I Think Guys Love Me More – Nadia Buari

Nadia Buari (pix: Sola Osofisan)

Actress Nadia Buari is one of the trail-blazing faces taking the emerging video movie industry in Ghana to the next level. She is featured in titles like Beyonce, The President’s Daughter, Mummy’s Daughter and Darkness of Sorrow. She spoke with Sola Osofisan of Www.naijarules.com and NollywoodNOW! in New York.

www.naijarules.com : I have not come across any interview granted by you online or in print. Do you grant interviews?

NADIA BUARI: Yeah, I do, but rarely. I have probably granted two or three interviews back home (Ghana), but its rarely. It’s not like I don’t grant interviews, but people don’t find me that approachable, I guess.

www.naijarules.com : What do you mean by people don’t find you “approachable”?

NADIA BUARI: A lot of people have their own perceptions about me, like I’m very stuck up, so full of myself, you know. But it’s not true. I guess because… (SHE BURSTS INTO LAUGHTER) I’m sorry.

www.naijarules.com : That’s alright. You’re allowed to laugh.
(GENERAL LAUGHTER)

NADIA BUARI: I guess it’s because …For me it’s all about work, family, and that’s just about it. And school. You don’t really see me out there. That’s how come they feel like I’m not sociable. I mean that’s what I hear.

www.naijarules.com : Okay, what makes people approachable? I see a bunch of photos online, you go to functions, you interact with fans… I’ve seen photos.

NADIA BUARI: You’ve seen photos of me?

www.naijarules.com : Yes, of you.

NADIA BUARI: Really?

www.naijarules.com : Yes. On Ghanasentertainment, Ghana music…

NADIA BUARI: Yeah, I do attend these events, but at the end of the day, I just have a good time and go back home. That’s why I’m really surprised that you see me hanging out with people. I do attend these events but I don’t get to be interviewed. It’s just something that they perceive of me… that I’m not approachable.

www.naijarules.com : Is it that they try and don’t get the interviews?

NADIA BUARI: They don’t try. They just probably assume. I guess its just assumption. But the few that have tried, I have granted them interviews.

www.naijarules.com : You have probably done a few TV interviews…

NADIA BUARI: Yeah, I have. When my first movie, Mummy’s Daughter, was out, I spoke about that movie. And the other (TV) interview I granted was about this other movie I shot in Nigeria. There’s just two TV interviews that I’ve done.

www.naijarules.com : I bet you don’t know the title of the movie you shot in Nigeria.

NADIA BUARI: I do know, but I can’t really say now because we always work with a “working title” and then they change it, so that I would probably say that I shot this movie called “Envy” but it would not be “Envy”.

www.naijarules.com : I said that because I know the way they work in Nigeria. You never have a permanent title until the thing comes out.

NADIA BUARI: Its not just in Nigeria. It happens in Ghana as well. Like “Beyonce” the working title was something else… I can’t remember. But at the end of the day, because I was called Beyonce in that movie, they just wanted to use that name as the title, but initially it wasn’t Beyonce.

www.naijarules.com : Mummy’s Daughter and Beyonce, The President’s Daughter are two different movies?

NADIA BUARI: Yeah, they’re two different movies.

www.naijarules.com : I thought Beyonce was your first movie…

NADIA BUARI: No, Mummy’s Daughter was my first. Beyonce was my second.

www.naijarules.com : I got my facts screwed up. What year did you shoot Mummy’s Daughter?

NADIA BUARI: I think in 2006… no, 2005.

www.naijarules.com : Beyonce shot you up, right? Are you telling me you picked up all this fame between 2005 and now (December 2007)?

NADIA BUARI: I know. I guess I’m blessed. That’s all I can say. I’m priviledged. I’m very lucky. A lot of people don’t have it like that. I know a lot of people that have probably done so many (movies) and they’re still not recognized. I’m fortunate. I thank God.

www.naijarules.com : How did you get into Mummy’s Daughter?

NADIA BUARI: I actually studied Theatre Arts. When they were auditioning for that role, a friend called me to come and audition. I went for the audition and I landed the role. That’s pretty much it. I was in school at the time.

www.naijarules.com : You studied Theatre Arts, not Fine Arts.

NADIA BUARI: Theatre Arts.

www.naijarules.com : Where do people come up with all these things?

NADIA BUARI: It is Performing Arts. Its Theatre Arts, Music and Dance.

www.naijarules.com : You danced and acted in school. You want to tell us about that?

