, your comedy roles are quiet funny and hilarious, tell us about it?
Thank you so much for your compliment, anyways, I don’t think i’m funny, I just live in the moment. I just like to enlighten people who are around me, just to make people understand. I guess it stands as fun
