Moses Armstrong, an Akwa Ibom State-born-actor and singer made a debut into Nigeria movie industry in 1999. Having appeared in a couple of films, he is very happy about the movie industry, which according to him is a good one.
He believes that in the shortest possible time that he is going to blow up and become a superstar.
He doesn’t like talking about his educational background because here in Nigeria, a lot of people had lied about their educational background, so he does not want his own to look like a Toronto thing but he says he read Catering and Hotel Management in Sunwa University, Seoul, South Korea.
Starting up
I attend auditions like every other person. I struggle for roles and obtain them by merit. I have never gone begging for any role nor has anybody given me any role on the basis that I am the producer’s friend. I was given a sublead by Ifeanyi Ikpoenyi in a movie titled Bodyguard which was my debut that really pronounced and that I am grateful to God that I performed so well that the director commended me that it was that it was a good performance which I should keep up.
Best role done
I see all my roles as challenging and it has spurred me to a greater height. I always put in my best and ensure that it comes out very well. Recently I played a significant role in Ajiko Forest where I played the role of a rich chief, while Zack Orji played another role. In the movie, I sponsored him to become the governor of the state with three billion naira, and with my status in the film, I abducted Zack Orji, making the role to be very challenging. I am grateful to God that even the marketer commended me. By saying Armstrong, you carry this role wear for body like cloth, so he was very happy for my performance. The marketer had to say that I did it from a different angle from the script.
What inspires him?
I would say that in the movie industry, one has to be him or her and what ever the individual does, it has to be done well. My inspiration is my unique role because I believe that as an individual, I look forward to see how I could affect people’s lives positively.
Relationship with directors
It is sound but there are some directors who would want to make me feel bad, by pushing me around but there is no particular type of director that I cannot work with. There was a time that I was working with Dickson Iroegbu, and he told him that whenever I come for his auditions, though I might not given any role, he told me that probably it was not yet my time to work with him. He called me one day and said that why he likes me is because although I come for his auditions and yet I was not chosen yet I don’t take it personal that if it was some other actors, they would take it personal by not greeting the director again but I don’t do that rather I would still greet him.
Sourcing for role
Some directors know that I could play any role, so they give him me opportunity to feature in their films. Some of which includes Bodyguard, where I played the sub lead, in a movie-titled trap I played a major role. In Soldier boy, I played a sublead role, in the investigator, I played a sublead and in other films.
Role model
I like Albert Shino because he acts very natural, Emeka Ike, because he acts like a Nigerian because he is very natural, he does not speak in a foreign accent unless the movie warrants him to do so. I was opportune to feature in a film with Emeka Ike, in Soldier boy where I played the sub-role, I had learnt a lot from him.
Why not comedy?
Many people have seen me as a comedian that some directors are telling me to go into comedy, that when I do that, I would make it fast but I don’t want to be stereotyped rather I want to make an impact first before venturing into comedy, I want people to see me as a close-by actor and call me to feature in other roles rather than stereotyping me as a comedian.
Challenges
There are challenges but I know what I am doing. When I am given a role, I know that I have to do it well. There are times that I have to work very hard during an audition, believing that I would be given a role but at the end of the day because of bias or because somebody has a brother there, so I have to loose that role, which is very painful, disappointing and discouraging but I don’t seem to be discouraged. Another challenge that I had faced is consistency, which is not easy.
Best movie acted
I had always done well in all my movies but I would particularly say that Soldier boy and Ajiko Forest. Although I had been acting but I had realized what it takes to be an actor, which is all about delivery and expression, which I implemented in Soldier Boy, which the director really appreciated.
Happiest moment
I am not being funny, anytime that I wash my dirty clothes, I feel very happy because, I don’t like people to wash my clothes not even my girlfriend, nor the drycleaners and not even my wife because I wear the clothes and I know where it is dirty. Or my happiest moment could also be when I am on set.
Challenges of managing stardom
It is not easy right now because I do not have a car, I have to enter a bus, then sometimes I would stand at the bus stop and wait, it is not that I don’t want to enter buses but I have enter a clean one and where I would always sit in front. Every single person on the street knows me and I don’t know most of them and they would say, look at that actor jumping into a bus, so most of the time I have to take an Okada sometimes even without enough money but just to be comfortable. At times when I do not have much money on me I have to go to a canteen to eat, there was a particular Sunday morning, that I went to eat there but the canteen where I usually eat was not opened, so I had to go to another canteen to eat, so while I was eating beans and bread, I met two ladies there, they were stunned that they stopped eating their foods but were watching me, wondering why I should come to eat there, they were happy and they thought that I would pose but I did not. They liked me for that, after we had all finished eating, I paid their bills and they became friends.
