Top actress, Vivian Metchie, who made waves years back as Madam Do Good in the rested Zeb Ejiro’s celebrated soap opera, "Candle Light", actually disappeared with the soap opera. However, our Contributing Editor, IFECHI OKOH recently bumped into the huge- looking actress and quickly grabbed the golden chance to talk to her and really got enough to make an interesting reading. We started on how acting started for her, Road to the top, How she came into focus, Qualities that gave her Madam Do Good’s role, What made that character indelible in the minds of viewers, Why she had to leave the set, Burden of stardom, When I can throw stardom to the dogs, Challenges of acting. Savour this revealing close-up, which you are bound to enjoy. Welcome!

How did acting start for you, please?

It all started for me with the first role I played after leaving the University of Benin(UNIBEN). I still remember that Zeb Ejiro has just finished casting for" Candle Light" soap opera that made me when I walked into it. It happened when I came to see my cousin, Charles Okafor. When Zeb saw me, he asked who is this fine girl? He went further to ask if I can act and I said yeah. But funny enough, he didn't caste me initially. This was because I was already into one of Charles Kay's productions. As a result, I took my mind off any possible casting. But as God would have it, I bumped into Zeb Ejiro suddenly one fateful day when both of us were driving opposite ourselves, and that was it as he subsequently asked me to quickly come and pick the Madam Do Good’s script for the role. I obliged and finally came to pick up the script as agreed. That was the begining of the role that made me a celebrity. Luckily for me, I had finished Charles Kay's job which would have spoilt show for me. You understand? Good! Perhaps, that was one of the reasons that encouraged me to put in my best into making a huge success of that role to the glory of Almighty God. I must confess that till date, that role and the soap opera itself have made me to remain grateful to Zeb Ejiro till date.

Can you recall quickly remember what the road to the top was like?

I can't just talk about the road to the top without referring to fate and destiny. Honestly, it's impossible. To start with,I never dreamt of being an actress. As a child, I love to sing. Hence, I maintained that one day, I would be a singer. This believe continued for quite a length of time, even till my days in UNIBEN. But when I started to show interest in acting as a result of studying theatre arts, the deep interest in music started to wane gradually and fading away too, until it finally did. From that moment, any opportunity to act I usually put in my best and as a result, and excelled. Hence, Charles Kay's production and "Candle Light" were like a walk over for me. I must confess that apart from being interested and desirous to act, I had this youthfulness, good looks, carriage and natural boldness on set. All really came into play to work seriously for me, as an actress. The producers and directors saw these in me and capitalised on them too. The golden chances as it were threw themselves on me and I grabbed them and made good use of them outrightly well. I love my private life a lot, hence I am careful of what I say in the public and do also. But unfortunately, the movie industry has tempered with this as a result of my celebrity status.

Can we have a roll call of those God used to pull you up, please?

Zeb Ejiro was the first person. Others are Fred Amata, Ruke Amata and couple of other caring and blessed producers and directors whom God used to do his wonders.

Can you remember how you came into focus?

It was "Candle Light" in which I played the unforgettable role of Madam Do Good" that actually shot me into focus. Till tomorrow, soap opera lovers and followers see it as a classic, and for real, it is any time, anyday. One very funny and interesting thing about "Candle Light", is that despite the soap opera being shot many years ago, people still remember it with passion. It is quite interesting because for now, a lot of us in that production are simply super and mega stars.

What really made your character incredible and indelible in the memory of viewers till date?

Although I was not the one initially slated for that role, however, I strongly believe that the creator and producer, Zeb Ejiro must have seen the more convincing traits he wanted in me, forcing him to root for me inevitably. Hence he casted me convincingly for that role. Thank God that I didn't let him down at the end of the day as I actually lived up to his professional bidding against all odds thereby bringing his fantastic creation to bear on the production as expected.

Why did you have to leave the set?

Like anything that has a beginning, which must have an end, the soap opera had to come to an end inevitably. Interestingly, I stayed till that moment against all the challenges that may have come with the productions. Hence I am still thanking God who helped me to make it to the end and leaving with other members of the caste. When I left, it afforded me the golden chance to be with my family as a wife and committed mother. It really forced me to become more involved in married and domestic life and living as expected. Naturally, it was quite a big challenge to blend easily domestic life with acting. Hence I have been pitiably off the acting business for a long time.

Can you let us into the challenges of fame?

There is no doubt that fame is sweet and enjoyable most times. Just as one enjoys its sweetness, so also one could be tempted to detest it and inevitably shun It at a point or another. As a celebrity, you get instant attention anywhere you go. In fact, such will no longer be sweet and enjoyable me immediately the public eyes and media start making your business theirs by prying into your private matters as a celebrity. This is so, because that nonsense would obviously start to make you feel no longer at ease as a resort. As a result, I can't jump my danfo and eat my Amala again quietly as usual. Imagine! I don't like this kind of unwritten restriction of movement. You know now! Fame has actually wrestled my freedom of being my self when I really need to relax and enjoy my freedom as a Nigerian citizen.

When can you fling stardom to the dogs?

I can do this when some male fans become naughty publicly by misbehaving for the fun of it. Specifically, I mean holding me by the waist publicly in the name of being a fan. At such a time, I will fling stardom to the dogs, reprimanding him with unprintable words. That's it! I strongly believe that my sharp reaction will bring him back fast to his senses. I meant it!

What are the challenges of acting?

Initially when I started, it was not that all challenging. But along the way, it became so, when I got married, forcing me to take an inevitable break. When these challenges got to its height, it affected my marriage and pitiably led to its break -up. We had been contending with so many irreconcilable differences, so it was understandle. Interestingly, after some time of our clash, we came back, became more understanding and friends as a result. He now takes complete responsibility of the children.infact, he has been a gentleman since then.

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