By Emma Emerson
A few weeks ago, the actress got chatting with Emma Emerson of Golden Icons where she talked about her introduction into Nollywood, her belief about self-expression, tattoos and early crush on fellow Nollywood actress Rita Dominic.
Hey, you come from a family of seven, what are you, the middle child?
It’s kind of complicated because my mother had five children before she died and I’m the third. My stepmother has two children – boys who are grownups and way older than I am. They do not relate with me in any way but I mean when my father got married to my stepmother, he got married to them too.
What was it like growing up and how did you get into acting?
Growing up was really very beautiful, like really good, I had a lot of people who were there to support me, who were there to put smiles on my face because they felt like ‘you know you are not with your mother’, they had to do extra things to make you feel happy. I got into the movie industry after I left the ‘Next Movie Star’ reality show. I have always had the dream of being an actress but never saw that possibility coming through. But after the NMS, I saw it like a dream come through and I just keyed into the opportunity and used it wisely.
Yes so you started making connections with a lot of people and you changed as a person or did your personality stay the same from before and after the stardom?
(Sigh) I would say my personality changed a little bit because I have always had this nonchalant crazy, ‘I-don’t-care’ personality but when I left secondary school, I went very close to God and I was like what you call a ‘born-again Christian’, I was born again, (Sigh). I still love God you know, I still love him, I’m close to him but I have got to do what I have to do.
What does that mean?
(Sigh) as an artist I don’t think there is a role that I want to ever reject except your scripts do not fit into what I want. Okay I want to play every role possible, I want to fit into every character possible, that is what I mean and it might not be a Godly character you know because that all Godly character does not show my potentials as an actress.
Do you feel as if you have two personalities? I think that everyone gets you pretty much as the Nollywood bad girl but yet people still love you and there is something very ‘girl-next-doorish’ about you. So tell me, do you have those two personalities that you have to turn on and off?
No, I feel like I am just like every great actress that can act their way through anything you know, so I don’t have to switch personalities I have to act personalities, that’s how it is.
I like that you don’t have to switch personalities, you have to act it. Do you feel bad that people sometimes take you for your roles; it could be like ‘this is Tonto because this is the roles she plays?’
Yes I do really feel bad about that sometimes but at the same time what I use to comfort myself is that those people are really ignorant. I mean that is it, when you are ignorant it defines you, so I’m better than that.
There is this movie that you did that brought a lot of controversy your way and I wanted to always ask you even before I got to meet you. The movie is dirty and silly; now reading about it of course there was no sex involved but you got a lot of attention from it, how did you feel about it?
I felt really good about it, it means only one thing; that I did that really well. So if you think that the character was me then I did a very good job as an actress. That’s what it means and I really loved that movie, you guys need to check out that movie.
Now about tattoos, you have a thing for tattoos?
Yeah.
How many tattoos would you say you have?
Okay, before now I had 57 stars on my body plus 57 letters but the new one consists of 570 curves and lines plus I just added 16 stars to my body so I can’t even count.
You can’t even count? How old were you when you got your first tattoo and what was your first tattoo?
When I got my first tattoo I was 20 maybe, I can’t remember. I’m not really sure about that but my first tattoo was that on my leg and the initial stuff that was there before has been changed.
What made you say ‘I want to get a tattoo’?
I’ve always been a tattoo lover but have always been someone who respects my parents a lot, I can’t do things that will upset them even if I have a mind of my own and they definitely know that I have a mind of my own but leaving the home and being me and making my own money made me realise that I could do whatever I want to do.
How did your parents react when you first came home with it?
My father loved the stars but he doesn’t love the back. I told him something, I said ‘remember something when you say ‘you don’t love my tattoos’, it’s my body’. At the end of the day it is my body.
And you are pleased with every single one?
I am so loving my body right now (laughs).
You have this new tattoo that you just did and it has covered practically 70 per cent of your body. What is the reason behind it and how did you come up with the decision to create this big tattoo?
First of all, I love Lil Wayne, he’s got plenty tattoos so I want to be like him and second, I am a lover of art and anything that includes art, I love it. So it’s tattoo, if it’s drama or music or poetry I love it but I think am just addicted to the pain of tattoos though so I just keep having more and this is not going to be my last.
Where else do you want to have it?
I still have like about 40 per cent of my back that is still plain and I’m hitting that plain part.
Do you actually get up and turn around to look at your tattoos? Like I don’t get the fascination.
I don’t necessarily have to look at my tattoos, I see my tattoos through the eyes of everyone around me when I get up I just look at your face and when I do that, I know what you are thinking baby (laughs).
Now we are going to ask you ten questions. I want you to think of your replies right off the top of your head.
Whoa.
