Nollywood does not define me

Naija’s heartthrob movie star, DESMOND ELLIOT was in Nairobi recently. KIUNDU WAWERU had a moment with him.

On the Naija silver screen, he is larger than life. But in person, Desmond Elliot is just human.

He is visibly unsettled when I meet him, as he has misplaced his phone charger. Looking helpless he asks: "Where did I put it now-o?" I smile This famous intonation is for real.

During the interview, the star seems rushed. He says he has been running up and down meeting Kenyan filmmakers, actors and actresses on a Multichoice’s African Magic mission. He gives us five minutes and looks like he means it.

Desmond with his wife Victoria. [Photos: JOSEPH KIPTARUS/STANDARD]

"So what do you want to know?" he asks as he opens the lids of his two phones, extracts the batteries then the simcards. He responds absent-mindedly. Two minutes gone.

He looks up and smiling, apologises then says this is his third visit to Kenya in less than one year. One of the phones is on and no sooner do we begin the interview than it rings.

After receiving the call, he looks up again. I look at him for a few seconds. The phone had interrupted the line of questioning and about four minutes are gone.

"Which is your latest picture?" the question comes from nowhere.

"I have not acted in a while..." He pauses and flashes the boyish smile again that so hooks women to television sets. The waitresses staring at him coo excitedly. He seems not to notice.

"...I had put on weight and did not get acting roles," not a tinge of remorse there perhaps because the Naija heartthrob has now shed the extra kilos. He looks trim and fit.

Before the interview, I had checked his recent photos on Internet that showed him with rounded cheeks and a chubby look — all which is now gone.

Acting hiatus

The next question is predictable.

"What’s your secret?" He sits straight over the barstool at an exclusive Westlands address and says, "working out, changing diet and lots of discipline."

"The change is remarkable," I congratulate him.

"Thank you my brother-o," we both laugh. Five minutes have passed but he is relaxed.

With the acting hiatus, Desmond says he was busy directing films. He is excited about his current work — a film based in Sierra Leone featuring 95 per cent Sierra Leone cast. The film is working on a tentative title of My Reflections and it’s about schizophrenia in an African perspective.

Well, this is a deep theme, contrasting with most of Desmond’s on-screen image. He acts as a lover, a bad boy and other times a committed family man.

Curiously, many newspaper articles and online forums say he has appeared in more than 250 movies, an allegation that he denies. "So I have been told. I would say I have appeared in 15 films."

The soft-spoken and unassuming man has appeared in films like the Yahoo Millionaire, Magic Moment, Atlanta, True Romance and Wild Rose.

In most of his films, Desmond cuts a romantic figure in steamy love scenes. It has been reported that this has created collision in his marriage. He, however, maintains that his wife and children are his life.

"Nollywood does not define me. Those are just acting roles," he maintains.

Regardless, women are smitten by his smooth, cool and laidback aura. After the interview, some women could not resist taking a picture with him with their mobile phones. "As an actor, I cannot snob my fans. But then again, I have to be careful with my female fans."

Desmond, an Economics graduate from Lagos State University, grew up in Jos, Nigeria. He started acting in television soap operas by accident after he was denied a visa to move to the USA.

He later ventured into film in a career that has spanned 12 years. He met his wife Victoria at a church fellowship and they dated for eight years. They have four children — a set of two twins.

Desmond was in the country with another popular Nigerian film star, Patience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G. They are creating awareness on Africa Magic, which Multichoice says is now revamped to include more entertainment channels in response to the growing African market.

Desmond believes that Kenya has talented actors. During his visit, he met some, whom he encouraged to be more aggressive.

"They need to make more films and expand their distribution even if it means selling them on the streets like musicians do."

He says this is what Nollywood did and that is how they have come this far.

At the same time, Desmond acknowledges that Kenya produces quality pictures compared to Nollywood. When he met the Kenya Film Commission management, he urged them to create a conducive environment to encourage collaborations between Kenya and Nigeria.

"I have always wanted to do a film here with Kenyans, but it has proved to be expensive," he says, adding that it’s important for the Government to be involved in the film industry just like in India.

Desmond thanks Kenyans for their love of Naija films and tells Kenyan filmmakers to take heart. "Nollywood has also struggled in an unconducive environment," he concludes.