NADIA BUARI: When I was in Secondary (High) School, I was a very prolific member of the entertainment body. I used to perform. I used to like dance… You know I’m very shy. I get very nervous when I get on stage. Sometimes, I would be holding a microphone and just be shaking… I was really really nervous. But I always had a passion for it, so every time I went backstage, I told myself “this is what you love to do, so just go out there and do it”.

www.naijarules.com : Let’s explore where the shyness comes from. Your dad is a very public person. Your mum, by virtue of her profession, mixes with a lot of people. So, where did you get the shyness from?

NADIA BUARI: I don’t know. I guess its just me. Its just personality. I don’t know where it actually comes from. I know I have no reason to be shy. Yes, I am a public person, but I guess naturally, this is the kind of person I am. When I’m working, I know I have to take that away, but when I’m just Nadia, I’m feeling shy. It’s just me. I don’t know where it comes from. (TITTERS).

www.naijarules.com : I mentioned your dad a moment ago. Considering his stature in the entertainment industry in Ghana, was it natural that you were going into the arts?

NADIA BUARI: Well, yeah, he was part of the people that kind of influenced my profession now. I always looked up to him. I always wanted to do half of the things that he did, but its not just him. There’s still a lot of people.

www.naijarules.com : Who else has influenced you?

NADIA BUARI: I watch a lot of movies. I remember ever since I was little, I’ve always watched movies of Madonna, movies of Sharon Stone, movies of Julia Roberts… And every time I watched their movies, I always said to myself that I want to be like these people one day. At the end of the day, after watching all these movies, I would probably go to my bedroom or bathroom and try to act like them. I would use my teddy bear as the characters. I would pick up a character like Julia Roberts and try to act like…I was probably age 8 or 10.

So, right from then, I knew that I had a passion for this. This is my dream. I really want to do this.

www.naijarules.com : What was it about Julia Roberts and Madonna…Was it the glamour or the acting prowess? What was it exactly that attracted you to them?

NADIA BUARI: I couldn’t just imagine how people can be other people on screen and make it look so real. I couldn’t imagine how I would watch a Julia Roberts movie and know that “Oh my goodness, I’m actually feeling for her. I’m actually in tears”. This is not Julia Roberts. This is Julia trying to play somebody. That’s the beauty (of) the whole thing. These stars trying to portray other characters and doing it so well. It’s the whole idea. I always say to myself, if they can do it, I can do it too.

www.naijarules.com : How did having a beautician as your mom influence your sense of style?

NADIA BUARI: First of all, I want to say I’m very blessed to have a woman like my mother. My mom always wants me to look my best. Some of these things I probably want to wear or how I want to look, she probably will not be in agreement with it. And then, I would… My mom, I always listen to her, if she says not to wear this or not to look like that, I would listen to her because I know that she wants the best for me. Like I said, I’m really really blessed because there are so many things… I cannot go anywhere without having my mom approve what I’m wearing. That’s how serious it is. If I would fix my hair myself and not show it to my mom or not tell her about it, I would not be happy. I would go out there thinking “Oh my goodness, I probably look ridiculous”. Just to have my mom say you look fine is enough. Yes, she has really influenced my sense of style in so many ways because I feel like she knows what’s best (for me). She like me, watches a lot of movies, reads a lot of magazines as a beautician, so, ordinarily, I would say that she knows what’s best.

www.naijarules.com : Beyond style now, your mom and your dad, who has influenced you most?

NADIA BUARI: My appearance and everything is – yes, my mom. They have both influenced me in their own way. My dad is a musician and as a producer, has got a lot of movies to his credit. For a person to have all of that and be a businessman as well is a triple threat and I’ve always wanted to do all of that. And my mom has been an influence in another side – about the whole glamour and everything. She wants the sky to be my limit. She would push me to wherever… So, I guess they both have influenced me in their own way.

www.naijarules.com : There’s a burden of responsibility that comes with being a first child. Tell me about your experience.

NADIA BUARI: It’s difficult because I’m not perfect. I make mistakes. And you really want to do your best so your siblings would follow cos you’re like an example, they look up to you and everything. And its difficult in another way because your parents want you to set the right example, so they know that okay, she’s taking this step. You all have to follow… The first and the last usually get the concentration and attention. I must say my siblings kind of envy me. (JOCULAR LAUGH) because I probably have that. That’s probably the only difficulty I have to face. Apart from that; I couldn’t have asked for a better position. (LAUGHING)

www.naijarules.com : How many younger ones do you?

