When it comes to bringing life to a character, talented actress, Kehinde Bankole’s name promptly comes to mind. Even with countless movies and awards to her credit, Kenny, as she is fondly called by her fans, is not ready to rest on her oars. In this chat with MUTIAT LAWORE, the sultry actress spoke about her acting prowess, the thin line between stagecraft and movies and how she has been keeping off scandal, among others.
As a seasoned actress, what do you look out for in a script before considering it worthy?
The direction the story is going is very important. There are some stories you will see and you will understand what they are saying but you don’t understand the direction it’s going, that is what I look out for. I want a good story and apart from the story being good, I should be able to understand the direction, there is a theme, a message the story is trying to pass. Whatever happens to me the first time I open a script, I know will be what will also happen to the people, watching at home. We serve as the bridge between the people at home watching the movie and the person writing the story.
You do a lot of stage performances; which will you consider more challenging between stage performance and acting movies?
Both of them are challenging. Stage work connotes discipline, which makes it very challenging. While at it, you have no option of a second take, there is no space to rewind, like let me take it again and so, what you give at that time is what the people are going to get. It is important that you make your decision for stage within a fraction of a second, you have to decide how you want to deliver that role and once it’s done, you can’t take it back. Stage performance helps you to focus. Some people think acting a movie is simple but it is not, it is equally challenging. The opportunity you have to act a stage play once is not like that of a film, you might have to re-do like 30 times. Now, think about rewinding a particular emotion, the stress of having to put yourself in the mood of that emotional expression for about 30 times, especially if there is a crowd in the scene and you have to re-do it plenty times with the need to sustain the same level of energy. If you have to remember something bad to be in that mood, you must, which means you have to remember that over and over if you are asked to act the scene over and over again. So, it is also challenging if not even more, it’s a lot of hard work.
These days we see more female actresses delving into production and directing. Are you also going in that direction anytime soon?
No, I’m an actor. But if I have the opportunity to produce something, it doesn’t have to be a film; it could be telling a serious story through a documentary. There are people who do this. Somehow I could be involved in the process of the production, I don’t have anything against it but I am an actor.
Some of your colleagues reject scripts based on who the other casts members are. Do you also find yourself in such situation?
It is not a yes or a no. If it is important to the life of that film, why not? I have a team, we sit down and we make a decision. If we think the smallest person is not good for that film or the biggest person is not good, it is business and the appropriate decision must be made. It is such decisions that make people turn a script down or accept it. The presence or absence of an actress or actor in a movie cannot determine whether I should be part of the production. I look at the story, sometimes, if a story is very good and they cast you and you know within yourself that you don’t find yourself in the story, you can’t deliver it, that is one of the reasons you turn it down. You don’t make it essentially because one actor is not there; it must be because of a business decision.
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What was your take on the state of the industry before you joined and now?
Yes, there are lot changes. Those who are ahead of us have done a lot of work, there are now so many opportunities. There are young producers and actors now. It is spreading everywhere. The media is coming to us and we are also going to the media. It is not everybody in entertainment that is acting, everybody is involved in different segments of the job. Acting is a whole gamut of serious work, there are editors, cinematographers, makeup people and others, it is way better than how it was before.
How have you been able to keep fit?
Although the nature of my job is a bit stressful but more importantly; I watch what I eat, rest well, do exercise if the need be and just put my mind at rest.
How have you been able to keep off scandals?
I keep things simple; simplicity is what makes you stay away from trouble, when you keep everything simple it makes whatever comes back at you simple
A lot of your colleagues in the movie industry have also delved into music; do you have any plan to release a demo in the future?
Music has always been part of my life everyday. Secondly, I minister in songs, I sing. Music is part of me so, whichever avenue the music is going to come out from is open to any opportunity I find. There is no solid information about this at the moment but music is a part of me. If I get a record deal for me and my partner that we sing together, to sing in a concert, we will take it. We have singles coming out. If it is radio, we will put it there. Music is part of my work and my personal life.
Without acting, who is Kehinde Bankole in real life?
I joke a lot. I like to laugh when I am in the mood. We crack jokes and laugh and also have a good time. I love to cook, I love spending time with families, loved ones and friends. I like to make people happy, and I can be very strict.
