Movies
As a Nurse, I used to hate and mock actors for ‘dressing in rags’ – Mama Rainbow
Veteran Nollywood actress, Idowu Philips popularly known as Mama Rainbow, has narrated her journey from the medical profession to theatre practice which she used to detest.
In an interview with The Punch, the actress, who said she never had an interest in acting, disclosed how a visit to her late actor husband at a cinema during a stage play dragged her into the industry.
Mama Rainbow noted that she had always hated and mocked theatre practitioner for ‘dressing in rags’, but never knew she would later become one of them.
“As a matter of fact, I didn’t like theatre practitioners. Whenever I saw them, I used to wonder why they were often dressed in rags. I didn’t know that I would eventually join them. I used to hate them, but now, I pray for my husband. It is because of him that the whole world knows me today.”
Asked how she joined the industry, she narrated,
“My husband was the actor. But I started acting in 1965. My husband’s group was having a play titled, Rabiatu Dance Drama (it is because of that particular play that I was nicknamed Rabiatu).
“The play was to hold at the Glover Memorial Hall, Marina, Lagos, but the lead actress was not on the ground even after tickets had been sold. There were already so many people in the hall, and they started grumbling when the play did not start on time.
“I noticed that my husband and his managers were agitated. So, I told them that I would play the role of Rabiatu. My husband initially dismissed me, saying that I didn’t know much about their work since I only came around when I was not on duty at the hospital (I was a nurse at the time).
“However, I eventually went on stage and acted the role. They told me what I had to say, and I thank God I was able to deliver.
“The late Chief Hubert Ogunde also attended the play with three of his wives, and he was astounded when he saw me on stage. He then told my husband that he had an ‘instrument’ at home, so he shouldn’t look elsewhere. And that was basically how I started my acting career.”
Speaking on her sojourn in the industry, Mama Rainbow said the most trying moment of her career was when she was labelled as the cheapest actress in Nigeria in several newspaper reports. She said the report made her weep.
“At a time, I was even called the cheapest actress in several newspapers. However, I didn’t mind because it was from the little money I was paid that I used in training my children. Then, I was paid about N3,000 per movie. But thank God, I built a house even before those that were collecting millions.
“I cried bitterly. Then I took the newspaper to my children at home, and they consoled me,” she added.
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