NADIA BUARI: Four of them. We’re five.

www.naijarules.com : And the youngest one is how old?

NADIA BUARI: Sixteen.

www.naijarules.com : Oh, they’re all big.

NADIA BUARI: Yeah.

www.naijarules.com : You’re a big girl. You want to tell me your age?

NADIA BUARI: No. (GENERAL LAUGHTER) My age is not a secret cos if you Google me, you’ll probably see my biography. I guess my date of birth is out there. I don’t know who put it there, but it’s there.

www.naijarules.com : You’re still single?

NADIA BUARI: (HESITATING) Em…

www.naijarules.com : I mean you’re not married?

NADIA BUARI: No, I’m not married.

www.naijarules.com : I have to ask some questions so that some guy out there in need of the information-

NADIA BUARI: I’m not married, but I’m not single. I’m engaged.

www.naijarules.com : Aw, you just totally derailed the train.

NADIA BUARI: I know. I know. I’m so sorry. (LAUGHTER)

www.naijarules.com : You have a lot of female fans, I know. But let’s talk about your male fans…

NADIA BUARI: Wow, its crazy cos there are so many guys out there who have “imaginarily” fallen in love with me. I would have like calls from guys telling me how they’re so crazy about me and they have pictures of me all over their room and they think I’m so beautiful and all of that and they want to be with me… But the thing about it is that I’m a very nice person and I try not to be rude, but when you’re too nice, they take advantage. And that’s where the problem is. I get a lot of pressure from guys. That’s a fact. I won’t deny that. I think guys love me more… (GIGGLING). I mean its only natural, I understand. (GIGGLING).

www.naijarules.com : When did you realize you’d become a star? When did you totally lose your privacy?

NADIA BUARI: After “Beyonce”. That was when I realized oh my goodness…

www.naijarules.com : Can you tell us about the exact moment? Were you walking on the street? In a shopping center?

NADIA BUARI: I was actually boarding a plane. I was at the airport. I was traveling. I got there and I had like two women come up to me. These are women. They actually came up to me (to tell me) they’d seen my movie and they were really really crazy about me and they think I’m really really good. After that, it didn’t just end there. On my way to the boarding gate, I had other people approach me and tell me… I was with my mum and I’m like mummy, pinch me, cos I don’t know what’s happening. People are actually coming up to me to tell me they appreciate my work and everything, telling me how good I am… This woman was with her daughter, this little girl. And she’s like “I wanna grow up and become like you.” And… I really feel that is so not me, like I can’t believe it. somebody actually wants to be like me?

www.naijarules.com : How humbling is that?

NADIA BUARI: You would not believe it. It’s a blessing. It’s a blessing. That’s all I can say.

www.naijarules.com : You’re a very spiritual person.

NADIA BUARI: Yes, I’m very spiritual cos I believe that in everything I do, I have to put God first. I believe that God is the reason for why I am where I am now. I never forget Him. I’m very spiritual. I’m not saying that I’m a goody-goody kind of person, but I try to do what’s right. And I think I do what’s right. I always remember Him. Every time. I cannot do anything without a word of prayer. I am very spiritual if you put it that way.

www.naijarules.com : Do you watch your own movies?

NADIA BUARI: Oh yeah, I love to watch my movies. You have no idea… I would watch my movies like over a hundred times…

www.naijarules.com : You like seeing yourself? (GENERAL LAUGHTER)

NADIA BUARI: No, not that I love seeing myself. I only watch my movies and know that I can do better. I learn from what I do. I mean it doesn’t just end there. Every time I watch a movie of mine, I feel like I’ve got a long way to go. Even though I have people coming up to me to tell me oh, you’re the best actress I know, it doesn’t get into my head. That’s why I love to watch my movies. I know that when people approach me to say oh, you’re the best actress that I know, it could get into me and I just have to say no. I feel like I’ve got a lot of stairs to climb. I’m feeling so hungry for me. I want to do a lot better, so that’s why I watch my movies. Oh, you would not believe the number of times I watch my movies. Its crazy. I never get tired of my own movies. There are some movies that I’m not so proud of… Even those ones. I rewatch it like a million times, just to know the next time. (GIGGLING)

www.naijarules.com : (TEASING) Okay, if you say so. (GENERAL LAUGHTER). What does it feel like watching people watch your movies?