Even while walking on the streets, people would call me and I have to answer them so as not to offend or embarrass them, which makes me to be extra courteous and careful.
Worth as an actor
I don’t want to say it, it is best known to me but I am aiming at one-million naira mark.
Social life
I like making friends most especially ladies because they give to me the other side of life. I don’t like guys because they are envious of me by gossiping about me. I have had some ugly sides with guys, which has made me to keep them at bay. I also spend my time watching Nigerian movies because each movie that I watch, I learn something new about the culture of Nigerians.
How I realize my roles
There is no role that I cannot act as an actor, I act any role that I am given and I do it well, as far as it is good and it portrays my character and my ability.
Acting negative roles
I act any role as long as I am paid for it and as long as the Nigerian Censors Board allows and approves it then I would act that role. If a director wants me to act naked and it is allowed and am paid for it then why not!
Best kind of costumes
I like suites because I like being corporate and when people see me they would appreciate me for my dressing.
Four years ago, 32-year-old Moses Armstrong met 16-year-old Senorita Jeremiah, and fell head over hills in love with her in what sounds like a script out of Nollywood.
In this interview, Moses tells us that they have decided to declare their love openly.
Moses’ Version
I met my love, Senorita, at an audition four years ago. She was formally a dancer but now an actress. She was 16 then, beautiful and well behaved. We started dating and I found out that I was the first man in her life. She is so respectful and she loves me very much.
What She Means to Him
Senorita is my wife to be. She is everything a woman should be and I can’t trade her for any other woman. I know some women would be heartbroken but we are getting married very soon. If you see her tell her that I love her.
Why He Loves Her.
She is faithful to me. During our courtship, I have observed that she has eyes for me alone. She is the kind of person that you can leave in the house and travel, four mouths, five, and when you come back, she is still faithful. I have searched for her kind of person for so long and now that I have found her, I’m so glad.
On the Age Difference.
Senorita is mature for her age. Her mum is dead and she is the one taking care of her siblings, she tells them what to do. She has done that for a year.
Senorita Jeremiah’s Version
I’m 20 years this year and I hail from Akwa Ibom State. I Attended Bishop Oluwole Memoral Primary School, Agege, Our Lady of Apostle Secondary School Ijebu Ode, and currently I’m battling with JAMB (university matriculation examinations). I’m a trained nurse but I’m also a dancer. I’ve acted in some Akwa Ibom indigenous films like Nsuto Awaan, Se Owo To, Atama, Ekemini and others. I have also featured in some Nollywood films like Forgive Me, Little Patient, Mental Case and Reggae Angel.
I started my acting career four years ago with indigenous films from Akwa Ibom, which was where I met Moses Armstrong. My first film Nsuto Awaan was produced by him. We have been dating for four years now. He was my first boyfriend. I don’t see him as an actor, and he doesn’t see me as an actress either.
What He Means to Her
This is the man I respect so much; he’s like my father, my mother, my brother, my sister. He is everything to me and I love him so much.
Why She Loves Him
Since I lost my mum, he has always been there. He is always encouraging me, he’ll tell me not to go the wrong way, which is why I say that he’s my mum. There has never been a sad moment with Moses, every moment is fun and he makes me happy.
On the Age Difference
When you love someone, age does not matter. I love him so much and he loves me back so age is nothing to me. It’s just like counting one, two, three.
Aspiration
If I have my way, I will keep on dancing because I love dancing so much, and Moses loves dancing too. But I’ll keep it for my children. Right now I want to face my career, though I think I’ll go back to nursing very soon.
On the Marriage Plans
Yes, we will be getting married very soon and we have fixed the date for early next year. I don’t really want a big wedding that is if I can avoid it. (Laughs) Shan George has said she’d be getting me my wedding dress.
culled from Saturday independent
Films and their lessons
In Alike forest, it is about an agreement, before an individual goes into an agreement he has to read and know the terms of agreement before going into such agreement while in Soldier boy, it is not good for an individual to be jealous and greedy which eventually leads to death.
Filmography
Bye Bye Poverty, Ajiko Forest, Come In Peace, Bank Manager, Immoral Act, Last Contact, etc