|
 Tonto Dike
is from
Ekwere, Port
Harcourt,
Rivers
state. I am
from a
family of
seven, my
father is
still alive,
my mum is
late but I
have a
wonderful
step mum. In
general, I
will sum it
up to say
that Tonto
Dike is a
young girl
who strives
hard to
succeed and
makes the
best out of
life.
Born on June
9… this year
I will be 23
years, I am
still in
school,
University
of Science
and
Technology,
Port
Harcourt,
specifically,
studying
petro-chemical
engineering
and in my
final year.
Growing up
Growing up
was
wonderful
because I
had
everything I
wanted and
wasn’t
deprived of
anything. My
father was
well to do
so he did
everything
possible for
me. I went
to the best
schools in
my state, I
graduated
with good
results from
my primary
and
secondary
school and I
think I will
graduate
with the
best result
after my
degree
results are
out.
I have had
parental
love, care,
family ties
while
growing up.
It’s been
love all the
way.
The only
thing that I
didn’t
appreciate
while
growing up
was the fact
that I could
not mix with
my peer
group, which
is the
reason why I
can’t speak
my dialect
and that is
a very
shameful
thing.
Another was
growing up
without my
mother. She
died when I
was three
years old,
so I
practically
didn’t know
her, but it
was a joy to
know that I
had someone
who I could
say replaced
her.
Entrance
into
Nollywood
I got into
the industry
after I left
the reality
T.V show
"The next
movie
star"2005
where I was
first runner
up, the year
Kingsley
Ogboso won,
and from
there, I
started
looking for
contacts and
fortunately
for me, a
lot of
people saw
my talent.
I got
involved in
the reality
show first
because I
saw it as a
way of
getting
close to the
industry, a
starting
point. I had
hoped that
from it I
would move
into the
industry and
it happened.
Challenges
Sincerely, I
don’t think
I have had
to go
through any
challenge.
This is
because I
don’t see
them as
challenges;
I am a very
prayerful
person. I
believe so
much in God
and it seems
like
everything
just falls
at my feet.
Anything I
want just
falls at my
feet. I
can’t say I
have had to
go through
challenges
since I got
into the
industry.
Big break
The only
thing I can
say in this
regard is
that once
you are
good, you
are good.
You don’t
need to wait
for the
movie to be
wow! Even if
it is
something
that is not
very
glamorous,
just play
two or three
scenes,
making sure
that your
potentials
show. That
is what has
worked for
me, so I
can’t really
say this or
that is the
movie that
was a break
for me.
Right from
my second
movie I was
already
playing a
lead role.
Perhaps I
should say
my first
movie, but
it came out
last year so
I will say
my second
movie. The
movie was
Holy Cross
that I did
with Nonso
Diobi, Uncle
Pete Edochie,
Jim Iyke,
producers;
directors
after
watching it
wanted to
use me on
their own
films. Right
from my
second movie
people
started to
look out for
me.
Nollywood
I see the
industry as
a fruitful
one, which
can yield
more fruits
in the
future. All
we need is
hard work,
perseverance,
prayer. The
industry is
like a
newborn baby
that has to
be nurtured
and well
taken care
of. I still
think that
we really
need to work
hard because
we are way
backward.
Though we
may be doing
okay, I
still think
we can do
better.
Relationship
I am in a
relationship,
which I am
very proud
of it. He is
okay for me.
I took what
God gave me,
and
remember, I
said God
gives me
anything
that I
desire. As
for how he
feels when I
am on set
with all the
kissing and
hugging,
I’ll tell
you
something:
When I say
that I took
what God
gave me, I
meant that
He gave me a
package in a
man, all I
want in life
He gave to
me in one
person.
He gave me
endurance,
patience,
love and one
who
understands.
He really
understands,
so I don’t
have a
problem with
my handling
of roles. He
might not be
okay with
the roles
all the
while, but
he still
prays for me
and hopes
for a better
future for
me because
he knows I
love my job.
Sex for
roles
I have never
come across
that in the
industry and
as I said,
God has
favored me
so much that
I didn’t
need to beg
people nor
sleep with
anybody
before I got
into movies.
