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| Sola and her dad, Jide Kosoko |
Sola Kosoko is an award-winning actress
and daughter of the veteran actor, Jide
Kosoko. She came into the industry in the
90s and has remained relevant since then.
She is a prolific actress who has starred in
countless films and with three films to her
credit as a producer. All thanks to her
father who encouraged her to go into acting
shortly after graduating from secondary
school. The now-married lady shares with
Showtime Celebrity how she met her
heartthrob, Abiodun Abinna, and the price
she has paid for stardom, among other
interesting things
To be honest, my dad influenced my choice
of career. My ambition as a child was to
become a lawyer or a broadcaster. My first
appearance could be likened to a prop-like
appearance. In 1987, I got my first role in
a celluloid film after which I went back to
school. Immediately after my secondary
school education, I started appearing more
in films. Some of daddy’s colleagues like
Baba Suwe would come around and would
tell me to come and act about three scenes
and that was it. My first major film was Ola
Abata in 1999 because I was cast for the
role Alaja Wosilat. With that movie, my dad
became more convinced that I should take
acting seriously. But I wasn’t keen about it
because I was seeking admission into the
University. In the year 2000, my dad
scripted another movie and he said I would
not just take two or three scenes, but would
be the main character in the film. I obliged
reluctantly. I watched the film and I was
not too happy with myself . I felt like I was
too small and not beautiful enough and I
decided to quit acting and concentrate on
my academics. In the year 2001, I had
another opportunity to act in a film as the
main character again, I accepted
reluctantly yet again but this time when I
watched the movie, I was happy with what I
saw on the screen. I was looking more
matured, beautiful and I performed well.
And that was the movie that shot me into
limelight. With this, I started getting more
invitations from other producers.
How do you see the ‘’Kosoko’’ brand where
every member of the family is into acting?
Not every member of the family is into
acting. I have a younger sister that studied
Cell Biology and Genetics and not in the
acting business. I have another younger
brother that studied the same course and
he is not also into acting. My elder sister is
a Civil Servant. We only have myself, my
younger sister, Bidemi and my elder brother
who is a movie director, that are into
acting. The rest are into different fields of
work. We can just say the business in some
ways have become a family trade. I have
plans to ensure one of my children goes into
entertainment, be it music, acting or other
things.
You are a career woman, mother and a
wife. How do you cope with all these without
one affecting the other?
It sometimes affect one another I must
confess but by the grace of God I survive.
So how was growing up for you especially in
a poligamous family?
I would just say that my family is blessed.
Though we had times when we quarelled and
that happens in every polygamous family.
But in spite of our differences, we always
come together as one. We, the children even
forget that this person is not from my mum,
we are just so close . We pray together,eat
together and do things as one big family.
How did you meet your husband?
I met him few years back and that was
before I was in the limelight. At first, we
started as friends, very good friends. Back
then, (before I gained admission into the
University which took me some time) he was
the one teaching me Mathematics which was
a very difficult subject for me then. When I
eventually gained admission to study
Sociology, I decided to accept his proposal
and we later got married.
What have you paid for stardom?
I spend more and is worrisome. I can’t go
get stuffs for myself. This is because
whatever is sold for 10 naira will be sold to
me for 15 naira. I was at the market at a
time and I bought something worth N200,
the seller refused to give me my 800 naira
balance on the account that she buys my
films, watch my movies and that I will have
to pay her for that favour. She eventually
gave me 400 naira reluctantly and that is
why I rarely go to the markets. I go to the
mall instead but I really miss going to our
local markets. Also, I dare not stay in the
car alone. This is because if I have to get or
do something, somebody has to be with me
to help me get it done. So one of my PAs
has to always be with me otherwise I might
end up spending 5000 naira for something
worth less especially when my ‘’crazy’’ fans
are involved. I have also lost my privacy.
But we hardly read or hear about you?
That is because I try to keep a low profile,
I am more of an introvert.
You have also been able to keep a clean
sheet, what are the secrets?
Like I said, I am more of an introvert
especially in public. Also, I don’t blow my
own trumpet. Last year, the Federal
Government sponsored a project called
‘’Nollywood Project Art’’where ten actors
from the Yoruba sector of Nollywood went
on a Diploma course in Performing Arts at
the Olabisi Onabanjo University. Some of my
colleagues will make so much noise about it
but that is not me.
Many Yoruba films are poorly subtitled,
why?
I think we are getting over that. When I was
working on my last project which was shown
at the cinemas during the Ileya festival,
the lady who was supposed do the
translation was out of the country. She
advised me against using some hands whom
she knew will not do a fantastic job, but
will do the work within a limited time. I
had to wait for her arrival. Sometimes too,
it could be typographical errors. Even when
I insisted on using the right hand and
going through the job myself, some errors
still found their way into the project.
Why do we have many producers especially
among the Yoruba sector?
We have many producers because many
people are joining the industry.
Or is it because many of you want to make
more money?
Let’s be realistic. We all crave to make
money. Again, it could be to become
famous, forgetting there are people who are
better suited for the job.
Had there been an instance where you had
argument with your father on set?
Not really. Sometimes, our opinion about
issues could be different. There was a time
I was working on a project and I pictured
another person for a role but he had a
different person in mind. That, I can say
happens a lot of times. But we try as much
as possible to see reasons and go for the
best.
What are the pains of being a Jide Kosoko’s
daughter?
Well, I can’t remember any memorable one
as I speak now but hardly will that happen.
Around 2002 or 2003, armed robbers came
to our house. On that fateful day, they saw
my father’s portrait in my step mum’s room
( Late Henrietta Kosoko) and made
inquiries what his picture was doing in her
room. She told them he was her husband.
Believe me, the gang’s leader commanded
his boys to drop everything they had
collected from our house and they left
without hurting anyone.
Wooo
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