Movie
star Shaffy Bello is a very pretty lady. She is blessed with
good looks. She has a lovelyface and a petite frame that will make you think
she is a little girl. She is an ageless beauty, blessed with a sweet voice that
captivates. Shaffy is one of the A Class actresses currently rocking the
movie industry. Over the last few years, this light-skinned actress has
featured in several block buster movies.
She
has also featured in many cinema films. This is because she is good at what she
does. She is a well trained actress, who attended Film
School abroad where she honed her skills. Recently, Shaffy Bello spoke
with City People about her
fashion & beauty secrets, plus her acting career. Below are excerpts.
How
have you been able to keep your good looks?
It
is due to the Grace of God. I do the best I can. I walk from time
to time. I exercise. I still take my walk. I try as much as possible to to cut
down on my Cabohydrate in take. I am in an industry that is a
fashion industry, a looks industry, and our looks are very
important in the industry. I want to be able to be called to play the role of a
35 year old. I want to be able to be called to play the role of a
65 year old. So, I think taking care of ourselves is very
important.
I eat well. I try to exercise. But you know, I still drink my
alcohol and looking good is not going to take me away from that. But I think
its just in the genes. I don’t abuse my body. I have a little weight problem in
my family. Some of my siblings are quite big.
So, I am careful with my intake.
Look, I live by being a moment on the hips, and a lifetime
on the hips. (Smiles) I always believe that what you put
in your mouth reflects outside. So, I try as much as possible to watch what I
eat. And I exercise and use the right products on my skin. I really take care
of myself. I just try to do the best that I can. I am not perfect. I am 49
years old. I am looking forward to tuning 50.
What
sort of a person is Shaffy Bello?
I
am just a down to earth person. But I don’t take nonsense. I take my work and
my career and my brand very seriously. If you don’t mess with that, then we are
good. When it is time to work, I work. I don’t mess with it.
When it is time to
play, I play h-a-r-d!!! After we are done on set and leave a
tedious production, I believe we need to chill out, get some drinks and just
relax, and have fun. I am an easy going girl in person. I have 2 children
who are 22 and 21. My daughter is 22,
my son is 21. I have 6 siblings. My children live in the United
States. I love God. I close to live the life of do on to
others what you want done to you.
I
love fashion. I love looking good. Its innate for me to look good. Like the
Yorubas say a bi nibi ni ki se ability. Yes. I just like my
style. I just like myself. I love the good things of life. I love music. And I
work really hard for it. Thats me. I am Yoruba , from Lagos
State, originally from Abeokuta. But we have been here in
Lagos for so long that I always claim we are from Lagos.
I don’t have an idea where home is. I am originally from Abeokuta,
Ijaye, I am told. But my parents and my siblings and I were all
born here. We grew up here, at Iga Iduganran (Iga Oba).
Right
now, Shaffy Bello is in high demand to be part of so many movie production. How
do you cope?
It’s
not been easy. But it goes to show that if you love what you do, it’s not work
anymore. It’s become something that thrills you. It’s not easy. I have had to
work with a very tight schedule. What I do now is when I get scripts, I go
through them and I see which one pulls me, which one engages me. If I like it,
I will go for it. It’s not all the scripts I get called for that I do.
I can’t.
It’s not even feasible. It’s so demanding to do every job. And it’s not every
job that I want to be on. So, it’s so important for me to read the scripts. Its
so important for actors to read their scripts. So I read the scripts and I find
out if that character pulls me. It is only then I will decide if I want to be
in it. It is not easy, but then I love what I do.
You
have been doing this now for how long?
As
for the acting part, I will say it has been on now for about 15 years.
I have been acting in the United States (US) before I came back
to Nigeria. I used to live in the US. I used to do
community plays and then broadway. I did that in the US for so
many years.
Of
course, you know I did music. So, coming to Nigeria, I just
wanted to widen my horizon. I have always believed in home. I knew that there
was a gift in me and I know innately that for me to soar even higher, to be
that special being that God created me to be, I had to come home.
So, thankfully, I listened to the spirit of God and I came home.
Where
were you born? Where did you grow up?
I
was born in Nigeria. I grew up in Nigeria. I grew
up in Lagos. I left the country when I was about 17,
after I finished my WASC. And I went to the US.
That was where I was until I was in my 40s. My stint in the US
was pretty good.
I
had an awesome time. My father had always believed that when his children, get
to a certain stage, after you are done with your WASC, he would
ship them to the U.S. My siblings were there, so it made it easy
for me to transmit. And so, I went to school, I went to the college. I got
trained.
I
started to do different things and I needed to find my purpose. You know how it
is, when you are in your 20s you will just be looking for that
thing that pulls you. And you don’t even know which one. So, you have to try
different things to be able to discover yourself. So, you have to try your
hands on everything.
I
tried my hands on events, which I did very well. Actually, I tried my hands on
music which did ectremely well. But then I started acting and I found me.
Maybe, I can say I lost somethings, because to be an actress, you have to lose
some of yourself a bit to be able to take on some characters.
I
have enjoyed every aspect of it. God was moulding me for today,
to become what I have become today.
Shaffy
Bello is very deep and very reflective. How did you develop that aspect of you?
I
am not a superficial person. I like depth. I like people who are smart. Smart
people are attractive to me. I like very deep and smart people. That is why I
like Oprah Winfrey. I followed her career from when she did Season
1 till the end of the seasons. Watching that show moulded me. She
moulded me into what I was. I love knowledge. I love people who know more about
everything. I am attracted to knowledge.