Music with
Patience
Ozorkwor
First of
all, the
music is
owned by
Amaco
Investments;
Charles,
Patience and
I were just
called to
mime it. I
had fun
being in the
video and I
didn’t know
it was going
to be this
big as
everybody is
talking
about it. I
have no
plans
whatsoever
to get into
music.
You and
Nonso Diobi
I love Nonso
Diobi so
much because
he is a
friend and
brother. He
is someone I
can talk to
when I have
a problem.
He is like
someone who
is there for
you. Beside
that, there
is nothing
else between
us. We are
just
platonic
friends.
First day on
set
I was very
scared. I
was shy. I
didn’t know
what to
think or
expect until
the lights
came on,
then I knew
that this
was serious
business.
But I had
people like
Uncle Pete
Edochie,
Nonso Diobi,
Desmond
Elliot,
Nkiru
Sylvanus,
and Uncle
Larry
Coldsweat.
They kept
saying ‘you
can do it’
and I did
it.
What you
can’t wear
I will not
be caught in
a long skirt
because I
hate it. I
also can’t
wear Iro and
Buba, it’s
fashion for
the older
women. I am
still very
young and I
need to feel
free in my
body.
You can’t
catch me
being very
religious in
my dressing,
I love to
dress the
way I love
to dress.
As for what
I can’t
leave my
house
without,
that would
be a purse
because I
need to put
things
inside it.
Beauty
routine
I wake up in
the morning,
use a facial
scrub, then
use a very
good soap
and cream -
Makari
specifically,
and that’s
all for the
day till
evening. I
actually
take a
shower like
two three
times a day,
which helps
polish my
skin. Aside
that, when I
have the
time I go to
the spa.
Sexy part of
her
I give that
to my lips.
I love them
and people
have told me
that they
love them
too.
Talking
about what
people don’t
know about
me, a lot of
people don’t
know that I
am very
nice, a
wonderful
and serious
minded
person.
Coping with
school and
acting
I am in my
final year
now, and
this year, I
have decided
that I must
spend almost
all of it in
school doing
school work.
Though I
will still
be on set, I
hope to be
in school
more. I will
work it out,
I don’t have
a plan yet,
but I will
be able to
be in school
more often
than I used
to.
Blunt nature
Indeed, I am
very blunt.
A lot of
people say
that I am
really
dogged and
that is what
I love about
myself. I
say it as it
is.
Sometimes
when you
refrain from
saying
things the
way it is,
you hurt a
lot of
people and
sometimes
when you
tell it as
it is,
people think
you are
hurting them
but that is
not the case
as you are
only trying
to save a
lot of
people the
stress. So,
yes, I am a
very blunt
and down to
earth
person.
Philosophy
of life
I have a lot
of them but
I will share
one, if you
have your
eyes on
something,
on a
particular
level in
life when
you get to
that level,
always know
that there
are so many
other levels
left to
climb. Try
to be on
top, even
when you are
on top, try
to be on top
the top.
Artiste
admired
Back home, I
only admire
two females
- Aunty Joke
Sylvia and
Rita
Dominic. Why
Rita? It’s
because when
I want to
recount how
my interest
in the
movies
started, her
name will be
mentioned as
she inspired
me a lot.
And for
Aunty Joke,
she is a
wonderful
person, she
is joy to
me, I watch
her and I
feel alive
and want to
do more than
she has
done.
Internationally,
I love Al
Paccino and
Julia
Roberts,
they are
inspiration
to me.
In five
years
I really
have faith
and hope
that I will
be better
than I am
now. I am
not striving
to end in
Nollywood, I
intend to
get into
Hollywood, I
don’t know
how I will
do that but
I know that
God will
make a way
for me.
A word to
fans
I say thank
to all of
you. I
really
appreciate
your love
shown in
your buying
my movies,
watching
them and
appreciating
me. I wake
up each day
knowing that
without you
in my life,
there will
be no full
Tonto. I
love you all
Filmography
Missing Rib,
Last Mission,
Secret
Mission,
Rush Hour,
Final Hour,
Fatal
Mistake,
Family
Disgrace,
Plain Truth,
Miss
Maradonna,
Divine Grace,
Tea or
Coffee,
7 Graves,
Crisis In
Paradise,
Insecurity,
Mortal
Desire,
etc. |
