“My Son Will Not Be An Actor” + A Bush Producer In Nigeria Once Requested I Sleep With Him Says Juliet Ibrahim As She Shares Her Views On Why The Industry Has No Child Stars…

Very recently, an article was published on GhanaCelebrities.Com discussing why the Ghana Movie Industry has no child stars. GC readers discussed this issue at length. I decided to contact ‘Juliet Ibrahim’ one of our own celebrities on this issue.

She found the topic interesting and something that needs much attention. Today I present to you the chit chat I had with Actress Juliet Ibrahim:

GhanaCelebrities.Com: First of all who is Juliet Ibrahim and how did she become a movie star?

I can be described as the girl next door, am down to earth, friendly, fun to be with; once you get to know me, I am easy going, lovable, determined, straightforward and a jovial person.

I could go on and on with the list but I don’t think its necessary lol. I am married and the proud mother of Jayden Kofi Safo, my son. I come from a family of 4 kids of which I am the eldest.

I am a movie star today because I was destined to be. It all happened when I auditioned and was chosen for a role in the movie crime to Christ, since then; I am listed and counted amongst the top best 10 out of Ghana. It’s a privilege to be appreciated by so many fans around the world today.

GhanaCelebrities.Com: What made you decide to be an actress and not go into any other profession?

I had wanted to be in the spotlight when i was young, even though my childhood dream was to be a musician. I somehow stumbled upon acting whilst modelling in Ghana and the rest is history.

I love the entertainment industry and acting is now a part of my life; making it hard for me to want or think about another profession. However, if I should ever go into another profession, it is definitely going to be entertainment (showbiz) related.

GhanaCelebrities.Com: What is the hardest part of being an actress and have you ever played a role as a T.V mum to any kid star?

The hardest part about being an actress is the fact that you have no privacy. There’s no more trustworthy friends around you, there are envy from people for no good reason, and everybody seems to be all up in your business; even those whom wouldn’t get the chance to greet you on a normal day can sit around and say crazy things about you lol.

Yes I have played a TV mom before in the movie ‘master of the game’.

GhanaCelebrities.Com: Now to the topic, gone are the days when we watch these shows (Fun world, By the fire side, Kwasasa and host of kid shows) on TV. It was educational, culturally related and fun for kids and adults simultaneously, but just few years passed and all these TV kids vanished into thin air, what happened?

Well, I can’t really say; but I think these kids grew up along the line and some probably realised it’s just not their field. better yet, their parents just don’t want them taking acting as a profession.

About 80% of parents around the world, always want to choose which profession they think best suits their child, in Africa is a little bit more rampant. I can bet you that, those kids were only into drama back then because they needed to get into some extracurricular activities whilst on campus.

However, kids can be very stubborn at times, if you allow your child at a tender age to get so involved with entertainment ,that kid would never want to study his books, trust me because I have been there before.

Music was my all when I was growing up. You could ask me about any musician or song lyrics and I’ll reply positively anytime of the day, but when it is time for science or a subject I hate ,I won’t have an “A” all the time.lol

GhanaCelebrities.Com: Can you attribute that to these explicit movies, soft porn and others taken over the industry?

No I will not say it’s due to the explicit movies; because kid actors have been missing from our screens long before our producers started introducing their new marketing techniques. I think the parents, somehow, are to be blamed for the missing kids on our screens.

GhanaCelebrities.Com: Do you by any chance know some of these kids who used to be in the spotlight; are they all grown up now and successfully doing their own thing?

Honestly, I don’t think I remember any. I remember the little girl from home sweet home, and the very last time I saw her, she was a teenager and looked so grown up. She comported herself very well and behaved like a matured lady, I was really impressed. But I believe she is in the university now.

GhanaCelebrities.Com: You are now a mother and a sexy one for that matter….would you let your baby grow up in the limelight…basically, as a T.V kid? Why?

Lol. Jayden won’t be an actor; I don’t see it in him. But then again, he could grow up to love my profession; therefore I wouldn’t mind letting him act a few times in my movies just for the fun of it, but as a profession, I am not sure.

He could take it as a profession after his masters’ degree and I certainly wouldn’t mind.

GhanaCelebrities.Com: What do you think these production powerhouses and TV stations can do to bring those interesting kid shows back?

We need kids back on our sets, it helps a whole lot. At times I am given a script and there would be about 3 or 4 scenes where by I have to be a 13 yr old before I grow up to be a woman, when I ask the producer who’d be playing that part, he’d say: I have a dark girl and we can’t find any other to match your complexion! lol.

It’s so sad, because I know there are a lot of little girls who can be encouraged to act and make our movies more realistic. It’s so wrong to have a black ‘me’ in a movie and when I grow older ‘I’ appear fair. lol.

I think parents need to loosen up a bit and allow the kids to join and help us make our industry grow.

Producers should also go out there and scout for good actors, there are a lot of kids in drama schools who are so good and are ready to act. We also need kids’ movies on our screens because there’s a whole lot the youth can learn from and through our movies.

GhanaCelebrities.Com: With that said, what’s your advice for parents who are reluctant in giving their children the opportunity to be in the spotlight?

It’s understandable that parents could be reluctant because of  several reasons, to name a few: late night filming, kids missing classes due to filming, little money been paid by producers who don’t appreciate and understand the importance of these kids, explicit scenes in a movie ‘your’ kid would be featured in and so on.

But my only advice is that; as a parent you have every right to read through your child’s script and discuss with the producer what you are comfortable with and not!

In Hollywood there are so many child actors, and they grow to become great stars along the line; for example: Drew Barrymore.

GhanaCelebrities.Com: Has there been a time you have thought that acting ain’t for you or do you regret being an actress?

Not really. I only had an experience when I started acting newly with a bush producer in Nigeria who requested I sleep with him, and when I refused he insulted me publicly on set, I got mad and walked out on the set and never ended the job hence he never paid me the rest of my fee.

I was so hurt that when I came back I told my mom that I can’t stand such gibberish in the industry and that I’ll just quit; but my sweet mother advised me to pray over it and be strong and if that’s the career path I have chosen I will rise and shine in God’s own time.

After few months I got a call for a big movie, ever since then I have been filming with about 40 movies on my CV.

GhanaCelebrities.Com: Really, impressive. Lastly, what’s your advice for children out there who see you as their role model and aspiring to be like you?

Education is the key to becoming who you want to be in life. Without education you can’t be a good actor, without education you won’t be able to read your lines nor co-operate with your colleagues on a set.

You need to be educated to know a lot of basic things in life. go to school, learn and whilst in school you can take acting as a part time job if you really want to be on the big screen, but never joke with your education.

Not many have opportunity to go to school, so if you have my advice is, please make very good use of it.

GhanaCelebrities.Com: How was it like working with that little boy in the movie “masters of the game”? Did you encounter any difficulties when shooting that movie?

Oh my God! Rahim is my little husband lol. He is a grown man in a little boy’s body. He is about 10years old, I think, but he doesn’t act like one. He has all his lines off head even before we start recording.

At times, if I miss my line, he reminds me. lol. He is not troublesome at all and I wish we have more kids to work with like him. His father is really doing a good thing for him because he loves acting; it shows in his every move whilst on set.

GhanaCelebrities.Com: You really like to see these kids on set. don’t you. By the way, thank you and it has been great having this chat with you.

No problem. As Martin Luther King Jnr. said, “A man can’t ride your back unless it’s bent”. For these kids to reach a higher pedestal, we all need to stand up and push them. The sky should be their limit. They are the future.