Marvelous Dominion’s story enchants with the courage to dare what many dread; she is an actor and a model who studied Contemporary Performance Art in Oxford. Marvelous is a budding actor, well-groomed and very prepared to take up any role come rain come shine. You might well find it sufficiently fascinating that she recently appeared in a stage play, a psycho-erotic drama about a mother who struggles to save the crumbling marriage of her daughter, in the course of which she stumbles on a deadly secret that threatens her relationship with her daughter, her son-in-law and her inner self. It is a drama about marriage, desire and morality in the internet age titled ‘3some’, produced and written by Jude Idada, where she appeared nude on stage. Her courage to take up such brazen role attracted us to her and we would like to share her story with you.
So you have been a budding actor and a model, how did it all start?
Since I was 16 or while growing up as a child, I have always had this flair for acting and modeling, but mostly for acting. So when I was 17, I had to go to England to study it professionally in school. Then from studying acting on camera in London, then I had to go to Oxford to study contemporary performance art. Then from there, I had to come back to Nigeria to pursue my acting career in Nigeria, so far it’s been good.
Let’s talk about the most recent role you played in Jude Idada’s stage play; 3some, Nigeria is a very conservative society, how was it like deciding to go nude onstage?
When I got the script, I had to go through the story of course, Jude told me about the character I was supposed to portray in the play. First of all, I didn’t study theater art in school, I am not a professional stage actor, I’m a trained camera actress. Initially, I told Jude I am not sure I can do this but let’s see how we can work on this and make it come to fruition. It was encouraging because he said he was going to train me and see how far we could go on the field. He encouraged me and we had some rehearsals, 3 weeks rehearsals I think and then I went through the script, I loved the story line and thought about it. I didn’t really think about it because I am a Nigerian, of course we have our own cultural beliefs in this country, the only thing I thought of was just what makes me happy. This is what I want to do, and in the film school I went to, we were been taught that you might be asked to come out to work as a nude actress. So it only takes a daring actor to imbibe the character. I went through the story and I realized it was an interesting and a very daring story. If it wasn’t daring of such, I wouldn’t have gone for it.
An average person would definitely say you actually smiled to the bank after your nude performance on stage. Would you say it was the money that made you take up such a role?
Not really, but the money motivates you know. First of all, it’s the passion, secondly was the storyline, the character, and then the money motivates you. If I wasn’t well paid, maybe I wouldn’t have done it, but I was well paid. The first thing here is if the storyline wasn’t as strong and daring as it was, I won’t take it even if it involves mouth-watering pay. So it was the storyline, the passion most importantly, and then the money backed it up.
Coming from an African background, Nigerian home to be precise, were your parents aware of the fact that you went onstage nude? If yes, what was their reaction like?
My both parents were aware of this. Firstly, I came from a beautiful family, my parents have been very supportive, especially my career and passion for acting. Acting is what I have always wanted to do from childhood. When my mum heard the story line and my role in the play, though I told her later that I was going nude onstage, and the only thing she said was, are they going to recognize you in reality onstage, then she said anyways as long as it makes you happy and you know what you are doing, you have our full support. My dad was like, oh it’s good.
Do you have a boyfriend?
Presently, I don’t have a serious boyfriend; I used to have a boyfriend but not anymore. I had a five years relationship which was supposed to lead to marriage, but we had so much issues and then again I suffered domestic violence. He was overly protective and stuff like that so it’s a long story, but we’re still cool though. So, I’m trying to stay on my own for a while, I want to get myself back in order, it’s not like I am a saint but I need to get myself together and focus more on my career.
Do you mind telling us what transpired between you and your ex-boyfriend?
It was more of domestic violence and a lot of other things attached to it. I was really in love so I didn’t really see that part until it got to my peak and I couldn’t take it anymore.
Please tell us more about it because domestic violence is one of the issues women face in relationships today, we would like to hear your domestic violence experience.
He was overly protective, he did a lot of things to me and he was always hitting me for some petty reasons. Initially, I never knew it was like this, along the way my eyes opened to some deep things and I realized I was in a wrong relationship. At first I didn’t know what to do because I was stupidly in love.
So at what point did you decide that you have had enough of it?
When he came back to Nigeria and we both stayed in my own apartment. On his birthday, he acted really crazy and hit me again, that was the day I decided to leave the relationship for good. Not that I don’t have friends, I do have a lot of them and we hangout sometimes.
