Ene Miltex - I Hope to Get Married Very Soon

HER NAME MAY NOT READILY RING A BELL, BUT ENE MILTEX HAS BEEN IN THE MOVIE INDUSTRY FOR A DECADE. SHE HAS FEATURED IN QUITE A NUMBER OF NIGERIAN MOVIES AND EFFORTLESSLY CLINCHED LEAD ROLES IN MANY AS WELL. SHE RECENTLY RELEASED HER OWN MOVIE, TITLED KAHANI. THIS CHARMING ACTRESS TALKS TO LANRE ODUKOYA ABOUT HER CAREER AND MORE

MY RECENT WORKS... Well for now, I am in and out of Abuja, but it is for a personal reason. I am doing some works and I will let you know what it is all about later. That does not mean that I have been out of circulation. I am still working on sets.

ABOUT MY MOVIE, KAHANI... The movie is an innovation. We did it in a different way; it is a deviation from the typical way of making movies in Nigeria. First, we made sure that the viewing experience is subtle and captivating by using state of the art equipment. Even from the story line, we made sure it is something everyone can watch. The story itself is about a village girl who came to the city to look for the man who impregnated her. The name of the movie is the name of a character in it, Kahani. I acted as Kahani and there are other top names that played co-leads as well.

WHO KAHANI REFLECTS... The character was a very kind and emotional person and so am I. In the other aspects, we do not have anything in common. She is so laid back and crude. I wrote the script as well and it was difficult bringing her to life. Even the English she spoke, I made it sound different. It was more like the Liberian English. It was a big task writing the movie and also acting that character.

IN THE FACE OF PIRACY... What can we do? I am a church girl and I believe in God a lot. I don't care what pirates are doing with our movies; what I know is that by the grace of God, Kahani will make its mark. It is selling fast already so I leave the pirates to God. I don't even want to think about them. We should all just move on with our lives.

WHAT FANS SHOULD EXPECT FROM ME... My fans should expect a lot. I have been on various sets in the past months and the movies are not yet out. There is one I can't wait to see. I have not done anything with Chioma Chukwuka before till some months ago. She is such a likable person. We did a royal movie together but it is up to the producers to determine when it will come out. Jibola Daboh and Chika Ike were also in the movie. There are some scripts also waiting for me, but I am taking my time. There are some functions I am very involved with. Some of my friends are getting married and I am helping in the whole planning process.

WHEN MY BELL RINGS... Hmm, that caught me unawares. Before they say, actresses are loose people and they do not get married. Now, we are getting married and people are still complaining. What we do in the movies are just our job and not what we do in real life. Many people are getting to understand that concept now. For me, well, I will say that I am not in any relationship at the moment. But when I was in a relationship, my man was very supportive. He understood the job and knew the person on set was different from the real me. I hope to get married very soon though. When it is about to happen, I will personally let you know.

HOW I GOT INTO NOLLYWOOD... I came to Lagos in 2002. I was in Benue State Polytechnic for a while studying public administration, so, the school went on strike for a while and I did not go back to join them. There was an audition for a talent hunt called 'Who wants to be a Star?' I went for it. It was from there I met names like Chico Ejiro, Obi Osotule, and instantly I got my first job in the movie dubbed, Pastor's Wife. Then my first major hit was 'Love Medicine' with Paul Obazele, Shan George and Kate Henshaw. That was the movie that shot me into limelight.

ABOUT MY CAREER LULL... I went off the scene for personal reasons, but I decided to come back and thank God, the roles are coming.

GROWING UP WAS DIFFERENT I used to be a very tall and skinny. And I had a very distinctive bow leg. I mean you can pass someone through my legs even when they are together. I was troublesome. I also remember something funny about myself. I liked coins a lot. If you gave me paper currency, I would reject it, until you gave me coins. They used to laugh at me then. I was always getting into trouble. No one messed with me. But I was also a sweet kid as a child. I was mummy's pet.

ABOUT MY FOUNDATION... Actually it is my project. I do not like to reveal or talk much about it. Firstly, I am yet to launch it. Secondly, I don't really like the attitude of saying I did this and I did that. It is between me and the beneficiaries. But we will start major works from next year.

DIRECTING MOVIES IS OUT OF MY WILL POWER... Directing no; but I produce. I call my company a movie production consultancy. I am also a script writer and a musician. I want to work more on gospel movies. My music definitely is gospel. I am not in a hurry to release it. Trust Nigerians, when they hear that an actress is releasing an album, they are always critical. I don't want to fall into that category. I am trying to bring out quality music that will glorify the Lord and not just any mediocre job. That is why I am taking my time on that project.

HOW I WARD OFF SCANDALS... That is why I like being on my own. Though I am a lively person, I am very private. I have been keeping to myself all this while. I hardly grant interviews. I think this will be the second or third that I have done this year. So, when less of me is seen except in the movies, what will they write? By the way, I am not saying that I am a saint, but when you do not catch me doing anything, will you say that I have done it? Besides, I don't think I am a bad person. Like I said earlier, I am a church person. I try to be a good Christian. So, I try to leave no room for rumours. It will not bug me if they write negative things about me. Some actresses even go as far as bribing journalists to write bad about them so as to gain popularity. I am far gone beyond that.

I have paid my dues. I may not be the richest or the highest paid actress in Nollywood, but I will not stoop that low. It is a shame what many people do for fame. I am where God wants me to be. Even if I do wrong and they write about it, I will adjust and apologise to my fans, simple. If you are not relevant people will not talk about you. So, I know, tongues will wag, but I am ready for all that. God is by my side. The people they talked about before I became an actress are still there today; they are doing well for themselves.

Hmmmm may her heart request be met, and single guys!!!

Culled from thisday