NADIA BUARI: The only people that I’ve probably been around watching my movies are actually my family, cos every time a movie of mine comes out, I would just bring it home and they would all watch it. they make silly comments, yeah, and I love that. My mom, she criticizes a lot. She would watch them and say “No, honey, next time, don’t do like that”. When we’re watching my movie and my part comes, and I want to skip it, cos I feel very funny, I feel they’re looking at me. The only time I got very nervous was when they premiered The Return of Beyonce in Ghana. There was like a whole auditorium, hundreds of people and we were there and they were watching me… And I’m like, “okay, what are these people thinking? Are they thinking that I’m good or are they thinking ‘Ah, she’s a lousy actress’ or are they thinking whatever…” I couldn’t wait (for the movie to end) to know what they thought about it. It was only after the movie I realized that “Oh my goodness, I’ve got all of these people that think that I’m really good”. And that’s actually what made me feel happy, but during the time that I watched the movie with all of these people, I was very very nervous. I probably wanna do it again, but not anytime soon.

www.naijarules.com : Your mom and dad, when they look at you now, what do they think of your fame and the fact that they can’t walk with you on the streets without being mobbed?

NADIA BUARI: They’re all excited. They’re all very happy that I’m like this. They’re really in support of my career. They’re so much behind me and they really appreciate wherever I’ve gone to as far as my career is concerned and they know that I’m going to go higher. My mom actually is very protective of me. I would walk on the street with her and she’s like “no honey, stay in the car, don’t come out”. She would come and get me from the airport and she’ll be like “okay, just sit in the car” and she’ll do all the running around, things that I’m supposed to do. But she wouldn’t let me cos she knows there’s probably a hundred and one people who are gonna come up to me.

www.naijarules.com : Hey, she’s a mom.

NADIA BUARI: I know.

www.naijarules.com : What do you expect?

NADIA BUARI: That’s why I love her. (LAUGHTER)

www.naijarules.com : You said something about “going higher” a moment ago. How high exactly? Where do you see yourself in ten years?

NADIA BUARI: Honestly, I want to be in Hollywood. (GIGGLES) Yeah, I know we all say that. Its more like a cliché, but I seriously see myself there. And I want to work really hard to get there. This is just the beginning.

www.naijarules.com : Talking about “working hard”, is it a lot of fun to do your movies or just a lot of hard work?

NADIA BUARI: Its fun and hard work. Its fun because I love what I do and there’s nothing like enjoying what you do, you know… So when you’re working, you probably don’t feel that you’re working. But it gets really really hard when… African movies, there’s a rush. They probably have like a limited number of days (for production), so they’re trying to rush you. That’s probably it. That’s when you get tired and frustrated and all of that, but its fun when you get to do the thing that you love to do.

www.naijarules.com : After Beyonce and you found yourself abroad, what was your reaction to how people reacted to you? Were you surprised that you’d grown so big abroad?

NADIA BUARI: Yeah, I was extremely surprised. Honestly. Like I’m telling you, a lot of people that I know have done so many (movies) and they’re still not as popular as I am. And just after a second movie, I gained all of this popularity. I keep telling myself, “okay, I’m not dreaming. Wake up, this is really a reality”. I’m amazed that everything is happening, I’ve got all of these people that love me or appreciate me. I’m really surprised.

www.naijarules.com : Let’s try to narrow in on things now. When they watch you in the movies, what do you think is the one thing that attracts them?

NADIA BUARI: Comments that I read from people on Google… Em…. I love her looks. I love her sense of style. That’s what I read. I guess when people purchase my movie, they want to see… I don’t know! (LAUGHTER AS SHE TURNS TO HER MANAGER ALSO IN THE ROOM) Joi (Onyeukwu), what do you think?

www.naijarules.com : Hey, this is not Joi’s interview. (MORE LAUGHTER)

NADIA BUARI: Like I’m saying, I’m not a person that’s out there. I’m not really out there like that, so the only things I hear or the comments I read on the internet… most of the things I read are oh, she’s really beautiful and I love her sense of style and I love her acting. That’s really it.

www.naijarules.com : (TEASING) I’ll leave you alone. (LAUGHTER)

NADIA BUARI: A guy would probably purchase my movie because “oh, I want to see Nadia”. And a girl would probably purchase my movie because “okay, let’s see what she’s wearing”. (GENERAL LAUGHTER)

www.naijarules.com : How has fame changed you? Let’s look back to before and after Beyonce.

