Today, we bring you up close and personal with Nwokenkwo Lilian Chika, a fast-rising actress and entrepreneur with deep roots in Umueleawo Umuoma Nzerem, Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State. Born on January 7th, 1993, Lilian is the first child in a family of seven. Though an O’Level holder, she has carved her own path, balancing her passion for acting with her ventures as a businesswoman.
As Lilian continues to chase her dreams on screen, boldly embracing the challenges of the industry while staying true to herself, she admits there are roles she would rather avoid, such as scenes involving coffins or snakes. However, she is unafraid to push boundaries in other ways like acting nude as she builds her craft. Join yours truly, Yamilenu Bamgboye, as he lets you into the world of Lilian Chika, an up-and-coming actress whose story reflects resilience, ambition, and a fearless drive for success. Enjoy.
How is acting going for you right now?
Acting has not been easy for me, especially since I'm still an incoming, you have to get rejected by different producers, sometimes they don't even pay you, because to them, they are selling your face for you, even when you get to set, they don't bother much about you. But I'm not really moved by that, because acting is my passion, I see it as having fun, and besides, I know that those people at the top did not get there just in one day; they paid a price to be there, so I am willing to pay mine as well to get there.
Looking back, would you say you made a good career choice?
Yes, I made a good career choice, because growing up, I noticed that even in my school days, I was too good with anything entertainment, so yes, I made a good choice
How are you different, or what makes you stand out from your colleagues?
I'm different because I'm not just going into the industry to be an Actor alone, I'm coming in with a real-life experience, I'm aspiring to be a producer as well
It will be me developing my character portrayal skills, improving my emotional range, and expressions. I would also be perfect in script writing, although I am still learning, but I'm very good in storytelling.
What role would you consider the most challenging and why?
Lead role oh. Everyone is counting on you; the ability to take lines all through the shooting and being in character is not an easy task. If you are playing the lead role, you mst have the ability to take lines all through the shooting, especially when you are acting with an amateur, or maybe a child, like you need a lot of strength and patience to deal with that, all eyes are on you even when it is scripted, how you perform will determine the energy of your antagonist. It's really difficult, but we get through it anyway.
We hear a lot about this sex for role thing. It's a cliche already. What other issues or challenges do people like you have or face in the industry?
Apart from sex for role, we also have the issue of tribalism; some directors may not give you the roles that will bring out your face because you are not their tribe. We also have problems with body structure, you know in the industry now, if you are not thick, chubby, tall and have a glass skin, you might not be casted, Emphasis on chubby. You must have it oo, unless God's Grace is on your side,if not, the industry is not for people like you.
Has any role you played ever had an impact on you in real life?
Yes, when I played a tomboy in a movie titled ''Hunting Reality'', I almost didn't come out of that character for months. Normally, when I was younger, I was a tomboy, so that role took me back to my old self. I would be seeing myself everyday like a boy and also when I played the role of a nurse in ''Life Wire'', I understand what makes some nurses don't even look at your tears when you are crying in the hospital, because how many people are they going to have pity on and after that movie, I don't feel so emotional on everything I see in real life
Hmm...you became thick. So, which movie would you say added to your fame? Besides, would you consider yourself famous?
First of all I'm still an incoming, so I wouldn't call myself famous. Those that watched ''Hunting Reality'' never stopped talking about how incredible my character was in that movie, but I would say recently, the movie that has added to my fame, if I must call it fame is ''Agatha the Trouble Maker'' even till date, my neighbours and some of my friends still call me that name, there's this my friend that has forgotten my name totally since he watched that movie, he still calls me Agatha as we speak.
Which role do you find difficult to portray convincingly?
Getting angry, I have a smiling face, so even though tears are coming out from my eyes, you still won't be convinced that I'm in pain or annoyed, and it makes me sick.
Of all the feedback you've got, which one is the weirdest or strangest or most unexpected?
Someone said that I really look like a wicked person when I acted an old woman in the movie tilted ''Agatha the Trouble Maker''.
How did you find yourself in acting?
I started acting when I was in primary school, let's say around 7 years then, I noticed that I can sing, I can dance and I can dramatiz, so I grew up to see myself as an entertainer, I can do athletics, I can play football, I just feel like is in me, I'm born with it Even people come to my house to pick me from my mother to come and dance at their traditional weddings, while some pick me to be part of their school drama and I must take lead. When I was in secondary school, I was around 13 years then, I saw a signboard for acting audition. I didn't know what it was, but I went there anyway and I got a role that day, I have never been to the city as at that time, it was the late Mr Bruno Iwuoha that owns that production then, but my aunty didn't allow me to continue with them, according to her I'm still very small and you know this beliefs people have about actresses being molested by the directors.
So is acting more art or business for you?
I won't say is not a business,but to me,is more of art, fun, and entertainment. I get goosebumps whenever I hear that I'm going to enter the camera. I'm so much in love with acting honestly.
Is there a kind of role you'll refuse to play on principle (moral standard)?
Normally I don't like snakes, so I will not play any role that I have to use snake whether dead or alive, or a role where I can be inside coffin or buried, I see them as an abomination like someone is playing with their lives.
Then your craft is so limited
Not really,I may have to do them one day, because that's what makes me an actor, but it will take a lot of courage before I will portray them, it is not about religion or anything, I'm just not comfortable with them.
That they are not family oriented people, that's why we don't get married, some say that actors don't fall in love because we see different people everyday and we have sexual intercourse with each other, so we are wild already and cannot be controlled, some say that children are not supposed to be seeing us as their role models.
What role would you love to play that your friends would never guess?
Going completely nude on camera, they see me as innocent and decent person, so they will never guess such roles for me.
But is it something you can really do, or it is just imaginary?
I have been faced with it before, and I didn't accept it, but I may do it later in the future because I don't know how the industry pressure might be tomorrow, but for now, I can't say yes or no.
Where do you see yourself in acting in 2 years, and what steps are you taking to achieve that?
In two years time I see myself already popular and also producing my own movies cause that's my major plan, I have so many stories I have written down and some of them are people cultures and traditions that nobody has talked about till date, and I'm currently doing my online story telling and I'm also collaborating with other producers to learn more about production so that I can be equipped before my own time.
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