Susan Peters Talks About Marriage, Piracy And More

                               

Susan Peters is one of Nollywood’s finest actresses. She has made a name for herself over the years as one of the very best the industry has produced till date. The screen goddess got married to her beau, who is Dutch in October 2015, in a private ceremony.

ENCOMIUM Weekly had a chat with her and she shared with us the joys of being married, and her opinion of the Nigerian movie industry today.

How does it feel getting married?

It is sweet and it is also sour. You tend not to do all the things you used to do because you are not single any more. It is like a check button, it is a bit different from being single.

What are those things you can no longer do?

Just normal things single ladies do. You cannot do them anymore because people will talk. So, you have to be cautious.

What has marriage changed about you?

I am just adding weight. I don’t even understand.

Are you already on a nine month course?

Why are you asking. What is your own? You will see it when it becomes bigger, so wait.

As an actress, what do you think should change about Nollywood?

Honestly, I will give Nollywood credit. Even before I joined Nollywood, we were looking up to actors that started it. As the days went by, we kept growing and now, we are no longer in it for the money but for recognition. You feel delighted when they say your movie is nominated and you actually win an award.

Even if you don’t win, the fact that you were nominated is a win for you. My movie was nominated at the AMVCA as Best Movie actress, we didn’t win but it was all good. If we had won, we would jump for joy.

So, I give Nollywood credit. There are still some lapses.

We need not cut corners so we can achieve our goals. If you have a low budget for your movie, it is better not to shoot such movie than talking on set and putting them into slavery. Get your budget, then you will get paid. Even in the Bible, a labourer should also get paid.

Will you say some producers are owing you?

Bo, they are not owing me. I have heard a lot of stories about other people who went in set and were not paid. It is totally bad. Those are the things we should check.

Will your new status influence the kind of roles you play?

No, not really. I am an actor. My husband met me in the job. He should support the job. It doesn’t change me from doing what I used to do. The only thing is, there are some other things I would not do. I will not act as a single lady. That is it. Every other thing maintains the status quo.

Will you take romantic roles or act nude?

I have never acted nude. That has been a no, no for me even before getting married. I don’t support it. I have never acted nude and will not act nude. Of course, you could take off some clothes but not totally nude. In our culture, we don’t allow that. If I try it, my mother in the village will say the village people have followed me to town.

It seems you add humour to your roles?

That means you don’t know who Susan Peters really is. I have got some sense of humour, you don’t know that. I am a happy person. I am a people’s person. I add humour to what I do.

What are you working on now?

I am doing a job with Rock Studio. Another one with Emem Isong as well.

What is your view about piracy?

That thing is a disease. They have to be looking for the cure every second but, it can’t be cured, that is the truth. Even Hollywood is affected by piracy but our own, I don’t know, they just don’t want us to make money.

What do you think can be done to reduce it?

I think a whole lot. Most people take their movies to the cinema. It is a way of preventing pirates from getting the movie on time. When it gets to cinema and it also goes online. It will take a while before it will be out there.

You must have made some money from it. As times goes on, they will find a remedy to it. It is just like stealing. It will take the grace of God for that person to stop. Except the person is caught and punished. Maybe sent to prison, such cannot stop stealing.

Piracy is affecting us, it is making the movie slow, you have to produce gradually. I am selling my own production, we do sell in bits.

What does 2016 hold for you?

It started slowly. Buhari’s economic policy is affecting everybody. We hope that the change has come to stay. We are in the third month of the year, we still have a long way to go. As time goes on, we hope things will turn around for good.

What do you want the government to do really?

They should hasten up with the promises they made to the people. It is as if the country is not moving. I know they are doing their best, but the masses are getting it really hot.