NADIA BUARI: Before, I could probably like go out with my friends and do stuff… Now, I can’t really go to a store and start acting crazy and stupid… Before, I would do that, but now I can’t do it because I would know that there are people watching me. That’s probably the only thing that fame has changed. I want to do some things that I used to do way back, but I can’t do it anymore. Regardless of how I try… I keep telling myself “oh, I’m still the same person. I will do whatever you know…” But you can’t do that.

www.naijarules.com : Do you still have all the friends you had before you became so popular?

NADIA BUARI: I’m not really proud to say this, but I don’t really have any old friends. And the few friends that I had, I still have and I still get in touch with them and the relationship that I had with them, I still have that. the only thing now is I don’t really see them as often as I should because of the work and because they’re going here and there. But I’m still friends with them.

www.naijarules.com : How easy is it for someone like you to make new friends? You’re popular and everybody gets close to you, some definitely with ulterior motives. How easy is it to make new REAL friends?

NADIA BUARI: I haven’t made any new friend ever since I got into movies. I mean I do have – my phone does not stop ringing. You would not know how they get your number, but they will get your number and they will call you and tell you how they wanna be friends with you and how they just want to be like you and everything. I would say okay, that’s really nice. They would probably call the next time to say “hello”, but they’re not friends that I would go over to visit. So, I would not say that I’ve had (new friends) ever since I started doing movies.

www.naijarules.com : You have fans.

NADIA BUARI: Yes, I have fans.

www.naijarules.com : What does Nadia do when she’s not acting?

NADIA BUARI: Watching movies with my family or sleeping. I love to sleep. (GIGGLING) Or just being with my fiancée.

www.naijarules.com : Oh, okay –

NADIA BUARI: (QUICKLY) And it ends there.

www.naijarules.com : (LAUGHING). Hey, come on. You dropped me a bone. I’m just about to follow up on it and you quickly cut it off again… How do the media treat stars like you in Ghana?

NADIA BUARI: Well, they’re very nosy. Of course, you can’t blame them. That’s media. The little information they get, they will exaggerate it and probably add their own story to it. But that’s media for you. You can’t do anything about it. Some things they publish about you, you will not be too proud of. Hey that’s media.

www.naijarules.com : let’s wrap up with favorites. What’s your favorite food?

NADIA BUARI: I don’t really have a favorite, but I think I’m a big fan of spaghetti. I love spaghetti. I could eat spaghetti the whole day. Before, it was rice, but then I got tired of it.

www.naijarules.com : Favorite car?

NADIA BUARI: I love the Range Rover and the Audi Q7.

www.naijarules.com : Favorite color?

NADIA BUARI: Pink.

www.naijarules.com : Favorite designer?

NADIA BUARI: I’ve got like so many of them, but I really love Chanel, Christian Dior. I don’t really have one.

www.naijarules.com : Favorite jewelry? Something you always wear?

NADIA BUARI: I guess my ring. (GIGGLES)

www.naijarules.com : Oh, that’s your engagement ring?

NADIA BUARI: Yeah. That’s what I always have on.

www.naijarules.com : We keep going back to this guy that we’re not going to talk about… (LAUGHTER). Are you going to tell me his name at least?

NADIA BUARI: No, I’m not.

www.naijarules.com : In conclusion, say something to your fans in the Diaspora.

NADIA BUARI: Some things I want to clarify. First off, there are rumors around that I’ve stopped acting. I haven’t. the only reason why probably people haven’t seen me on the screen is because I just graduated from school. I was schooling and acting part-time. When I graduated, I decided to take a little break, you know. Just do stuff, relax for a bit. And during the period that I was away from the screen, people assumed that I’d stopped acting, but I haven’t. I have 3 or 4 movies that are yet to be released, and hopefully, they will be pretty much appreciated like the rest of the movies I’ve done.

Second of all, I also hear that people say that my father is not in support of my career. He very much is. He really really is. He’s so much supportive of my career that he wants to – his production house – he wants to start producing movies with me. Its going to be like a collaboration, just me and my dad…cos before he was into movies. So, that’s the second thing that I want to clarify.

And the third thing is even though I’m engaged now, after marriage, I will still be acting. I will still be in the entertainment industry. I mean this is my dream. I cannot give it up just because I’m married. I will continue. And not just acting. There are so many things I wanna do. So many things, you have no idea. So many things, all in show business. I will still be on the screens and I will do that as long as I can.

I’m very very very very happy for all the love and support that each and everyone has shown to me. I really really appreciate it, cos without the love of all these people, I probably wouldn’t be where I am. I am currently working on a website now. Its Nadiabuari.com. Hopefully, it will be out in the Spring. In that way, I will interact more with my fans and everyone out there.