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“I’m Just A Regular Girl…A Home Girl” - Actress Ebbe Bassey
27 July, 2006 08:07:00
By Shaibu Husseini
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Ebbe Bassey
“I’m Just A Regular Girl…A Home Girl” Says Efik girl in New York, Ebbe Bassey. As a film, state and television star, the kleighlights are her constant companion. But her fondest memories are far from the glitz and glitter of New York. She says, “I loved growing up in Calabar-its simplicity, quaintness and calm, the hospitable people and delicious food. I could walk to the market, church and school in one big loop. I don’t know about now, but everyone pretty much knew everyone. So you had to behave yourself because word would get home before you got there.”
Ebbe Bassey did not know early in life that she would grow up to early that she would grow up to earn a living from acting. The closest she came to acting was the realization that she could rehash scenes seen from previous theatrical offerings. She had several career options opened to her as a child. She wanted to be a doctor, a lawyer and at the same time a broadcaster. Teaching was also in the cards for her. But it was law that held some attraction for her. How she decided in favour of acting which she presently does full time remains the greatest puzzle of her life.
She says, “I cannot pinpoint a particular moment in time when I realized that I could act,” she says trying to recall how it all started for her. “I think I’ve always known just like I’ve always known I am a female. I didn’t wake up one day and say: “Oh, I am a girl” I just knew and so I just know. I think I had more of an “Aha!” moment when I booked a gig and realized I could be paid to do this and that I wasn’t at grandma’s backyard anymore playing “teacher and students.” I was a working actor.”
Ebbe cuts the picture of a woman who is determined to prove herself right. A young Nigerian whose name is gradually becoming synonymous with acting on stage and television in the United States, close observers say she is destined to achieve greater glory for the fatherland in the near future.
An acting spirit with the right looks and carriage, she is passionate about the profession and modest enough to admit that persistence has been the key to her steady rise on the acting run way. An acting spirit with the right looks and carriage, she is passionate about the profession and modest enough to admit that persistence has been the key to her steady rise on the acting run way, Ebbe's first amazing experience on location was not even on a film set. Her debut was on a popular television series on ABC network, NYPD Blue. Ebbe recalls the star treatment she was accorded as a guest star on the show.
"I was in awe of the treatment I received as a guest actor. I had my own trailer with a television, compact disc player and a production assistant who insisted I didn't have to get my own breakfast or coffee. And I was just floored when I went in for hair/makeup and the star of show, Mr. Dennis Franz, came up to me and shook my hand.I may have appeared cool on the outside, but on the inside I was a kid in pigtails jumping up and down screaming yippee."
Described by friends and colleagues as loyal, passionate, vibrant, loving, kind, generous and determined, Ebbe has mostly worked on television and on stage. She was a major feature in Euripedes MEDEA staged at the acclaimed Classical Theatre of Harlem. The production, which starred Shamika Cotton and Tisza Evans got rave reviews in the New York Times, The New Yorker, Amsterdam News, Time out New York, NYTheatre.com and Curtainup.com. Ebbe has only about four movie credits in her creative pouch with a lot others still at various stages of production. MANY consider the productions in her credit pouch impressive, considering the fact that Ebbe, like other African actors, operate in a terrain that is almost wholly owned and dominated by the whites. She says of her stage and screen credits: "I have mostly done television but there are other eggs ready to hatch. But we shall not count them presently."
Many consider the productions in her credit pouch impressive, considering the fact that Ebbe like other African actors operate in a terrain that is almost wholly owned and dominated by whites. She says of her stage and screen credit: “I have mostly done television but there are other eggs ready to hatch. But we shall not count them presently.”
Born to parents whom she describes as "very supportive," Ebbe who is Efik, hails from Calabar in Cross Rivers State. She attended secondary school in Calabar before leaving for the United States to attend college. She was educated in Nigeria at Charles Walker International Nursery School, the Salvation Army Primary and at the Duke Town Secondary School. It was from the Duke Town School that she hit the jet plane, bagging several degrees in Liberal Arts/Science and Political Science as she ran along. She speaks of her formative years in Calabar: “I loved growing up in Calabar-its simplicity, quaintness and calm, the hospitable people and delicious food. I could walk to the market, church and school in one big loop. I don’t know about now, but everyone pretty much knew everyone. So you had to behave yourself because word would get home before you got there.”
Though she eventually didn’t end up a Lawyer, Ebbe says she is happy with the choice she has made because she did not want to live her life wondering what could have been. Besides, she faced no barriers at all when she decided on acting as a profession. In fact, she says the credit for the success she has so far recorded should first go to her parents who are so concerned about her activities in the theatre.
