Juliana Olayode better known as Toyo Baby, an alias she got from starring as Toyosi in the series, Jenifa’s Diary, is an actress, sexual purity activist and motivational speaker.
In a recent interview with Potpourri Olayode made a series of revelations concerning her life’s journey, challenges, projects amongst others.
According to her, she never set out to be an actress, it was a twist of fate that caught up with her.
Hear her: I didn’t know I would ever act in my life. I felt I would be a singer and people would be listening to my music and I would be jumping all over the place. I didn’t set out to be an actor. I think that sometimes in life you plan to do certain things and you have your five years plan written out and if you are somebody that submits your life to God at some point, God will disrupt your plans and put his own plan. He starts to lead your life in the way he wants it to go. I think that’s the typical story of my life. This whole acting was just God that launched me and put me in this direction. There is no way I’m going to talk about myself and not talk about my relationship with God. I’m a Christian.
Toyo Baby also speaks on the soon-to-be released movie ‘A Tribe called Judah’ by Funke Akindele, savoring her experience with the legendary Funke Akindele.
“It feels great to be back on set with aunty Funke Akindele and I don’t know, there are a lot of emotions; sweet and exciting. It’s really great to be back. Before we did ‘A tribe called Judah’, we did Bashorun Gaa together but it wasn’t her project. It was for BAP (Bolanle Austen Peters) and I believe that will be out next year. It’s always really like good vibes, energy, fun and laughter being on her set. It felt so good to be back.
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So, at what point did the spotlight come for you in the industry?
That will be during Jenifas Dairy, It was really unplanned. Nothing really prepares you for fame. I didn’t think I would be famous. I used to have one drama group in UNILAG and our tutor used to tell us that there are some actors that will never be famous and it doesn’t mean there are not good and it just happens to some people. He kept mentioning names of fantastic actors we didn’t know. I believe that God gives different grace to different people. It doesn’t mean that you are not talented or good enough. That’s how God is. When the first season of Jenifa’s diary came out I never believed I would be famous or come for the next season until people started calling Toyo baby and I became famous. The movie did it for me.
Would you act in any movie irrespective of the price tag?
No. I don’t think anybody should do that. You have to love the story; you have to be interested in playing the character. Every actor has certain things that they can do and can’t do. You just have to check with yourself if you actually really want to go into it. At the end of the day the money they pay you will finish but that project will be there forever. If you don’t like what you did, anytime people bring the project you will be feeling disappointed even if your fans are hailing you but you know that you don’t like what you did.
What will make you reject a script?
I will reject a script 100% If it doesn’t align with my values.
What are some of the challenges you face as an actress?
I think it would be the fact that sometimes it is not how good you are, it’s about the people you know. You might get a role and probably the person dropping money for the project doesn’t like you or prefers someone else and then they drop you for that person. For you, it breaks your heart because you have pictured yourself playing that role and then they drop you last minute.
Another challenge takes a lot of your time. I was saying that landlords should start giving actors a discount because we are rarely at home. You are always up and about. It takes a lot of your time and people don’t really know how much work it takes to be an actor. You need to be mentally, emotionally and physically stable. It takes everything from you even though it looks like we are ‘playing’. People think we are players but it’s a lot of work. Even just waiting on set to shoot your own scene, reading the script and getting into character amongst others are challenging.
Every job has its own challenges, sometimes I feel like actors have these stigmas. People think they are wayward or wild. You can’t just judge anybody because of their profession. You cannot judge anybody because of their looks. Looks can be deceptive. That person you think is the wildest and most deceptive person can be sweet. The person looks that way because they choose it or they don’t see it as anything bad. That’s their style. Meanwhile the person you think is the best might actually be the devil. You never know who is who unless you have a discerning spirit or you meet them. I feel there is just that stigma or tag that actors are promiscuous, they cannot have a good marriage.
Are there low moments when you felt you were in the wrong profession?
Yes, there are times where you are like what am I doing. I had moments like that, when you wondered what you were doing here. Am I not supposed to be something else? The lord directs your life and you check with him to see what is the plan for me? You will see if he still wants you here and I will just be here because every job has its challenges.
How were you able to put yourself together during those moments?
