“Why I don’t go to events with my wife” – Ramsey Nouah

Ramsey Tokunbo Nouah Jr, simply known to many as Ramsey Nouah is a Nigerian actor and singer. In 2010, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Gistspring.com had a one-on-one interview with him, where he discussed several issues; from politics, his family life, future plans, regrets and lots more. See below..

You are hardly seen in movies except for few, what has been happening to you?

Nothing! I am just making changes, what kind of movies are you talking about anyways?

It seems you are selective of movies, what do you look out for in movies?

Well, yes I am. I look out for good movies, good storylines, the ones I can interpret to my best capability. Good technical also. We are trying to upgrade the industry as best as we can, set up everything that has cinema culture. We want people to come to the cinema and watch movies and not just the ones on VCD, you just watch it once and then it’s all gone. You know, probably a movie that will last like forever; like evergreen movies.

Comparing the industry then and now what do you see?

When we started, the industry was really doing well, and then there was a nosedive that affected the industry but then, it’s gradually growing with the intervention of the government; helping to put structures and everything in place. And of course, the fact that we didn’t know that Nollywood was going to be a like a huge contributor to the economy of Nigerian, and it is. We are very happy about that, the government is really helping to bring it back up.

What else do you do apart from acting?

Basically nothing, humanitarian stuffs, that’s it.

What kind of humanitarian stuffs are you talking about?

Giving to the needy.

Now that you are hardly seen in movies, family is now coming in place right?

It is good to be at home with your family, everybody feels good to be home and want to spend time with your family. I love the fact that I am now spending quality time with them.

A lot of your colleagues have veered into politics what’s your take on that?

I think they are looking out for changes, movie as you can tell, talks about the ills in the society, talks about problems that we find down the street; matrimonial problems either health problems, cancer, abandoned children. All these things we find in our society that we talk about in our movies. And some of our artistes are beginning to see that they can actually be a servant of the people to help rectify those things because they know their pain, so they are thinking we can go there and help and try and make a change that’s why they are doing it.

How about you, what are your chances?

My fans haven’t told me to do it yet, but if they tell me yes I will.

Your fans determine what you do next?

Oh yes, my fans put the food on my table.

Tell us about the movie, ’30 Days in Atlanta?

It is a romantic comedy, actually shot part in Nigeria and part in Atlanta United States of America. AY played Akpos and I played his cousin.

How was it like acting alongside AY, the comedian or are you gradually becoming a comic actor too?

Well, the movie is a romantic comedy, and not just that it was fun for everybody.

What is your take on marriages of celebs that crash?

There is nothing I can say to them, I am a celebrity myself. Whatever I say compromises my judgement. I can’t tell celebrity how to hold on to their marriage, nobody can actually tell you how to hold on to your marriage. It is between the lovers; the man and the woman. It is either they are compatible or not. Most times, I would say to about 60 to 70 percent of the time showbiz actually is one of the reason why marriages crumble. So, I can’t tell them what they already know. Some people put extra effort and it just doesn’t work. In other words you realize that you’ve not found a compatible partner that’s why it’s so.

You are lover boy in movies, are you romantic in life?

Well, that’s left for my wife to decide, I don’t know if she thinks I am romantic.

If you have a chance, what can you change about yourself?

I honestly don’t know. I think God created me well and I am happy about it.

Aside the Ramsey people see on TV, who is the real you?

I am a very simple and easy going fellow; simplicity in sophistication that’s how I live my life.

How do you balance marriage and career?

I have a very beautiful wife who understands me and understands my profession. We both have an understanding of how to actually deal with things; the showbiz life, with people who go around destroying your family rather than helping it. So, we are compatible like that. That is why we have that good union.

Your wife is hardly seen at events, why is that so?

It is part of the reason, that is how we actually balance the equation, we try not to be all up in everybody face, everybody now knows my family and they can say this about her and about me that’s the beautiful way to actually keep it. We are 14-years in marriage and we are still going and I love that.

How do you handle female fans?

That happens, it is my profession so I got to live with it.

Have you been embarrassed by them because you rarely appear at events and whenever you are out, they are all over you?

It is not embarrassing, it comes with the profession.

So you are happy with the way they come out to you?

I have to live with it, I don’t know about been happy but I just have to live with it.

What are those things being a celebrity have deprived you of?

My private life; I can’t go out somewhere and be happy without people taking pictures. I can’t go out with my family to public outing without people taking pictures; not having private moments with my family. So I only have private moment with my family in private places. I can’t go to public places because of that and that is one thing I really missed.

What is going to happen in the next couple of years that we don’t know about?

I hope to delve into filmmaking and more humanitarian stuff.

You keep mentioning humanitarian stuff, is it like an NGO?

NGO in general, not really specialised in any aspect, for instance, Ebola has serious need. What help are we rendering? Do I need to create an NGO for it? No, just have an open NGO for humanitarian jobs in general.

You made mention of going into film making soon, what took you so long?

Being a veteran doesn’t mean like being a kick-off, you wait for the right time and I am waiting for the right time to actually do my stuff and that is why it is taking so long. But in due time, you will see.

Are you happy with your status from when you started and now?

I’m happy to see how far the industry has come and to see that I am part of it from the beginning till now, I am very happy about it. When we started the industry, it was like making bread out of stone, we had nothing, we had no support, we were just people who were passion driven about the work of art and we started it and we have come that far. I am happy.

Your message to those looking up to you?

All I can say is that you just keep the faith, have faith as little as a mustard seed, you will achieve your set goals in life.