Actress, Carol King, made her television debut in I Need To Know, a drama series, sponsored by UNFPA and directed by Lloyd Weaver. In this interview with The Entertainer, the mother of three and Tinsel star talks about her life and the industry that brought her fame.
Could you tell us about your background and where you’re coming from?
I’m Carolyn Eferamor King aka CK One. I’m an actress. I’ve been married for the last 22 years with children. I was born in Lagos. I’m the first of seven kids so I’ve always been playing the role of a mother. I had part of my University education at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, but I finished off at the Lagos State University. My father was against my studying Theatre Arts. He felt I was lazy and unlike my cousins who were studying Law and Medicine. He said all I wanted to do was shake my waist. So I made up my mind to study Law just to satisfy him. However, I never got to study Law and here I am today acting, which is what I’ve always wanted to do.
What was growing up like?
It was fun because I was the first child of seven so I was like a mum to my siblings. Apart from my sister and brothers, we always had cousins come stay with us. It was always a full house; my parents are from Edo State.
How did your acting career kick-off?
Like I always say, if you’re meant to be in a career, you’ll find yourself there eventually. I escorted a friend of mine, Cello Bankole, to an audition for a radio drama. The producer, Ihria Enakhino, came out of the studio and saw me outside charting. I Didn’t realized he noticed me. That was how he asked me to come in for audition. I told him I wasn’t there for audition but only escorted someone. He insisted and said he just wanted to hear me read. So that was how I got a part and the rest is history. I’ve been acting for 15 years. I was already married when I started.In the beginning, the opposition was more from friends. My husband has always wanted me to do whatever makes me happy but I could see that it was a reluctant yes. I have featured in more television drama series than movies. I just finished a movie entitled The God’s Are Not to Blame. I’m very choosy when it comes to the characters I play. Take for example my character in Tinsel which I’ve been playing for the past three years; my fans have seen different sides of her.
Could you share your challenges?
The first challenge was finding satisfaction in my job as an actress and balancing that with taking care of my family and not letting any suffer. Having to sleep in strange beds was another challenge. There were times when we had to camp outside during shooting and I’ve never liked sleeping away from home; I find it very challenging.
What’s your take on sex-for-role?
Looking at me, do you think anyone will have the guts to ask me for sex-for-role? One thing I say to young actresses that I mentor is that ‘you have to believe in your talent because if you don’t have confidence, that’s when you fall for such.’ If you make yourself available, some producers know how to perceive it. Maybe, that’s why some of these producers ask them for sex. But if you are confident and you are willing for God to do it at the right time, your talent’ will speak for you. It’s never happened to me and I don’t think it ever will. I’m very confident in my God given talent and am not desperate for any role. Using your body can get you this far but talent can get you all the way because if someone says to you, come sleep with me to get a role and you refuse, and you keep practicing your art, someone else would notice you because of your consistency. I have had jobs outside the country not because somebody recommended me but because of my work. That’s my advice for those who are facing such challenges. It happens everywhere; in the banking sector, among lawyers, among doctors in hospital corridors etc. I guess people talk about us more because we are in the eye of the public; they makes it such a big issue.
Could you act a nude scene if the pay is right?
I’ll not do a nude scene. Some say it’s not African while others argue that Africans once ran naked. Nudity is not a big deal to us. You go to some villages and you’ll see girls walking around bare-chested. But then that’s the village setting; we’re in a cosmopolitan setting. I don’t think my husband would be happy if we were going out to a party and I’m half nude. I don’t see myself acting nude or half nude on screen. And for those who do it, it’s a matter of choice. I don’t have to be nude to tell a story. But if you’re playing the role of a prostitute, it’s a different thing. We know how prostitutes look; they dress scantily. However, I will never play a nude role and it has nothing to do with the fact that I’m married; my body’s my private business.
Are men making advances at you?
I think a lot of men love the character that I play. A lot of men I’ve met have told me that much. But it doesn’t go beyond that for me. Once I notice you want to cross the line, I just put up a bland face; my eyes just go dead and all the smiles and sweetness just disappears.
Tell us about your kind of man?
I like fine men. Of course you know my husband. I don’t think I’ve ever dated a man that’s not good looking. I like tall Men with good skin. I mean well spoken men; men who are not afraid to show their feminine sides. I’m a mushy person when I see my kind man. I have to have that sense of security that he’ll take care of me. And I don’t mean financial security; I mean physical security. I want to be assured that if anything goes wrong, my man will take charge; a man that’s in control is what I look for. My man has to be tall because I’m tall; I don’t want to look down at my guy. I want him to be able to cradle me in his arms and make me feel safe. I won’t date a short man; I don’t care if he’s light skinned or dark. And he has to have lovely feet; I like a man who takes care of his body generally.
What turns you on?
I like down to earth people; people who don’t put on airs. I like people who come into a place and the atmosphere changes because of their aura. I like people who tell you the truth; they don’t care who’s ox is gored. I’m that kind of a friend who tells you the truth. I feel friends owe each other that much; I like compassionate people.
And what turns you off?
I can’t stand fake people, people who speak with fake accents. It’s a huge turn off for me. I can’t have a conversation with such people. I hate dirty people.
Who are your role models?
My role model’s always been my mum. I’m yet to meet someone as selfless as my Mum. She took care of everyone when we were living in the North. When families came from the now defunct Bendel State to the North, they always sought refuge in my father’s house and my mum took care of them like she’s known them forever.
source- DAILYSUN
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