Popular Actress Mama G:
I Miss My Husband,Tells Real Age And Why She Adopted 5 Children…
Patience
Ozokwor aka Mama G who is set to celebrate her birthday in a day’s time has
revealed her real age for the first time ever.
In
this exclusive chat with the entertainer, the Enugu-born actress speaks at
length about her life as a widow and why she adopted 5 children, why she love
to live in the village.
Read
new interview with Sun:
How did you feel when
you received the Centenary award? I feel very elated to have received the award,
because it is a sign that Nigerians appreciate my good work. It is indeed a
dream come through for me as a thespian, and I promise to always make Nigeria
and Africa proud with my work.
Have you achieved all
that you set out to achieve? I have not yet achieved everything, personally
there are things that I have in mind to do in the industry, but when I look
back there is nobody yet qualified to take over the mantle from me. And I pray
that God will raise someone that will be better than me, which will be a great
achievement to have someone who will replace me, when I finally leave the
industry.
While growing up did
you ever think of becoming a movie star? I have always been an entertainer from
childhood, so getting to the level I have attained in the industry is by the
grace of God, consistency and hard work.
Your husband died in
2000, precisely 14 years ago, how is life as a widow? God has always been on
my side because without Him there is nothing we can do. Again, I lived in the
village, maybe if I were living in the city, things would be happening to me
and nobody will know what I was passing through. And my people in the village
know that I am always on location working either in the eastern part of the
country or Lagos and Abuja. But when I am not working you will see me in the
comfort of my home in the village. I appreciate my people for all their love
and peaceful co-existence which I am enjoying. My husband’s family loves me so
much, even before I became a star; we were so attached to each other. Everyone
in the family calls me Patia; they are fond of me.
Are you saying you
still live in the village? I don’t live in the city; I still live in my village. It
is nice to live in the countryside where everyone is everybody’s business.
(Laughter).
Not minding the fact
that you are a celebrity? If you see the way people appreciate me in my village,
whenever I go to the market to shop everyone will be calling me ‘Mama G’, ‘Gee’
for general, in fact, you will appreciate me more. But my office is located in
Enugu town. So, I enjoy living in the village, my hometown. I still live my
life of simplicity regardless of fame.
How do you manage to
shuttle from the village to other parts of the country? I have a guesthouse in
Lagos where some of my jobs are concentrated like soaps, endorsements,
commercials and shooting of movies. I have a three bedroom flat in Asaba.
Because I am tired of staying in public hostels, some are sub-standard; and
sometimes you run into small girls that you know. So, I decided to rent an
apartment each in Lagos and Asaba for comfort. I have adopted children who I
take on holidays, so because I would not like them to grow up in the village
without being exposed to city life, when they are on long vocation and I am in
Nigeria, I take them to Lagos or Asaba for a change of environment.
Your
son had his wedding in the United Kingdom sometimes ago and your daughter also
got married in Nigeria, how many children do you have? I have three biological
children. But because of my love for children, I adopted five other children
who bear my name and I am very proud of them as my children. But I intend
giving two among them to my younger sister to love as I have been doing. I am
grateful to God for their lives, my son in-law and beautiful daughter-in-law I
love you all.
Your late husband was
supportive of your career, would you say you miss his presence now that you
have hit stardom, especially being honored with the Centenary award? I wish my husband were
alive to witness my Centenary award, because he was highly supportive of my
career. Though, he was sick for a long time before he died, I wish he were
still alive. But God knows the best. May his soul rest in perfect peace.
What did you really
miss about him? I miss the togetherness, when two people work together trying
to train the children, bringing them up in unity and love. And all the affection
he showered on us. I miss the way he celebrated my children’s birthdays, he was
a true father and husband when he was alive. I miss my husband’s companionship
and love.
Have you ever acted any
role related with your experience as a widow? Of course, one or two things that
happened to you as a widow will definitely come up in the movies, but I have
not acted any widowhood role that has to do with my experience as a widow
negatively. My in-laws have been very supportive and caring; we have always lived
like one big family. I always visit them in the United Kingdom, United States
of America and those in Nigeria are united in love with me. When my husband was
hospitalized, my sister-in-law and I were taking care of him; she stayed with
him at nights while I took over from her in the morning before going to
location. On that fateful day, I was on location when my husband died, before
my sister in-law arrived the hospital. Thereafter, they informed me about his
death and they put him in the mortuary and asked me to continue with my job,
because they understand my kind of job, but I blatantly refused. I took
permission from the producer and stayed away for some days. I later came back
to finish the production of the movie.
Tell us about your
parents?
My parents were loving and caring, I miss them so much. My mother was a popular
trader. I never had it rough as a child, I only had it rough when my husband
fell sick, but my in-laws did not leave me, they took care of my husband’s
hospital bills. It’s just that you don’t have to wait for people to survive;
instead you struggle to make life meaningful for yourself.
You are looking younger
and beautiful even at your age, are you thinking about
remarrying? It is not about my
look but my age. I am not thinking about remarrying. Since my husband died, I
have been rearing my children to the glory of God. And I decided to occupy my
mind on my job and service to God to give my children the best in life.
How old are you now? I was born on March
25,1958, so do the calculation.
At 56, you are looking
elegant. What is the secret behind your healthy look? God is the secret
behind my ageless look, and I also eat what my body needs, I take a lot of
fruits and exercise when it’s necessary. And most imperatively, I don’t drink
alcohol because I have realized that alcohol does a lot of damage to the body
and makes you look older than your age.
Nollywood producers
have stereotyped you with roles that make you get bad remarks, how have these
roles affected your life? I don’t owe anybody any apology for the roles I play,
because I get paid for them and it is my job. It is only people who don’t
understand that acting is make belief that perceive an actor to be living his
or her life the way she acts on set. If I could read my script and interpret
the role to get the best production, it means I understand acting.
Who is Patience Ozokwor
outside the set? I am a very loving mother, nice, caring, jovial, understanding,
and above all God fearing. But I don’t take nonsense because I am a
disciplinarian.
You attended teachers
training college were you nursing the idea of becoming a teacher? I attended teachers
training college in Afikpo; and then I proceeded to IMT, Enugu where I studied
Fine and Applied Arts, specializing in Graphics. But I am a not a teacher
today, because my interest is in acting where my passion also lies.
SOURCE: SUNNEWSONLINE
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