Fast rising actress, Ella
Mensah, made history a couple
of years ago when she emerged
the first Ghanaian actress to
pick up a Gbedu Award at the
2013 edition of the awards for
her role in the development of
entertainment in Nollywood
and Ghallywood.
Ella, who made her debut in Crime
To Christ has been working in
Nigeria for a couple of years and
has shot over 40 movies to date.
She has starred alongside top
Ghallywood stars including Majid
Michel and Jackie Appiah. Her
movies include Playboy, Pretty
Queen, Her Excellency, Bed of
Roses, Deadline and Shakira.
In this chat with NIKE BAKARE, Ella
opens up on the journey so far
and her kind of man, revealing
that men find her irresistible.
Tell us about your background?
I’m Emmanuella Gifty Mensah
popularly known as Ella Mensah. I
was born on June 16, 1987 in
Accra, Ghana. I’ve a diploma in
Mass Communication and Media
Studies. I’m from an average
home. We didn’t have much but
my brothers and I got everything
we wanted and needed from our
mum. We were a big Family of 18
but I grew up with my mum and
two younger brothers. I met my
biological father for the first time
when I was 19 years
What was growing up like with
your mum?
Growing up was great. My mum
gave me everything I wanted; I
never missed a thing. Mum was
our father and mother all rolled
into one so we did not miss our
biological father. I thank God He
gave me such a wonderful mother.
I’ve always wanted to be like my
mother who’s loving and caring.
Growing up with mum were the
best years of my life. She was
never one to quit. She was a very
strong and ambitious woman. She
was selfless and very humble. She
was always herself; I love her so
much.
How did you come into acting?
I knew I wanted to be in front of
the cameras when I became the
Entertainment Prefect in my
senior high school days. After
graduation I was attached to
Metro Television, Ghana. As a
young girl I wanted to be a nurse
because I love to take care of
people just like mum. After my
internship at the TV station, I
travelled to Amsterdam. I later
left for South Africa where I lived
for a year and a half. I got into
acting by accident after a friend
asked me to accompany her to an
audition and I was asked to
audition for a role; that was how
my acting career started. I played
the role of a prostitute in my first
movie entitled Crime to Christ. I
featured in the movie alongside
Majid Michael and Jackie Appiah. I
also featured in a popular
television series in Ghana entitled
Beauty & Style, showing on Metro
Television. I started in 2008 and
left for a while but in 2010 I
returned. When I returned I toyed
with the idea of pursuing a career
in journalism but I soon
discovered that acting was my first
love.
What’s your take on Nollywood?
Nollywood is great but a lot still
needs to be done. Nollywood gave
me a platform to excel. I have
featured in over 40 Nigerian
movies. I’ll be shooting my first
Ghanaian movie first week of April
2014. Of course, I live in both
countries.
How do you handle love
advances from male fans?
It’s crazy but I try my best to
handle it well. I always have a
nice way of saying no to men.
Most fans feel they know you
because they have seen your
movies. They are your friends on
facebook, twitter or instagram so
they take advantage of that. I
have had a lot of advances from
men while on set. Wherever I find
myself men walk up to me and tell
me how they fantasise about me
in their dreams. A man I had
never met before once got my
phone number and called me as
much as 87 times a day. Despite
the fact that I ignored those calls
he didn’t stop. He started sending
me dirty text messages. I
eventually got him off my back. I
turned off that phone number for
a month and the dirty messages
and unwanted calls stopped. It’s
really crazy the extent some men
would go to get your attention.
What’s your take on nudity?
Can you act a semi nude role?
My body is for my man alone. I
cannot do a nude scene. It’s a
personal choice; I don’t know
what you mean by semi-nude but
if I’m shooting a movie and
there’s a pool scene, yes of course
I will wear my bikini.
Are you currently dating or in
any relationship?
I’m not dating at the moment;
I’m single and fabulous.
So could you describe your ideal
man?
I love a man who could make me
laugh and who understands my
job. I’m not into looks but we
have to connect. I like a man
who’s got swagger; a man who
knows how to dress well and look
presentable. I don’t care about
height or skin colour, tribe or
where you’re coming from.
What turns you on and what
turns you off?
Nice things turn me on; I love
beautiful people, I can’t stand
dirty people. I like fashionable
clothes, and I‘m addicted to
shoes. I like business minded
people; people who are always on
the move.
Could we meet the real Ella
Mensah?
I know some men cannot stand
me. Apparently I’m rude but I
think it’s because I know who I
am, who I want to be and where
I’m going to in life. I don’t take
nonsense from men. Some men
are very possessive and are
control freaks. Such men can’t be
around a woman like me. They
don’t like competition. Some men
don’t want their women to be
financially stable. They want the
woman to always run to them for
everything because an
independent and successful
woman scares the hell out of
them; I like weird and funny
characters. I am a woman who’s
always on the move; a goal getter.