At
what point did you now decide to come back to Nigeria?
That
was in 2009. That was when I made the move. Before then, I use to
come and go, but then between 2013 and 2014 thereabout,
I stayed back. And Nigeria became home and the US became
a place I visited. It is was a very difficult thing to do because my children
were there and I had to leave them to relocate here. They were young when I
made that decision.
But
I have always believed that when you want to soar and you need to do something
and when God says it is time everything will just align. Even my
children gave me their blessing.
How
easy or difficult was it then, after your return to begin to get roles in the
movie industry?
Hmmm!
You know the thing is everybody sees the Glory, but they don’t know the STORY. I know how many nights I staged up in
my room, crying my eyes out. Leaving my children in the US without
a mum and I am here in Nigeria.
But
their father was there with them. One day, my daughter looked at me and said
mum, it was a good thing you left at the time you did, because if you didn’t
leave, I wouldn’t have grown to know that I need to do things on my own.
You
and daddy always babied us, and did things for us. Now, I have learnt to do
things on my own. So, when God calls you and says it’s time for
something, listen, just listen and obey. It always turns out well.
When
I first came back, it was a bit difficult. I did the Love me Jeje video.
I went into music. People saw my face. People know what I do and it opened
doors. And then one day, just out of the blues, I met Saidi Balogun.
We knew each other prior then in the US when they came for a
programme.
I
went to him and said, hello. He said, ah Shaffy, what are you
doing here? My office is just across the road on Allen Avenue. Come
and see my office and I followed him and we got talking for a while. He then
said it would have been nice to feature me in a movie he just completed. He now
said, but you know what? I really want you in my movie. I now said how?
You
have finished it. You have wrapped up. He said don’t worry, we would write
something else for you. And he wrote me into that film that he had. That was Eti
Keta with Kate Henshaw. From then, things started rolling
in. That was in 2010. I did that. Then TINSEL happened.
I got a character on TINSEL. From then the rest is history.
You
are a fantastic actress,How did you get so good in acting?
Thank
you for the compliment...As for being so good in acting,I studied it.
You
studied theatre acts?
No,
I studied communications in University of Maryland,but I studied Theatre
Acts by taking private classes for it.
What's
your growing up like?
I
was born here in Lagos, I schooled in Lagos, after
finishing my secondary school, I went to the US. The country has
it ups and downs, I did it for almost 30 years.and I just felt
within myself it was time to come home,and I came home.and I must confess that
I appreciate God that I have not regretted coming home.
Who
are your role models in the industry?
I
have so many of them, from young to old....ranging from Joke silva, Bimbo
Akintola, Kate Henshaw, I have worked with them and I enjoyed working
with them. there are so so many of them, Lilian Osoro, they are
countless...
Have
you produced a movie of your own?
No,I
haven't...Production is not my thing right now. For me in the Nigeria movie
industry ,production wise,you have to study it. You just don't jump into
things, that is not me, I like to study a thing before I can venture into it
and say yes, I am a professional at it.and I think that is good enough.
What
do you say about those that produce,direct,act and still do so many other
things on set of a movie?
Well,if
it works for you,do it. If you want to be a producer,an actor,a director at the
same time.if you can wear all those acts,wear them,but as for me right now, I
am a wife, a mother, an actor, and a singer, when I want to. I think those are
enough acts for me right now.
You
look so beautiful,how old are you..?
Thanks
a lot,I am in my 50s.
You
don't look your age? What's your beauty secret?
I
think it's just the grace of God,I work out a lot,I eat well, I
watch what I eat,I watch what I put into my body. What you put in is what you
bring out. I take good care of my skin and I bless God that I’m
able to do that. Some people want to it, but they can’t, so I thank God for
His grace always.
What
are your names? (Smiles)
Shaffy
Olasumbo Bello Akinremisin
What's
Shaffy?(laughs) I won't disclose that...
What
about your family? Siblings and parents?
They
are fantastic, I was born into the Bello family on Lagos
Island, I got married into Akinremisin family, My
Dad passed away several years ago. My mom passed away about 3 years
ago.,but I was blessed to be around her prior to her death take care of her, so
it's a blessings. I have 4 sisters and 2 brothers,
and I am proud to tell you that my sisters look exactly like me.
How do you unwind?
I
travel a lot...,and then I shop! I shop!! I Shop!!!., I also love
to read.
How
do you cope with male advances owing to the fact that your husband doesn't stay
here?
I
travel a lot. We see regularly. so I’m always with my husband,if I don't
travel, my husband comes here. I do more of travelling to the US
than any other thing.,as for male advances,I think every woman knows how to
cope with that. It's not a Shaffy thing, it's a woman's thing.
you deal with it, I’m a married woman with
children.
I
saw a piece about you being extremely sociable ,that you drink a lot and smoke
heavily?
Really?
Maybe that's an interpretation of some of the roles I act in movies. As an
actor, when I need to drink in a role I drink.when I need to smoke I
smoke. Although, I was an ex-smoker,but
when it was time for me to start having children I stopped. But, I can only do
that when I need to in movies.nothing more..although socially, I may take wine
or champagne occasionally.
So,
what should your teeming fans expect from you?
I’m
working on movies at the moment, I’m back on Tinsel, series on Mnet,
I’m on Desperate Housewives , I’m on the show 'Taste of
love' , I’m on the movie,'When Love Happens', I’m on Sin
circle, also I’m on another series with Aunty Sola Sobowale
called Nectar..
0 Comments