She says, "No, I faced no barriers from my family because they were not facing a case of a child rebelling against formal education and choosing art over security. I completed my obligation to them, which was to finish school. I did that and now its time to live my life for me. My parents are extremely proud of me because thought most of the people in my family do not make a living in the arts, they have creative tendencies. “This is how supportive my parents are: I went to my father’s house (in Westchester, a part of New York) last year and he had made me a Wall of Fame, like the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Isn’t that great? My dad framed my playbills (programs), articles and pictures and placed them on the wall in his house. I was so touched I didn’t know what to do with myself.”
Arising star who is so reserved in talking about herself, Ebbe says she is not oblivious of the challenges of being a recognizable face. What she has done to stay off the prying eyes of her admirers is to “live simply and face my career and life.” She adds: “I am just a regular girl. Trust me when I say nobody is giving himself whiplash looking at me. I ride the train to work and usually I am reading and jamming to some music. It would be a burden if I had the time to look around to see if someone is observing me”
 If there is any embarrassing moment Ebbe has had as an actor she wants to recall, then it’s an experience she had on the set of a stage production titled One Wish. “I have had three and all occurred not on film but on stage which is worse. If you are on film, the director can yell CUT. But on stage? Oh forget it! Nobody is not going to yell at you. I was doing a play called “One Wish” with my theatre company Tupukweli. I mangled my monologue so badly I was in such shock. After the show, I hid behind the curtains in the backstage area until I thought everyone had left before I scrawled out. I was mortified!!!! Oh, I still had to face them because when I came out my cast mates were all waiting to give me a hug.”
Though Ebbe has no plans to return to traditional school, she spends her off acting period taking acting lessons. “I am always interested in learning so one will always find me taking a class in various subjects like French, salsa dancing or pottery.”
Will she encourage her kids to take acting? Ebbe says she will not insist that they must, she will encourage them to follow their hearts. She says, “We are born with a purpose, a calling that must be fulfilled. I will not stand in the way of my child doing what truly makes his or her spirit soar. I can only pray and advice them like a responsible mother even if I do not agree.”
Blunt to a fault, Ebbe says that as a Nigerian woman of marriageable age, she longs for the day she will walk the aisles with the man of her dreams. Though marriage is not on her mind for now, she definitely will be joined to a guy when the times comes. She says: “I do want to get married eventually but I’ve never been one of those girls who dreamed of the perfect proposal, perfect rock, perfect dress, perfect groom and a perfect wedding. I will when the times comes and God will give me my dream man.”
Has acting been financially rewarding? Ebbe says, “? I am not panhandling. It provides what I need. I started out as a stage actor. I will always be a stage actor at heart no matter how high I might rise in my film/TV pursuit.
I like that “free fall” feeling that stage give you – the adrenaline rush coming from not knowing if the set will fall apart around your ears or your fellow actor will remember their lines. It’s great! I am an actor. I do not possess the figure to model or that certain…is it… je ne sais quoi? I would make an exception if a company approached me about being a spokes person for a particular product. The only other career I would delve into is singing.”
Although her career has been experiencing a leap, Ebbe says it has not come easy. She is often faced with the challenges of self-doubt and has often stopped to ask herself whether she is good enough. She adds: ”I mean good enough to make a difference and not someone just clocking a pay cheque. Can I set a standard? Or dare I say, raise the bar? The reason we still reference the Al Pacinos, Meryl Streeps, Olu and Joke Jacobs is because they set standards. These are actors who don’t just show up on a set to be fabulous and paid. I want to attain that degree of class and accomplishment.”
But to contend with that internal challenge, Ebbe says she has had to work on herself everyday. She explains: “I work on being afraid, fear of rejection, which is an occupational hazard. And I work on my faith level. I am a work in progress. We are all a work in progress, if I ever met someone who thought otherwise; I would cross the street to get far, far away from them. I keep praying the good Lord continues to mould me to a level he finds acceptable. I should only be concerned with what the Lord thinks of me but I am only human. Now, challenges from the outside world. HA! My goodness. My challenges from the outside have been contending with narrow -minded casting at times and not working as often as I would love to here.”
What qualities would she look out for in her dream man? Ebbe says, “My man must allow me to be myself. I am a free spirit and so any man who feels his place is with me must not feel the need to mould me…to cage me. My kind of man is spiritual, emotionally available, thoughtful, caring, romantic, compassionate, family oriented, confident without arrogance, ambitious without selling his soul, generous, passionate about life and his vocation, adventurous and creative. I am constantly working on developing these attributes within myself so that I can attract a person with these qualities as well.” Ebbe insists that she is partial to tall men, attracted to soulful eyes, sensuous lips, dimples and a wonderful smile.”