I don’t care about what other
people’s opinion or perception
about me is; I do what I like and
what makes me happy.
What are your challenges so far
in Nollywood?
I’m your typical next door girl. I’m
a lot of fun to be with. I’m a
young lady who does not take no
for an answer. I don’t have any
challenges in life. I’m young and
still growing. If I have a chance to
change anything, I’ll not because
every mistake I’ve made in life is
a blessing in disguise. I learn
every day. Sometimes I’m happy
and sometimes I’m sad; that’s
life. You lose some and win some.
When I started out in my career,
things were a bit difficult because
I was not known then. Some
producers did not want to take
the risk of starring an unknown
face in their movies. But I am
grateful to God now. I have no
regrets because I believe
everything happens for a reason.
Whatever happens to you can be a
blessing or a lesson for you to
learn from.
You sound so independent. Who
are your role models?
I don’t have a role model at the
moment but I like to listen to
Oprah Winfrey.
You’ve been in the industry for
a while. Tell us about your
awards?
I have won three awards within a
year and a few months. Gbedu
Awards, Nollyfans Awards and the
Fashion 1000 Awards. I won all
these in Nigeria. I’m yet to play a
challenging role; I am looking
forward to playing the role of a
mad woman.
What’s your take on sexual
harassment?
Sexual harassment is everywhere.
It’s not only in the movie
industry. And it all depends on
how you carry yourself. I’m sure
those perverts would pee in their
pants before coming to me. I’ve
never been asked for sex-for-role.
I won’t say I’m tough but I’m
sure nobody in my industry would
look at me in the face and make
such demands.
What are your dreams?
My dream is to achieve everything
I’ve always wanted to achieve.
Five years from now I’ll be more
famous and successful. Ella’ll be a
household name, not only as an
African star but a world star. I also
want to open an orphanage for
single parent mothers.
Why is it that there are so
many rumours flying around…?
I have heard a lot of rumors about
me and they are all untrue. The
most ridiculous one was about my
romance with a Ghanaian/UK
based musician, Fuse ODG. It’s so
untrue because I’ve not and
never had an affair with him.
What’s your take on love and
sex?
Love is a beautiful thing; its food
for the heart. Sex is good for the
body.
Are you living your dreams?
Not really but I’m not where I
used to be; things are looking
better.
Mensah, made history a couple
of years ago when she emerged
the first Ghanaian actress to
pick up a Gbedu Award at the
2013 edition of the awards for
her role in the development of
entertainment in Nollywood
and Ghallywood.
Ella, who made her debut in Crime
To Christ has been working in
Nigeria for a couple of years and
has shot over 40 movies to date.
She has starred alongside top
Ghallywood stars including Majid
Michel and Jackie Appiah. Her
movies include Playboy, Pretty
Queen, Her Excellency, Bed of
Roses, Deadline and Shakira.
In this chat with NIKE BAKARE, Ella
opens up on the journey so far
and her kind of man, revealing
that men find her irresistible.
Tell us about your background?
I’m Emmanuella Gifty Mensah
popularly known as Ella Mensah. I
was born on June 16, 1987 in
Accra, Ghana. I’ve a diploma in
Mass Communication and Media
Studies. I’m from an average
home. We didn’t have much but
my brothers and I got everything
we wanted and needed from our
mum. We were a big Family of 18
but I grew up with my mum and
two younger brothers. I met my
biological father for the first time
when I was 19 years
What was growing up like with
your mum?
Growing up was great. My mum
gave me everything I wanted; I
never missed a thing. Mum was
our father and mother all rolled
into one so we did not miss our
biological father. I thank God He
gave me such a wonderful mother.
I’ve always wanted to be like my
mother who’s loving and caring.
Growing up with mum were the
best years of my life. She was
never one to quit. She was a very
strong and ambitious woman. She
was selfless and very humble. She
was always herself; I love her so
much.
How did you come into acting?
I knew I wanted to be in front of
the cameras when I became the
Entertainment Prefect in my
senior high school days. After
graduation I was attached to
Metro Television, Ghana. As a
young girl I wanted to be a nurse
because I love to take care of
people just like mum. After my
internship at the TV station, I
travelled to Amsterdam. I later
left for South Africa where I lived
for a year and a half. I got into
acting by accident after a friend
asked me to accompany her to an
audition and I was asked to
audition for a role; that was how
my acting career started. I played
the role of a prostitute in my first
movie entitled Crime to Christ. I
featured in the movie alongside
Majid Michael and Jackie Appiah. I
also featured in a popular
television series in Ghana entitled
Beauty & Style, showing on Metro
Television. I started in 2008 and
left for a while but in 2010 I
returned. When I returned I toyed
with the idea of pursuing a career
in journalism but I soon
discovered that acting was my first
love.
