Emmanuella Mensah isn’t exactly a household name in Nigeria, but one to reckon with in Ghana, where she plies her trade. She was recently in Nigeria to shoot a film where she met our reporter.
Her journey into the make-believe world started in 2008 and in a space of five years the sexy Thespian has had more than 30 movies in her kitty.
In this chat with WG, she talks about herself and what makes her tick.
Tell us about yourself?
I’m Emmanuella Mensah (Ella Mensah), a Ghanaian actress based in South Africa and Ghana. I’m doing some movie shooting right now in Nigeria. I came here for the first time on October 1st last year, and since then, I have about 30 movies. I’ve been here for a year, but I come and go. So far, I’m loving it.
How did you start acting?
I started acting in a very funny way. I was doing my media attachment in a TV station in Ghana called Metro TV and a colleague of mine told me she was going for a movie audition, so I went with her. One of the producers asked me to join in the auditioning. I just tried it and I was given one scene, my first movie ever ‘ Crime to Fight’ featuring Majid Michel and Nadia Buhari.
Prostitute was my role in the movie. I was in the industry for six months while doing my attachment, then I left Ghana for South Africa. When I came back to Ghana, I shot a movie with a Nigerian director featuring me and Van Vicker. Afterwards, the director called me and told me, “I have a job for you In Nigeria”, That was how I came here and the rest is history.
DON’T MISS: Afia Schwar explains madness in new fashion
What has the experience been like?
So far, so good. A lot of challenges here and there. When I came back , I had a baby. As a mum, I was a bit fat and it was difficult to get some roles. I had to work on myself, I stopped breastfeeding and all those motherhood things. It took me a year to come back after that three-year break. Now I love every minute of it. It’s like I’m living my dream. This is all I wanted and it’s perfect for me.
Can you name some of the movies you’ve featured in?
Being here in Nigeria for a year, I have about 30 movies. So far, 14 of them are out. Some of them are: Dirty Marriage, Treated like a Lady, Alingo Babes, Kukere Babes, My Private Part, Witches in Okoko, Blood and Tears and so on.
Are your parents supportive?
My mum has been there for me. She loves what I do and she’s so proud of me. My dad wanted me to still be a journalist. It was his idea from the beginning. He wasn’t initially in support of my acting career, but he’s coming around now.
You actually studied journalism?
I started as a broadcast journalist. I studied Mass Communication and Media Science at the University of Ghana, Accra.
Don’t Miss: These photos of Roselyn Ngissah will make you go wild
What’s your opinion on the break-up of celebrity marriages?
Some of these marriages weren’t based on love in the first place. It’s good you get married to someone who knows you so well as to overlook some of those things you do on screen. Someone who knows that no matter how much another man kisses and touches you, you’ll still come back to him. It’s good you marry someone who loves you for who you are, not because you’re famous. She said: I don’t want to get married and divorce and grew up with a single mum, it wasn’t fun. I was happy, but I think I would have been much happier if my dad was there.
In marriage, communication and understanding is very important. Let me take myself for example, I’m dating a businessman, he’s not a celebrity. When I’m with him, I’m Ella – his woman. I don’t behave like Ella – the actress who has a manager, a personal assistant, a costumier, a make-up artist and all the pampering. We tend to be overspoilt sometimes with people at our beck and call doing things for us. When I’m with him, I’m with him as Ella. If he wants me to cook for him, I cook for him; If he wants me to sweep the room, I will. We sometimes forget that when it comes to a man and woman relationship, a woman still has to be submissive. My mum always chips this in my head, because sometimes I forget.
Would you act nude for any reason?
No, I don’t see why I should. Fine, I don’t mind showing certain parts of my body, especially when playing a seductive role. I can wear a bum short or maybe a net top. But I’ll never go nude, not even for ten million dollars! What’s the essence?
