Ace Nigerian actor, Kate Henshaw-Nuttal has spent approximately 17 years in the film industry. With her featuring in the recently concluded stage drama,Vagina Monologues, in a Yoruba film titled Etiketa and several endorsements from Globacom, Onga and Golden Link for the prevention of cervical cancer. Henshaw-Nuttal bares her mind to Femi Morgan on the gender issues in the film industry.
Q :What has changed in the movie industry when it comes to your days as a
younger actor and these present young actors?
A whole lot has changed in the movie industry and I can only speak from my own perspective..
Back then, the stories were a lot more thought out. We had rehearsals and all the cast knew each other before we started filming and this created a kind of togetherness and it went a long way in holding the production together so to speak. There was mutual respect for everyone's talent and what each person (be it cast or crew) in the production was bringing to the table. Despite the very low remunerations then, I was quite excited whenever I was on location filming and hanging out with fellow actors, I learnt a lot from different people.. Today, this is not the case..Scripts are handed to actors on the set and then costume change and then action!! Decorum and mutual respect has been thrown out the window...Lateness to work, unseriousness and lackadaisical attitudes rule...
Q: What do you think is the general perception of women in the movie
industry? What is your own response to it?
The general perception of women in the industry is not wholesome, not good at all...Most people see women in the industry as near-do-wells, as prostitutes, as cheap and dirty.
My response is, as you make your bed, so shall you lie on it.. I will be hard pressed to count 10 films in the present day Nigerian films that have brought out the industrious, selfless and courageous nature of women.. It is either she is childless, a mistress, a sex worker or just cannot do anything to uplift herself even when given the necessary tools..
My response is, if we as female actors keep accepting these roles that do not show in a good light then we only have ourselves to blame. We have strong female presence in the industry e.g. Joke Silva, Amaka Igwe, Ego Boyo, Ebere Okaro, Pat Oghre, Sola Sobowale to mention a few. There are also good female script writers who, in my opinion, are as good as their male counterparts . Last month the Women Development Fund had a seminar tagged" WOMEN IN FILM FORUM" in conjunction with Lufodo Productions(an outfit run by Joke and Olu Jacobs) to discuss and tackle these same issues you ask me now... I was however unable to attend.. In Nigeria as a country where women are not respected unless you fight tooth and nail to assert yourself, we need films that will show us in a good light, that will encourage women in difficult situations to raise their head from the ground..
Q:What is your perception of younger and famous female actors?
Hmmmmm....(just had to sigh). My perception of the younger and female actors is one of disappointment, anger and frustration. They could be so much better, much more focused and dedicated to their craft. It’s not about what u wear, it’s about what is up there (your brain)! Yes, you may be beautiful but by the time you expose every inch of yourself, cannot string two sentences together, no one will want to know what your brain contains and can do, no one will see you as intelligent, nothing more than a trophy.. They need to bring good upbringing, good moral, intelligence and professionalism to bear on their talent and craft.
Q: There has been a lot of bad news hovering around younger and famous
actors, most especially in their conducts, their associations and their
emotional relationships; do you feel that this is detrimental to the
profession and the upcoming ones?
The bad press that the younger female actors get with regards to their conduct, associations and relationships is definitely detrimental to the profession and younger upcoming ones. The guys can get bad press but they are men and in our society, men and women are viewed differently. The men are hailed for bad behaviour and the women are seen as loose and of questionable character for the same offence..It does not leave a good precedence and it leaves a bad taste in the mouth..
Some of the younger upcoming ones might view this as the norm and the only way to get ahead in the industry.. Notoriety like I say can go either way, it’s either for good or for bad.
Q:Have women been able to give men a run for their money in the movie
industry? In order words are they in equal competition in both
technical, monetary, professional, accolades, endorsements, etc, or do you
think they have outstripped them?
Women i believe have been able to give the men in the industry a run for their money in terms of technical ability, monetary, professionalism, accolades and endorsement opportunities. For every Ramsey Nouah, good in his craft, is a Joke Silva, Rita Dominic and Dakore Egbuson. For a Tunde Kelani,is an Amaka Igwe. We still need to step up our game however..
Q:Compared to that of men?
It was not like this in the past.. the men held sway in most areas of the industry but time are changing and I hope and believe for a stronger and brighter future for the women..
Q:Do you feel the press tell untrue and embarrassing stories about female
actors?
Oh definitely, the press tell untrue, unflattering and embarrassing stories about the female actors compared to the male actors..It’s always screaming headlines of the women caught in some disorderly conduct, fights etc. Of course, the story of a woman supposedly caught in the act, bare bodied and all will sell faster and is more lucrative than that of a man. I have had cause to involve the police in a very untrue story about me published by a soft sell magazine in the past and I felt I needed to do this to prove that I had had enough of the slander! There was also the Anita Hogan saga, where the poor girl was being blackmailed for having her personal photos on her laptop by unscrupulous people. I am glad she was able to come through it.
Q:Do you feel that marginalised and stereotypical roles that present women
in bad light has contributed to the way the general public sees them?
Stereotypical roles that show/see women in a bad light has had an adverse effect on the way the public sees them..Movies and visual images have a strong effect on the mind and as such when you are constantly portrayed as a man eater, an exam cheat, a home breaker, a dubious woman etc, the public tends to believe it. I have had few occasions where I was accosted by women in different spheres of other professional work and life who have complained about the continual uninspiring portrayal of their fellow women in films..Many a parent has refused their son to get married to an actress because they feel she is in person similar to the roles she plays.... Like I said earlier, as you make your bed, so shall you lie on it..
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