After plunging into acting after a modelling career, Kehinde
Bankole recently won Best Actress (Drama) at the 2015
Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Award (AMVCA) for her role as
Tawa in the epic movie, October 1. In this interview with JOE
AGBRO JR., the beautiful actress talks about her beginning,
how the award is speeding up her career and other matters.
• You started in the entertainment industry as a model. How
did the whole acting thing begin for you?
They both are lucrative. Let me explain. Modelling at the
level I started which was just runway was not lucrative then
when compared to acting, but modelling for me now is quite
lucrative as it’s not just being a face or a body any more but
advanced unto being a brand spokesperson and ambassador
and professional image representative.
• Between modelling and acting, which is more lucrative?
They both are lucrative. Let me explain. Modelling at the
level I started which was just runway was not lucrative then
when compared to acting, but modelling for me now is quite
lucrative as it’s not just being a face or a body any more but
advanced unto being a brand spokesperson and ambassador
and professional image representative.
• What was your first major acting role and when was it?
My first major acting role was as a character called Caro in
One Bad Apple episode of the Super Story series where I
worked alongside Wale Adebayo (Sango as Corporal Francis
and Grace Ama as Tayo).
• When you first started, did your parents object to acting?
They did not object but were a bit hesitant because of their
concern for my academics, but after proving two years
consecutively in school that I could have good grades and
still go down to Lagos from Ogun State University to act, they
relaxed their concerns a little more.
• Acting puts people in the limelight. Has being an actress
robbed you of privacy?
Certainly, being an actress had robbed me of some level of
privacy but I have still been able to maintain some privacy
and enjoy my alone moments when I’m off camera.
• What is happening to the show, Soul Sisters, which you were doing with two other ladies?
The Soul Sisters show has been off air for a while. That is
not to say we cannot still come together to bring something
forward to the fans. We will wait to see what the future
holds.
•You’re a twin. Tell us a little about your twin sister.
Wow! Fashionista, resilient event planner and business
woman. We have our moments of arguing but we are quick
to agree and move on. She is my biggest fan and shares
that spot with only one more person. And one of the major
advisers over my career and life decisions. That’s my twin
sister.
• What other things do you do apart from acting?
Singing – I love writing music. I make little poems here and
there. And I love to sketch.
•What do you consider as your major assets?
My skill as an evolving actor, my heart and my unique looks.
•You recently won Best Actress at the AMVCA for your role in October 1. How did you get the role for the movie?
I had earlier gone to Mr Afolayan’s Golden Effect to read for
a role but did not get a call back. Then sometime recently I
got a call from him to come and read for a part, being Tawa.
I went and read. And this time I got a call back. I guess I
must have left a better impression this time.
• What’s the difference between you and Tawa in October 1?
The difference between me and Tawa is that Tawa was quiet
as most women those days were groomed to be. But
Kehinde is quite vocal.
•Did you foresee winning the award?
I had on few occasions thought how ‘wow,’ it will be to win
the best actress for the year in the drama category, and even
said a few words to myself as an acceptance speech
(laughing), but I was completely overjoyed when I was
announced winner.
• How has your life changed after winning the AMVCA and how do you intend to spend the N1m prize money?
Drastically. I have been getting more attention for all my
work that had been out there initially before the award. I
have been getting more scripts and looking more into roles
that will further prove my strength. It’s been beautiful.
•It was rumoured that you had to make your complexion
darker for the role. Was it that you were bleaching before
that?
No, nothing of the sort. My skin had been and remains a
brown one. But, I had before then been carefully protecting it
from darkening with sun screens. But on getting the role, I
had to stop all the protection and switch to shea butter and
coconut oil which is known to both smoothen and darken as
it polishes the skin.
• You also cut your hair for the movie. Was that a difficult
experience?
No, it was not. Once I had begun to mentally prepare myself
for a role, all thoughts about bringing the role to reality is my
next surge of excitement.
•What are some of the challenges you have experienced in
the movie industry?
So far, (it has) majorly been at the beginning –
communication. Getting information about (opportunities) but now social media and (the) jet age had helped to eradicate
that.
• How many movies and TV series have you acted in so far?
About 10 movies and five TV series.
•Who are your role models in the industry?
In no particular order, they are Wale Adenuga, Tyler Perry,
Kunle Afolayan and Oprah Winfrey.
•Acting comes with numerous challenges. Was there any time you wanted to quit acting?
There has never been a time I wanted to quit acting.
•You’re skinny. Are there times that you feel you should put
on more flesh?
I am perfectly happy with my body. I continue to keep it fit
and healthy.
•You’re always smiling and a lot of people won’t know your
other side. What are some things that can put you off?
I can be put off by dishonesty and pettiness and by people
who have low self-esteem and resort to pride to feel
comfortable with themselves.
•Tell us something someone has said to you about your gap
tooth
That it’s very lovely.
•How do you socialise?
I do that with good conversations and an honest smile. I also
go out for good movies and fun times with friends and
associates.
•You’re a pretty lady. In a recent interview, you said you’re
not single and you’re not married. What exactly do you
mean?
Well, with that I meant I am the type that likes to keep that
private until I (am) ready to reveal the actual status which
will by then be open for all to see.
•How do you respond to male advances, both from fans and
other professionals in the industry?
I always treat them with respect and let them know my stand
politely. And so far, it’s been working well that way.
•If you were not acting, what would you have been doing?
I would be a singer and beauty business consultant.
•Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?
I see myself in international film projects that will make
Nigeria shine steadily to the rest of the world and projects to be remembered in a long time to come.
It’s election period. Are you going to vote?
Yes, I am going to vote the party that seems to convince me
as a better choice after I have asked lots of questions from
the much older generation who know the truth about all the
political fronts being presented to especially we this young
generation, who don’t know much of the truth.
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