Sharon Ooja talks weight loss, nursing sprained ankle on the set of Netflix's Oloture [Pulse Interview]

The nation is so synonymous with the illicit commerce that some areas are described because the capital of human trafficking.

When Netflix introduced in September 2020, that it was going to star Sharon Ooja as its lead character within the film ‘Oloture’ which exposes the damaging and brutal underworld of human trafficking, critics and lovers of Nollywood could not wait to see the crime drama.

We spoke to the actress about her position in some of the talked-about motion pictures in Nigeria. The primary query was her response when she was given the script for the film

“My first response once I acquired the script was shock as a result of it was a really very deep story however I feel I used to be barely shocked however I felt prefer it was such an necessary story that needed to be advised and for me, as an actor, it was a problem so I used to be comfortable to be a part of such a mission. I used to be comfortable concerning the script,” she mentioned.

Making ready for a job as an undercover journalist in a criminal offense world is not one we get to see in Nollywood on daily basis. For Ooja, it took her lots of analysis into the world of human trafficking and prostitution.

“Okay, It took quite a bit for me to organize for this character. I cant relate with the character in any approach as a result of I’m naturally a bobbling individual whereas she is a strong-willed, strong-headed, extraordinarily impulsive…I needed to watch lots of YouTube movies, googled lots of women who’ve been trafficked,” she mentioned.

“One particularly struck me. There was one about this Edo woman who had gone to Dubai. She had promised her madam about $20okay – $50okay and she or he could not pay. As a result of she could not pay, her madam stripped her bare, recorded her, and posted it on Fb and it went viral. And it was simply disheartening. I keep in mind watching that video and felt like crying. Issues like that ready me for this character.”

“When it comes to weight reduction, I misplaced about 3kg for the film. After I first acquired on set, I used to be about 65kg. I used to be extraordinarily properly fed however I nonetheless misplaced lots of weight as a result of I do not do properly with emotional stress and the character was emotionally draining. I had a badly sprained ankle to be sincere (laughs) I sprained my ankle and it harm for nearly a full 12 months. Nevertheless it was price it, to be sincere.”

Ooja says she auditioned for the Oloture position six occasions. In response to her, she initially did not get the memo about how you can gown for the auditions. Nonetheless, regardless of the little hurdle she went on to nail the character.

“For the auditions for this film, I used to be auditioned for about 6 occasions. I’ve mentioned it earlier than that I did not get the memo once I was referred to as by way of electronic mail. I used to be presupposed to not put on make-up and have my pure out however the different women acquired the memo. Probably the most difficult half was once I stored getting referred to as again for auditions,” she mentioned.

“I did not perceive that I had already been picked so I used to be getting fearful that why are they all the time calling me again, is it that I’m not doing properly however apparently that they had picked me already however they stored calling me as a result of they needed to do a chemistry take a look at with different solid members.”

“Initially, after they picked me, the identify of the film was one other identify they usually referred to as me to ask what tribe I used to be and I advised them I used to be Idoma and I heard that they had modified the character’s identify to Idoma as a result of they needed me to play an Idoma woman. I used to be so comfortable once I heard that.”

The actress gave extra perception into the challenges she confronted whereas attempting to excellent her position within the film, Oloture.

“One other difficult factor concerning the film was that, you realize once you examine folks which have been raped, you solely really feel pity and disappointment however as a result of you have not skilled it then you do not perceive the gravity of what they went by means of and the feelings they should have confronted,” she mentioned.

“Moving into character. I feel as a result of I had already gotten into character, filming the rape since was so loopy for me emotionally as a result of I used to be like wow so that is what somebody who’s being raped goes by means of? Being pressured in opposition to their very own will. Simply appearing it made me really feel so down. These have been the difficult components for me.”

Ooja mentioned that the film allowed her to indicate the opposite aspect of her appearing profession. In response to her, it was an opportunity to do one thing completely different from the stereotype ‘child woman’ roles she has develop into well-known for.

“It was one thing I used to be comfortable to do. I used to be comfortable to go away my consolation zone. I used to be comfortable to interrupt my stereotype as a result of if I have to say, as an actor you do not wish to be identified for just one factor. You wish to be identified for versatility, you wish to be identified for depth. I feel by God’s grace this character was in a position to break my stereotype and assist folks see that I can do different issues aside from the traditional child woman roles. It’s one thing I would like to do once more,” she mentioned.

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