Though the West has been Ebbe’s bread basket with the bulk of her work being across the Off Broadway/Off Off Broadway stages of New York, commercials, voiceovers, television and film, Ebbe says she loves and appreciates the explosion in Nigeria film culture right now. She says, “Do you know how many peoples’ spirits were tattered and frayed because they just knew they loved this thing, this acting, singing, dancing, modeling, rapping, painting, sculpting but no one thought it was important work? I am so glad that all my fellow artists and creative souls have been given full rein to reign supreme in their various crafts.”
What’s her take on Nollywood? She says, “Nollywood has so much room to grow. I pray they don’t stagnate. There is room for improvement in anything…even the established Hollywood/Bollywood/Hongkong film industry big wigs are always looking for new ways to adapt and change. In 5 years, I hope to see even better stories, cinematography, quality sound/music/film editing, makeup and costumes. Full speed ahead, I say!”
Ebbe met a few of the players of Nollywood back in 2003 at the African Film Festival in New York. “I was fortunate enough to bump into my good friend Tony Abulu of FAN back in 2003 at the African Film Festival in New York and he invited me to the reception he had arranged for most of Nollywood’s glitterati. I met quite a lot of people but there are only a few with whom I’ve maintained a relationship. I count Don Pedro Obaseki, Segun Arinze, Emem Isong, Stella Damasus-Aboderin, Ralph Nwadike, Stephanie Okereke and Sammie Okposo as friends and associates.”
If there is anything Ebbe hopes to accomplish pretty soon, it is to come home to Nigeria to work with all the wonderful talents that abound in Nollywood. “I am looking forward to that really and that is assuming they would have me. But I think I can contribute to the growth of Nollywood and I am willing to work for my position when I do get there. To be fair I do not expect these people to roll out the red carpet for someone who hasn’t been there when they were grinding away to shape this industry into what it is today. “
Ebbe’s acting heroes are actors who are making a living everyday as creative spirits and still have a life that is not under the microscope. “I love, respect and adore Frances Mcdormand, Patricia Clarkson, Kathy Bates, Marcia Gay Harden, Meryl Streep, Kimberly Elise, Sophie Okonedo, Alfre Woodard, Lorraine Toussaint, Regina Taylor, Cecily Tyson, S.Epatha Merkerson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Terrence D. Howard, Jeffrey Wright and Don Cheadle. The list is endless. But I truly do admire those I have listed”
She names Joke Silva, Olu Jacob, Bukky Ajayi, Liz Benson, Rita Edochie, Clarion Chukwurah, Justin Esiri, Euchariah Anunobi-Ekwu, Nkem Owoh (there is nobody funnier!), Patience Ozokwor, Bimbo Akintola, Rita Dominic, Genevieve Nnaji, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Segun Arinze, Sam Dede, Stella Damasus-Aboderin, Dakore Egbuson, Omotola Jolade Ekeinde and Stephanie Okereke as her personal favourites among Nigerian actors. “They have made me cry, laugh and scream with them. I have them in my periphery and one day I hope to share the screen with them,” she says of her Nollywood favourites.
When Ebbe is not on set, she indulges in a plethora of activities. She says, “I love reading, dancing, taking walks, playing board games, biking, bowling, singing, karaoke, attending plays, concerts, poetry jams, writing poetry, visiting art galleries, friends, traveling and doing volunteer work.”
An adventurous eater, Ebbe says she loves to eat Nigerian food. . My favorite Nigerian delicacy is goat meat pepper soup and my favorite Calabar meal is Affang soup w/Nko-nko, garri, washed down with an icy cold bottle of Sprite. “If I want to be bougie (bourgeoisie) then its Jollof rice, goat meat and dodo.”
Courtesy THE GUARDIAN
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Comments (8 posted):
Ebbe is one chica who already has the action in Hollywood and dont even talk about it, and that is why God is blessing her and I know would bless her more!
Ebbe, just remember who will design your outfit for your Red Carpet walk to the Emmy's Award, The Academy and The Oscar Award!! If not me, I go rub anything you were that day correct naija fresh palm oil!! Hee hee hee
Keep it up gurl, am prouda ya!! - Estella
Ebbe, i like your style i am merging into acting too here in Canada. I am from AKWA IBOM state iam looking forward to communicating with you soon .Take care and keep up the good work.
i must say u are very Natural and pls kee it up,God almighty will always guide and bless u in full,and in anything u do never u give up and never u give up on ur dreams too,i want to be just a friend with u,but am liven and working in france also doing business here too,so if u care to be my friend mail me on younggideon_636@hotmail.com or youngben_123@yahoo.com i came from delta state ok stay bless hope to hear from u goodbye gideon,
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