I go back to being with myself. I pray. I listen to audio books, sermons. I read. I listen to worship music and I cry. By the time I do all those things I just know that I’m back.
Do you believe in the school of thought that says those who studied Theatre Art are more grounded than those who are in the profession for the passion?
I think that one cannot exactly say whether that is right or wrong. I believe that people can grow their talents. I can actually have the gifts, talents or passion to act and there is no educational background probably because my parents didn’t want me to go and study Theatre Arts. In this profession, we have so many people that studied Medicine, Law, Engineering and they are actors today. They probably did that because of their parents. In those days, no parent would allow their child to study Music or Theatre Art; you have to be a doctor or lawyer. In my own view, as long as you are talented, you can take courses, attend different classes on acting.
You have acted several roles, are there still dream roles you look forward to playing?
Yes. I would love to be like Angelina Jolie and fight, play a role like they did in Fast and Furious. Or like Wakanda with super powers to fly. While in Nollywood, I feel like whatever the role is, when it comes it will align
Coming into the industry, there must have been some industry giants you look up to?
So many amazing people in the industry. Aunty Funke Akindele is one person I admire so much. She’s very hardworking, a go-getter and she’s unstoppable. I feel like she’s a person who believes that if she can think about it then she can have it and she will go for it, no matter what anyone says. Also, I admire Genevieve Nnaji a lot, before I thought I would be an actor, outside my school gate, they sell story books and music books. I usually look out for the one that had Genevieve’s face. I love her from watching her movies. I used to cut out any newspaper that had her face in it and use it to wrap my books, put it in my room. I just liked her and I’ve always loved her like that. When my friend started working with her she said she’s so chilled and nice. I loved her even more. She didn’t know the clothes were coming to me but thanks to her I got a lot of free clothes. I just like her lifestyle as well. She’s so graceful and blessed. I love how she acts. To me, I think she’s a natural and I like how she’s not all over the place and when she shows up, she shows up.
I love Nse. I cannot even describe it. One time I met with her manager before I ever even got to work with her and I was like, please I don’t know if she would be taking any acting courses because I would like to come and learn under her. I love how she embodies her characters. She’s also really blessed.
What is your take on streaming platforms helping in positioning Nollywood to the world?
I love it. I think it is showcasing Nollywood to the world. Like how Anikulapo went viral and even people from other African countries and abroad were watching the movie. That’s our culture and tradition. I love these partnerships. I’m really praying for bigger and better partnerships because that way people can see the story we have. We have so many untapped, untouched stories and people can see how really talented and exceptionally brilliant we are in Nollywood. Nollywood is full of so many talented people. I feel that if some actors from Nollywood are taken to Hollywood and we get the kind of special treatment that they are getting there then we will deliver better.
Which genre will you say you are comfortable acting in?
I used to think I preferred to do English movies. There is this proper epic Yoruba movie we did and I got my first lead role in an epic role. I was scared. I thought about how I would speak Yoruba because it’s different from the usual one we speak everyday but I was up to the task and I did my assignment. I got someone to read my script with me. When I got on stage and said my first lines everyone just clapped for me. I loved the whole vibes of the movie and the moral and culture portrayed. I can’t pick one. I love both genres.
In 2017, you published your autobiography, what brought about the idea of a book?
I had dreams about me writing a book and sharing my story in front of so many people. I believe that I have the gift of dreams so when I kept having those dreams consistently, I felt it was about time to share my story. One of the ways that God speaks to me is through dreams. I know dreams that I know are not a figment of my imagination but a message. That happened consistently, so I knew it was time for me to share the story. Sometimes when people see our vulnerability, they can see hope and know that if this person came from here and is here now then there is hope for me. Just for another person to see that they are not alone. Sometimes it is the feeling of being alone that kills people faster. They feel they are the only ones in the world going through these things. I don’t know if people have wild thoughts because I have some, I live in my head a lot. For people like me you find out that you are over thinking many things and when you do that you have the weirdest thoughts that when you say it to someone, they ask how you are thinking that. When you keep it in your head it drives you crazy. That was essentially why I felt the need to tell the story because I felt the need to tell the story.
What project are you currently working on?
I’m working on another book. I’m working on some other things I don’t want to let out now.
-Vanguard