Okay it’s quite simple and fun, you are going to like it, so favourite designer?
Tiffany Amber.
Your Nollywood best friend?
None.
Your first Nollywood crush and be honest?
Crush, None.
From back then?
None.
Before you became a celebrity you never had any?
Oh, Desmond Elliot.
Oh okay.
Not a crush, it was just an admiration. If it was a crush then it was Rita Dominic.
Whoa, you had a girl crush?
Yeah
What you wished you never said in an interview?
Nothing.
You never regret anything?
No.
Most embarrassing moments?
Oh, when I had to kiss a friend.
On the lips?
Yeah.
The most beautiful place you’ve ever visited?
Oh, Paris.
Your favourite idol in the whole world?
Al Pacino
If you had to meet somebody right now, who would it be in the whole world.
Julia Roberts.
Why is she your favourite act?
Actress not act. My favourite act is Al Pacino but my favourite actress is Julia Roberts.
How has the recent movie ‘Damage’ influenced you?
It’s really very good and I enjoyed every moment I spent on set because as an actress I got educated. Right from the first trilogy which was ‘Damage’, I have been educated a lot. Violence is something that we should never accept and I never knew how drugs could actually damage one in a very bad way until I started filming this movie. I realised that and keyed into it immediately so it helped me intellectually and it made me a teacher of it.
59 comments
Tonto! Tonto! Tonto…… She have been a girl of believe. She trust her salf, and dat is y i like her. Keep on.
now, she is her own boss. Tonto really made a name for herself in the movie industry
Tonto is good in her first and last Name
Tonto! she’s my best actress! I luv her coz she does things her own way.
dis girl alwayz talk without shame, u dnt hav 2 blow it b4 we know u’re a lesbian
This dirty woman Tonto Dikeh or d*ck is a pure evil genius – an inventor of evil. she knows she is finished and thus speaks slots. she is what she is – evil and doomed
She is beautiful bt shameless
i love you girl keep it up no send them at all
Kudos tonto……shun d ignorant ones
She’s beautiful and talent but shameless
I dont lyk the tatoos but i like her.no let rita dominic hearho
Go gurl i dey feel ur swag
Tonto dike is a shameless rotten gotten infected bacteria sl**t I wonder d kind of children u will av and how they will c u!
Thumbs up 4 u gal.wish i cld get 2 whr u r.
Tonto u remain my role model just shun the haters cuz they just jealous of u!! Babe u rock my world and I wish to be like u some day!!! One luv!!!
I luv u soooooo mch tonto.kip it up
Tonto u re gud nd I luv u.Keep doin ur thing while Haters should go to Hell
I dey feel ur swag,shun haters joooh
Tonto i love u so much u are too straight and i like dat.
Wherever u r, watevr u do, get 2 knw dat a galfrnd 4rm kenya luvs ua moviz alot…bt my advc 2 u is dat, change ua living style nd dont 4get dat u were once a child of God so u must put into limit evrytin u do cz people r watching u n finaly God wil judge watevr u did in dis world! Lov u.
She’s not bad, jst doin what her hrt pleases remember it is her life and her money any way
U ar a lady.it did nt mean u should b dat much wild and uncorncernd about odas.lil wyne is a man an u ar a lady.do u knw hw u wl luk lik wn al ur whole bdy is coverd wit tatoos.pls try and curtail ur way of lif,more xpecialy smoking n rude talkings.luk at genevieve,mercy johnson,omotala n d odas.. D live n knw d owe thier fans a lot.more xpecialy respect.dnt b 2 artificial pls.money is nt everytn,but d value n respect u earn by ppl dat truely lov u.
Pride is jst her own. Tonto,pride will make u fall as fast as u dsire 2 b knwn. B kful
I luv u gal,bt I’m so dissapnted in u,b careful gal u will fal very fast
Gal???u soooo up tha sky!but take care!
Wow gal i dy feel u oo. Weda u draw tatoo all over ur body is it dia dough?? Abeg shun dem afta all u SMASH DEM ALL!!. Kip it up nd dnt 4get 2 act more movies cos it pleases me alot. Abeg Dis is ma numba holla @ mua lets tok joor….(08165846990)
Hahaha. I wonder how she will look when she grows old. Beauty fades u noo.pls mind d way u draw ur tatoo. Its nt my businesr bt jst av 2 be a frien.d
Truely you’re a good actress. Pls go through the words of Jessey. They’re loaded. Cares
She might actually not be what you think of her but the good thing about her is that she’s good at what she does… shikenah
Tonto dear,pls dnt follow lil wayne..he has skin cancer..am ur biggest fan..but pls do not 4get GOD..
