Dakore Egbuson is
not the kind of actress that can be spotted just anywhere and anyhow. Her
mission and vision in the entertainment industry as a whole is very clear to her
and she sure knows her way around.
According to the Bayelsa indigene,
who doubles as ambassador for Amstel Malta and spokesperson for Amnesty
International and Oxfam of America for the control of arms and ammunition,
her rise to fame was as a result of her brilliant performance in her fifth
movie, Emotional Cry and she has not looked back since then.
“I was on the campus of the
University of Lagos (UNILAG) but was unable to complete my degree programme
because I left in the third year as a result of incessant strikes and went
to London to develop my talents. In London, I started working as a presenter
on BEN TV and was on the Black Variety show with Ronke Apampa. There I
started doing music and performed at big events with top acts like Tony
Allen and Weird MC. But before I left for England, I had starred in four
movies Silent Tears, Play Boy, Tentacles and She Devils. The
movies came out when I was trying to build a career and was away in London
in 2000 but after the movies came out, people were so impressed with my
performance and they persuaded me to come home that Nollywood is really
doing fine and all that. That was how my acting career blew up. I won an
award for my role in Emotional Cry, which was my fifth movie.
Emotional Cry, which was released in 2003 shot me into limelight and I rose
to stardom. That, of course, was a turning point in my life,” she recounted.
This first child of a building
contractor and caterer reeled that the discovery of her talent is as a
result of her parents’ encouragement, which included paying for arts lessons
and enrolling her in a school that would help notice her talent early in
life.
“I am the first born of my family. I
have three brothers and a sister, my father was a building contractor. He
had his own construction company and worked with Shell for several years. He
is now retired and in the United States. My mum is a caterer and at the same
time taking care of the home. My father knew me as an artiste as a kid and
he encouraged me. He paid for the recorder lesson, sent me to good schools.
In a way, my background has really helped my acting career. I went to Corona
School, Gbagada, Lagos one of the best schools in Nigeria, which I am very
proud of. It was at Corona that I discovered my talents. I always loved to
act, dance and sing. I was a member of the choir and was everywhere doing
something. I got a lot of time to express myself artistically,” said the
dazzling actress with stunning modelling features.
How she has been able to maintain
her unusual lifestyle, which is devoid of the everyday celebrity lifestyle
is what she has termed as the grace of God and her ability to learn very
quickly in life.
“When I started out it wasn’t my
intention to be famous. I had a talent and I was excited about my talent and
where it would take me. Fame is as a result of being an actor because I
wasn’t prepared for it. It is by the grace of God because I can’t take any
credit for it. Naturally, I am a very boring and low-key person. I don’t go
out that much. I am not the type that you see everywhere and that has always
helped too. I don’t have too many friends.”
Though Dakore is not one who would
readily tell the world about her private life, she still accepts the obvious
fact that she is all over the moon with a certain young man. The young
man, of course, is Olumide Akande.
“Oh yes there is a man but I
wouldn’t want to talk about it. I’m not talking about him. I am a woman and
I would love to settle down and have my own family someday but first, I have
to ensure that I am in the right place at the right time. It would
definitely happen but I am not anxious,” she said tersely.
The Amstel ambassador noted that she
is happy to get the job, “I just got a call that they wanted me for an
Amstel Malta advert and that was it. Amstel Malta was my major hit and it
was amazing. I am proud of it. We shot the commercial in South Africa. It
was my first time in South Africa. I went with a world-class crew. I had my
own wardrobe, a make-up artiste. People love the advert and they praise me
on the road that the advert is good. Amstel Malta has supported Nollywood in
a big way and I am very honoured to be its model.”
Dakore, who is still passionate
about her music career, also said that she is doing all within her reach to
stage a successful outing and not just sizzle like some of her fellow
Nollywood colleagues.
“I am doing what I can to have a
successful outing. And that is why I took it to Los Angeles in the United
States, working with Akon’s producer and people who have been in the
business for over two decades. I am also coming out with my talk show
entitle Dakore Show.”
Dakore, who has her mum, Oprah
Winfrey and late Alaere Alaibe as outstanding role models, said about her
dreadlocks: “I am only trying to create an identity for myself, it is the
hairstyle that I’m comfortable with, I have been growing it for years now
and it’s been wonderful, my hair is growing and people admire me.”