Toyin Adegbola is a popular actress that many Nigerians have grown to love over the years. In this interview with Rotimi Ige and RONKE SANYA, she talks about her life, marriage and her foray into the movie industry.

Background
I am Chief Mrs. Oluwatoyin Victoria Adegbola. I was born and bred in Offa, Kwara State. I attended Methodist Primary School in Offa and my set happened to be the last in Kwara State. Then, we later moved to Osogbo; I attended Saint Augustine in Ilesa very close to Ikirun in Osun State. I had always wanted to be a nurse, although I had been acting since my childhood, at about five years old to be precise. Back then we used to play in the streets, build houses with sand and cook with milk tins. (Laughs)

So, due to my childhood admiration for nurses, I tried gaining admission to a nursing school in Osogbo, but I wasn’t admitted so I proceeded to the Technical College in Osogbo, where I studied Electronics. I left for London in 1979 for more training on Electrical Electronics and I graduated in 1982.
Meanwhile, all along, I had been acting with a school drama group, between 1978 and 1979. I represented my school in various drama competitions across different states.

After I finished in 1982, I sought employment at various broadcasting houses, which was during the regime of the late Chief Bola Ige, the then governor of Oyo State. My elder brother, Ebenezer Babatope, happened to be the organising secretary for the then Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and he took me to Yemi Farounbi.

So, he asked him to employ me since they were about to establish a television station.

So, that was how I started working at the then New Day Television. and was opportuned to be one of its pioneer staff. 

How did you meet your husband?
I met my late husband, late Anthony Kolawole Adegbola while I was working at the television house. He was at the Lagos branch, but there was a time he came to Ibadan for a meeting and that was how we met. 

How did you delve into acting professionally? 
While I was at the New Day Television, now known as Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), we used to do in-house drama and I was also a co-presenter of a programme with Lere Adewunmi.

It was during one of these shows that I was discovered by Mr Tubosun, who encouraged me and invited me to be a part of his new movie. So I started going to locations and was always seeking permission from my bosses at BCOS, or make arrangements with my colleagues, so that my absence would not be felt.

Then, it was not in the form of the home videos that we watch nowadays, it was optical films, so that was how I started acting professionally.
Later, when I started starring in several other films which were optical films, I decided to concentrate fully on acting and therefore after spending 10 years at BCOS, I left in October 1992.

How has it been so far in the acting profession?
 They are almost the same.  Without broadcasters, there won’t be artistes. The media is an integral part of the entertainment industry. They both work hand in hand. Acting is just an extension of broadcasting.  Due to my passion for acting, I have been coping well and enjoying the profession. 

How do you combine your profession and running your home?
I lost my husband over 13 years ago and my children are grown ups. They are outside the country and are doing fine. I am blessed with two children.

Memorable movies you have acted in?
I can remember vividly the movie that brought me into limelight; that was Asewo to re Mecca by Oga Bello. I have also starred in various other films ranging from optical films, stage plays and a lot of home videos. So I can’t possibly count the number of great movies I have acted in, but I thank God for how he has helped me over the years.

Plans for 2013?
I plan to shoot an epic movie and a serial movie that would focus on girl child education. I finished shooting a movie titled Ijonla and it would be released soon.

What would you have been if not an actress?
I would have been a nurse; this is because when I was younger, I used to admire one of my mother’s friends, who was a nurse. I loved the way she looked in her white uniform, but as God would have it, I am now a veteran actress. 

Words for your fans?
Everybody is a star in his or her own career. Prayer is paramount in one’s life, and so also is consistency and focus.