Jaiye Kuti is a woman of many parts. She is an actress, producer, businesswoman and the Chief Executive Officer of Jaylex Aesthetic Productions, a company which specialises in film, video and television productions. The sultry actress explains the secret of her success both at the home front and the make-believe world despite the peculiarities of her chosen career.
When did you start acting?
I have been acting for decades. I was born with the talent but I didn’t venture into it early because I was not sure of myself and I didn’t want to lose my office job as a Personal Assistant, but in 2002,I followed my dreams and started acting professionally.
What was your first appearance on set, soap or a movie?
It was a comedy soap opera. I was invited for an audition by my younger brother’s friend who I had earlier told I wanted to go into acting fully. I got the job for a 15 episode soaps “Laff Patterns” . From there I took on to soaps like Everyday People, One Love, Face To Face, Spiders and many others.
Has your husband ever been intimidated by other men because of you?
My husband can never be intimidated by any man. I happen to marry a good man who knows and understands his wife passionately. He gives me what makes him my husband. H plays his fatherly role to the children, no man can stand up to my man in any way.
How do you think your husband feels when doing sexual roles?
My husband is not bothered. My husband is even of the opinion that Nollywood is not doing well enough. There was a time he told me “I wish you were much younger, I would have taught you how to make better romantic scenes”. I have never done a tongue to tongue kissing with any actor and I am not saying my husband encourages that too. But he is saying I can be more romantic even in my looks or touch while acting.
Are you saying your marriage is preventing you from some roles?
No, but I can never have a wet kiss with another man.. I really don’t know how my husband will feel but I will rather drop that job than kiss another man, tongue to tongue. There are some actors you dare not put your mouth into theirs. Not Jaiye Kuti.
How do you see the injection of sex scenes into our films?
Sex is everywhere. And there are stories that would not be well told if there are no sex scenes and Nollywood is trying its best to censor our films.
Why do we always have sex scandals in Nollywood?
It is not peculiar to Nollywood. Every occupation has sex scandal, it is only popular in Nollywood because everybody is interested in us. I am not supporting promiscuity. I have never dated anybody in the industry and I have no godfather. But sex is everywhere. We do films that teaches family values and condemn abnormal sexuality.
What has been your worst location experience?
It was a time when I got to a location and sat throughout the day because nothing was in place and after wasting my day, I had to sleep in my car because there was no provision for where I would sleep. Some had to sleep at the bar. I think they had financial problem because many things went wrong in that location. Since then I take extra money with me when going on locations.