What’s your take on Nollywood?
Nollywood is great but a lot still
needs to be done. Nollywood gave
me a platform to excel. I have
featured in over 40 Nigerian
movies. I’ll be shooting my first
Ghanaian movie first week of April
2014. Of course, I live in both
countries.
How do you handle love
advances from male fans?
It’s crazy but I try my best to
handle it well. I always have a
nice way of saying no to men.
Most fans feel they know you
because they have seen your
movies. They are your friends on
facebook, twitter or instagram so
they take advantage of that. I
have had a lot of advances from
men while on set. Wherever I find
myself men walk up to me and tell
me how they fantasise about me
in their dreams. A man I had
never met before once got my
phone number and called me as
much as 87 times a day. Despite
the fact that I ignored those calls
he didn’t stop. He started sending
me dirty text messages. I
eventually got him off my back. I
turned off that phone number for
a month and the dirty messages
and unwanted calls stopped. It’s
really crazy the extent some men
would go to get your attention.
What’s your take on nudity?
Can you act a semi nude role?
My body is for my man alone. I
cannot do a nude scene. It’s a
personal choice; I don’t know
what you mean by semi-nude but
if I’m shooting a movie and
there’s a pool scene, yes of course
I will wear my bikini.
Are you currently dating or in
any relationship?
I’m not dating at the moment;
I’m single and fabulous.
So could you describe your ideal
man?
I love a man who could make me
laugh and who understands my
job. I’m not into looks but we
have to connect. I like a man
who’s got swagger; a man who
knows how to dress well and look
presentable. I don’t care about
height or skin colour, tribe or
where you’re coming from.
What turns you on and what
turns you off?
Nice things turn me on; I love
beautiful people, I can’t stand
dirty people. I like fashionable
clothes, and I‘m addicted to
shoes. I like business minded
people; people who are always on
the move.
Could we meet the real Ella
Mensah?
I know some men cannot stand
me. Apparently I’m rude but I
think it’s because I know who I
am, who I want to be and where
I’m going to in life. I don’t take
nonsense from men. Some men
are very possessive and are
control freaks. Such men can’t be
around a woman like me. They
don’t like competition. Some men
don’t want their women to be
financially stable. They want the
woman to always run to them for
everything because an
independent and successful
woman scares the hell out of
them; I like weird and funny
characters. I am a woman who’s
always on the move; a goal getter.
I don’t care about what other
people’s opinion or perception
about me is; I do what I like and
what makes me happy.
What are your challenges so far
in Nollywood?
I’m your typical next door girl. I’m
a lot of fun to be with. I’m a
young lady who does not take no
for an answer. I don’t have any
challenges in life. I’m young and
still growing. If I have a chance to
change anything, I’ll not because
every mistake I’ve made in life is
a blessing in disguise. I learn
every day. Sometimes I’m happy
and sometimes I’m sad; that’s
life. You lose some and win some.
When I started out in my career,
things were a bit difficult because
I was not known then. Some
producers did not want to take
the risk of starring an unknown
face in their movies. But I am
grateful to God now. I have no
regrets because I believe
everything happens for a reason.
Whatever happens to you can be a
blessing or a lesson for you to
learn from.
You sound so independent. Who
are your role models?
I don’t have a role model at the
moment but I like to listen to
Oprah Winfrey.
You’ve been in the industry for
a while. Tell us about your
awards?
I have won three awards within a
year and a few months. Gbedu
Awards, Nollyfans Awards and the
Fashion 1000 Awards. I won all
these in Nigeria. I’m yet to play a
challenging role; I am looking
forward to playing the role of a
mad woman.
What’s your take on sexual
harassment?
Sexual harassment is everywhere.
It’s not only in the movie
industry. And it all depends on
how you carry yourself. I’m sure
those perverts would pee in their
pants before coming to me. I’ve
never been asked for sex-for-role.
I won’t say I’m tough but I’m
sure nobody in my industry would
look at me in the face and make
such demands.
What are your dreams?
My dream is to achieve everything
I’ve always wanted to achieve.
Five years from now I’ll be more
famous and successful. Ella’ll be a
household name, not only as an
African star but a world star. I also
want to open an orphanage for
single parent mothers.
Why is it that there are so
many rumours flying around…?
I have heard a lot of rumors about
me and they are all untrue. The
most ridiculous one was about my
romance with a Ghanaian/UK
based musician, Fuse ODG. It’s so
untrue because I’ve not and
never had an affair with him.
What’s your take on love and
sex?
Love is a beautiful thing; its food
for the heart. Sex is good for the
body.
Are you living your dreams?
Not really but I’m not where I
used to be; things are looking
better.
No comments:
Post a Comment