Y draw tatoo al over ur body, does it add more beauty. Wot u do today will surely tell on u 2morrow. Chance cos u are too wide
Pls my dear, remember that living a natural life is d best, what goes up always come down.
Oh omg,am just so inlove with u Tonto,I wish I could meet you in person!
By the way tonto am female.I enjoy your movies so much please invite 2 nigeria
tonto i thought i should let u know that no matter what we have in life belongs to the almighty GOD.our body and our wealth.
She is who she is,love her or hate her she’s moving on.let he who is without sin cast the 1st stone,HATERS!
Hola gal rita i jst lov u so mch bt pls gal stop wit yo tatoos ok cz am women aswel as i cre 4 u so mch anyway u a de best kip it up gal frnd kisses al de way 4rm sario
Tonto act very well but her way of living is bad. Can’t you see d way omotola, Mercy, uche jumbo are living their lives. Stop smoking and live a decent life
Tonto u r a gal i always dream of meetin ur act of lez wit dat gal in 3some trikers me i wish i would see u n suck ur pussy out 4 u kissin n romancin u d way nobody has, my contact 08037853757 call me i bet u willnt regret knowin me
Tonto go girl, i cherish ur career, bt make sure u dnt 4get ur God, i wish i could hear ur voice, bt if u dnt mind too, 08096222700, keep it up, am ur best fans
Tonto i like u very much,i view u as a gudhearted chic u r ma best baby gal get me thro 0724914963
i love u girl keep it up.
Tonto i love ur guts & everytin abt u but u need 2 cut down b’cos u represent motherwood . 1day u will ve’ a change of mind of havin children even if u dnt want marriage. dnt 4get all ur 2day life will come 2 play in future, & pls dnt try 2 b s’one else u re’ a special being.i love u more.
My dear,always consider tomorrow
Tonto is gud in acting. she acts without fear, so sexy and smart. i like her.
I remember the first time I saw Tonto in a movie, I said myself what a beautiful and innocent young woman but now I don’t know what to say about her. No in not a hater but if you wil agree wiv me she have lost her innocence. Look at what she have become now. She’s looking so worn-out and so razz. I bet anytime she sees the real stars like Jenny, Omotola, Stella, Chioma Chukwuka, Rita, Uche Jombo and d rest she will be so ashamed of herself. I bet Rita Dominic will be so ashamed of her and would not even want to be associated wiv her.
Tonto let me ask you a question. When you were born again weren’t you fulfilled? You wanted to be seen and heard. Indeed you have been seen and heard but guess what? You are bad news and a bad influence to our younger ones. Please change your ways and go get a good life. However I still watch your movies but only when you act wiv reasonable people definitely you can’t act alone cos if its only you believe you me I will not watch and many will not!
tonto ur pretty but the you act at times is ungodly ur feel ur untop but remember God is up there washing u will one day get married i wander the doctrine u will give to them bcs when they start there own don’t blamed them bcs is the seed u plant that’s what u’ll ripe, deffitnatly oneday u’ll be a mother.
tonto ur pretty but the you act at times is ungodly ur feel ur untop but remember God is up there washing u will one day get married i wander the doctrine u will give to ur children ,bcs when they start there own don’t blamed them bcs is the seed u planted that’s what u’ll ripe, deffitnatly oneday u’ll be a mother.
just like Doctors,Lawyers,Bankers etc we all have our professions
Tonto’s is acting and i think she is good at it. her personal life is hers
u have urs too just because its not out in the spot light does
not give you the right to be so Judgmental about hers. Tonto Dikeh
you are a wonderful actress.
Tonto no mind them joo
Tonto, hmm i like d way she acts and there is sometin abt her dat makes me love her more but whn it comes to her tatoo, i am not in support of dat:
I like u @ 1st the way u can act being gud and supportive person bt nw i dnt think so, it my 1st tym 2 hear a gal said she like lil wayne cant u c his devel worshiper on ur statement u sound lyk u no longer take God as ur saver am so disapointed in u gal am even scared of u, ur children wil ask u lots of questions wht can u same because of fame abi nowa for u oo! all u need is prayers and ask God to forgive u or else u’ll end up like Whitney Houston am telng u!!*So sad*
ride on gal. infact u share dsame gut with rita dominic.
Tonto sincerely speakin ur gud. Bt i must tel u 1 vhin try and b a descent actrez. If u ask me i wud say try nd imitate my angel chioma chukwuka ok?
Tonto is actually making a lot of people happy 2ru her profesion.ride on girl
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Tonto!!!see all dose dat re praising u don’t really like u don’t be deceived by their comment.when it comes to marriage none of dem wil even tink of u bcos u re far from a wife material.I pray it doesn’t get to late before u start realising what u’ve done to urself.