Beverly Ifunanya Bassey, widely known as Beverly Naya in the Nigerian movie industry, is a 29-year-old actress bred in England. A Scriptwriting and Filmmaking graduate of Roehampton University London, who also has a degree in Psychology, Philosophy and Sociology from Brunel University London, Naya acted in a couple of theatre productions in the United Kingdom before relocating to Nigeria. She was the lead actress in Lancelot Imasuen’s Living in Exile, which helped her to limelight. She won the Most Promising Talent category at the 2010 Best of Nollywood Awards, and also the award for Fast Rising Actress at the 2011 City People Entertainment Awards.
Weekend Magazine: There are great opportunities in the entertainment industry in England where you lived for a long time but you decided to relocate to Nigeria. What motivated your preference?
Beverly Naya: Yes, there are opportunities there for people in the entertainment industry but for me, I felt that expressing the passion of what I do would be best in Nigeria.
WM: How?
Naya: I knew I definitely wanted to act and I believed if I stayed in London, there could be chances I would not be identified as I desired. But here in Nigeria, there exists a vibrant entertainment industry that constantly provides work for black artistes. So I concluded moving to Nigeria would be the wise move.
WM: Your first degree is in filmmaking, not acting. Why does it seem you prefer acting to film making?
Naya: I was acting before I got my degree. I went to the university to study Filmmaking so l can be an all-rounder. I don’t want to be in the film industry and not be an all-rounder because I know that if you are not lucky in acting, you could be rejected before even the battle, so it’s very important to be an all-rounder. It is very important to have a back-up plan in case acting is not working.
WM: How did your parents react to your decision to relocate to Nigeria?
Naya: There wasn’t any negative reaction from them. Rather, they were very proud of me.
WM: What has been your impression since you came here? Any regrets?
Naya: I have been in the industry here for six years, and I’ll tell you I believe in it. It is a running industry; where the industry was when I came in is not where it is now. There is a huge contrast. Producers are getting a lot more creative, our directors are getting wiser and our actors are getting better. I have been able to contribute my own quota since I arrived, produce great works and inspire people along the way. Now is the best time to be in the Nigerian entertainment industry and I am sure I made the right choice.
WM: What are you currently working on?
Naya: I recently produced my own first project, which is a documentary, with Skin as the working title. It dwells on the dark skin, light skin controversy. It throws light on whether one complexion is more desirable than the other, and that people should just love their skin the way they are.
WM: You starred in the box-office thriller, The Wedding Party. How would you describe your experience performing in the movie?
Naya: The Wedding Party is a fantastic script, with fantastic actors. For me, playing an antagonist in the movie is a great experience. Why I really love the role is simply because my character as the antagonist is unique, it stands out and I really enjoyed it.
WM: Aside from acting, producing and scriptwriting, are you into directing?
Naya: I actually had my degree in directing but I am not really passionate about it.
WM: How many films have you starred in in the last six years?
Naya: I have lost exact count of how many films I have been in, maybe about 20.
WM: How many have you done yourself?
Naya: My parents produced one film for me. I have not produced any film of my own.
WM: Was there any point that frustration set in and you got fed up with the industry?
Naya: Definitely. I have experienced that a couple of times, especially in my early years in the industry here. I remember when I once went back to London and I felt like not wanting to come back. It was really hard for me to adjust, to adapt, to understand the culture of the people and the industry, and I felt I was losing myself in the quest. It took a tilt on me mentally.
WM: Have you been weighing in on commercials?
Naya: I have an ongoing relationship with Amstel Malta; they are actually responsible for the Skin documentary. They funded it.
WM: Considering that you literally barged in, how were you able to achieve a lot in the industry within a short time?
Naya: Seriously, I really don’t know. I came to the industry with an intention and with goals in mind, which was to be the best. And everything I have done was with that intention. In the film world, I have not been the most picky, most choosy or most selective, but in recent times, I have been choosy about the types of film I want to be in and how I want to be represented as I build my brand.
WM: Talking about adjusting, are you now at home with local foods? What are your favourite local and continental dishes?
Naya: My favourite Nigerian food will definitely be banga soup with pounded yam or salad soup, while my all-time food is barbeque ribs.
WM: Have earnings from the industry put smiles on your face?
Naya: For me, life is what you make of it. The industry could definitely pay more, and I believe that we’ll get there sooner or later, surely. I do also believe that the more you build your brand and your career, the more money you make. You don’t have to compromise your integrity. I have always believed that with hard work you can always make clean money without compromising your dignity.
I diversify, I try investing in other businesses so that I can sustain myself beyond just being on air and acting.
WM: What have you diversified into?
Naya: I’ve gone into production, which is lucrative. I’ve also gone into agriculture; I’ve got lands. Those are the other things I do that ensure I’m comfortable. My mum is into real estate, so she’s the one that inspired me to go into property online. It is all about how you manage your money. It’s more important to invest than to live a flashy lifestyle. It’s all about priority.
WM: What should your fans look out for?
Naya: There are lots of things they should look out for. First, I thank them for their loyalty, support and love. They mean the world to me and I highly appreciate them. They should watch out for Skin, my documentary sponsored by Amstel Malta. They should look out for Chitadi, another movie from the Ebony Life stable produced by Mo Abudu. That’s really a big deal and has got some of the biggest names in the film industry in it. They should also look out for Locked Down. It was a very challenging film to shoot.
WM: What is your philosophy about life?
Naya: There’s no point in stressing yourself up over things you can’t change. I’ll just say let it go and live your life. Always give your best. When you’ve given your best and the result you desire doesn’t happen, know that it’s just never meant to be.
I believe that nobody can be you, and that’s your advantage, your power. That’s one motto that I live by.
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