There’s No Rivalry Between Toke Makinwa And I – Nancy Isime

Beautiful and hardworking Nancy Isime is a Nigerian actress, model and presenter. Having won the Miss Valentine International beauty pageant nine years ago, the screen goddess began her career as an actress in the defunct TV series ‘Echoes’ in 2011 and has continued to impress entertainment lovers across the globe. She recently made Charles Novia’s list of Top 5 Best Actresses of 2016 and this has made her one of the new entrants to watch out for this year. In this chat with Adekitanboye.info, the Edo State born bares it all

Who is Nancy Isime?

I’m a TV presenter, an actor, ex-model and ex-beauty queen. I’m from a family of five kids; I studied Social Works and got my OND from the University of Lagos. Basically, that’s pretty much about me.

You said you’re an Ex-beauty Queen, what Pageant was that?

I was Miss Valentine International, 2009.

What else do you do aside the acting and presenting?

Well, basically, that’s all I do for now.

How did it all start?

Well, modelling for me started in 2008 when I was still trying to seek admission into the university and someone asked me if I’d like to be an usher at an event.

From there I met friends who were ushers and models and then I started getting more jobs. So from commercial modelling, I went into brand modelling.

While I was on stage modelling, a director saw me and said, ‘you look good on camera, maybe you should come try read a script for acting’, and I asked if I was going to be paid, and he said yes. I’m sure he was part of the directors for the event or so; when I went, I was really timid and naive because I met so many big actors and it was so intimidating. That’s how it all started for me and I began to get calls from people.

So, on the movie set of ‘Yes I Don’t’, Ben TV came to cover the ‘Behind the scenes’ and one of them came and said, ‘Oh, you’re doing really well, I think you should come audition for some shows we are doing’, but I never went.

Three months after, he was still calling me that the space is still open, and I said to myself, let me just go and fulfill all righteousness. I went with the mind that I might not get the job, I did my screen test and a week after, I got a call that I had been chosen for the job.

So, I worked for Ben TV for a while and later on, one of my childhood friends called me that there’s an audition on HipTV for one of their shows, that I should try it out. I went to their office and I realised it was for the program ‘Trending’ and I was like, oh, this show looks really familiar and there was someone anchoring it already, which was Toke Makinwa.

We were many that got screen tested for the position but the following week, I was called to come and do another record for some episodes.

I actually recorded three episodes, after which, I was told that I have been chosen by both the company and Airtel to anchor the show; that’s how I started with ‘Trending’ on Hip TV.

You succeeded Toke Makinwa on that program, what’s the relationship between you and her?

We are cool, though we are not friends, but we see each other outside work and we greet. She’s so sweet; she’s one of the hardworking people I admire, there’s no friction between us. I know a lot of people want friction, but there is none.

Anytime I go for interviews for the program, they will be like, you took Toke’s job, how do you feel, and I’ll just laugh. They want rivalry between us, but I don’t think there can be, I don’t think I can compete with a great woman like her.

She’s amazing, she’s been doing these things way before I even thought of coming into it; so, she’s great! We are not friends, but I don’t have any problem with her and I hope she doesn’t have with me too because she lost the job and another person took it. I think why people are crazy about knowing the status of our relationship is because of what I have been able to do out of the show in the time I’ve been there.

So how do you joggle all that you do?

Well, I really can’t tell, I’m just a workaholic. I can’t stay in a place for too long, I will be restless. I love to work, I love to invest my energy into something profitable, and joggling has never been an issue because I love what I do. I don’t believe I have to be one thing for the rest of my life.

I’m sure in the next five years I’m going to add few more things to what I’m doing. I have a schedule, when you have a schedule, it really helps and saves time, I try not to pack too many things in my hands; I just love what I do.

Which movie brought you into limelight?

Well, I can’t really tell, but I think ‘Daddy’s Girl’ was a good one, it was a TV series, lots of people watched me then, and it’s really helped me too. I’ve some cinema jobs too, I really can’t tell the particular one, but I’ve done quite a lot of great movies.

Who are those people you’ve worked with and wish to work with?

All my life, I’ve loved Genevieve Nnaji, she is such a great woman, I’ve always wanted to work with her and when I got the opportunity, it was so amazing and great. I played her friend in ‘Road to Yesterday’ and I loved it.

In this new generation, we all work together and it’s been great. I’ve worked with Uncle Bimbo Manuel, Tope Tedela, Mike Ezuronye, Aunty Ngozi Ezeonu, Alex Ekubo and other great actors.

Where is Nancy Isime from?

I’m from Ishan part of Edo State.

With your busy schedule, how do you find time to be with your partner?

That question is very tricky! Well, we can always make time for the people we care about in our lives.

And he doesn’t complain?

We are very good. You think you shouldn’t talk about it? I really don’t want to talk about it for now.

Why, you think he will like that you didn’t talk about him?

Well, that’s the more reason he should put a ring on it and by then, I can talk about him for the rest of my life.

You just celebrated your 25th birthday, how do you feel at 25?

I’m really happy and blessed; I’m so young, yet so old. You know, it is one thing to have such strong zeal to work from the tender age of 17, starting as an usher at events, it is also another thing to have God’s grace and mercies back you up incessantly.

At 25, I couldn’t ask for a better life and journey so far, and even more thankful for the mistakes made. If given another chance, I’d make them again as they taught me everything I know about life today.

My life is an epitome of God’s grace, mercy and love and for this, I stand tall; I couldn’t be more thankful. I am grateful for the gift of life, and I have a clean 25 years with God by my side.