As a budding actor and a model, you can’t take away the fact that some directors and producers sometimes try to abuse some of their female actors sexually. Have you had such experience before?
Oh yes, I have those experiences here in Nigeria, sincerely it’s terrible. I know Nollywood is a very fascinating industry, a lot of things happening left and right. There are a lot of upcoming actresses and actors who are very desperate to go on camera, on Tv basically. I have been a victim before, whenever I go for auditioning, I get picked one way or the other and it always end with I like you. Most of them say the sentence ‘I want to protect you in the industry’ and I’m like really? I am a trained actor and am I supposed to sleep with a producer or director to get a movie role? So that is the main reason why I have to keep my cool in the industry. You have to be very strong in this line, because if you are not strong you will be forced to do what you don’t want to do in the process of trying to make your way to the top.
It feels good to know that you have a stand even as an upcoming actor. So, would you say that your acting or modeling does not really affect your religious life?
First of all, I am not a church person. I don’t like going to church. I have had bad history with churches in Nigeria and abroad, but mostly in Nigeria. So I just worship God in my house, you don’t need to go to church to praise God, you can do that in your room, pray to him in your room. So, I don’t believe in going to church.
Obviously something triggered that, why did you decide to worship God at home?
Don’t get me wrong, I do go to church. I go to church like once or twice in a year, though I used to be a serious church girl, I stopped going because a pastor duped my family. It all started when my father had stroke, I was in England then, I had to rush back to Nigeria when I heard about my father’s condition. A pastor said my dad’s stroke was caused by one of my uncles. My grandfather was the king of my village, so they said my grandfather’s brother was the cause of my dad’s stroke. We paid a lot of money to church and the pastor had to come to our house to pray for us. Ever since the pastor came to our apartment, I have been having serious nightmares, spiritual attacks left and right. I thought church was place to look for help and not give money to the pastors for no reason. My parents still go to church, they don’t have a problem with that, but I go twice in a year. Nobody talks to me about church related stories because they know I’m not going to listen to them.
Taking you back to Jude Idada’s stage play, where you went nude onstage , have you ever thought about the fact that taking such role could scare men or suitors away from you knowing that fact that our tradition frowns at nudity?
Yeah I thought about that, but the exposed Nigerian men who know much about acting, will understand that that wasn’t the real me, it was just an act. But what I did on stage is acting, what is acting? Acting is make-believe, it’s building , make believe what is not real. That I am onstage nude doesn’t mean I am like that on regular basis; it doesn’t mean that is Marvelous. That character was not me, it was a different person. Some prospective suitors will say; she went onstage nude, I can’t propose to her.
Being an actor comes with a lot of negativity especially with your recent role in the stage play, how do you intend to handle negativity and criticism?
Negativity only comes to those who allows it come to them; you can block it if you want to, so far I have been great in that area. I will just keep on blocking negativity. The truth is, I am not ready for anything that will destroy me or tarnish my image, so I block every negativity that comes my way. I say to myself ‘why listen to all those crap when I can focus on positive vibes?’ There are family members and my friends who understand me much better. I don’t care what some Nigerian men will think of me related to what I did onstage .Well, those are their own opinions not mine, so I’m not bothered. I don’t give a hoot about what people think.
I would like you to tell us how you met the Producer and the writer of 3some play, Jude Idada, how did you find out about ‘3some’ the play?
I think it was destined to happen. I was working on a project titled Soldier’s Story part 2, then someone said you need to meet a crazy producer, his name is Jude Idada. The next day, I had a meeting with Jude and we discussed his future projects. He then mentioned the play and that actors involved, he later said he was looking for someone who can act nude onstage. I was surprised he couldn’t get and actor to take up the role. He even said he was forced to involve a stripper but her conditions were unethical, she wanted everything real onstage and Jude was like that is nasty and beside the man involved is married. That was how I came onboard and played the role.
If you had the opportunity to hang out or probably have a dinner with a particular celebrity, who would that be?
Lupita Nyong’o, she is very educated, she is also an expressionist in the field as well. She’s just a great actor, she is my role model. I would love to act with her; it’s going to be a dream come true for me.
What inspires your craft?
God comes first and then my family, my family members are very encouraging. I would say I have the best parents ever.
This is a very competitive industry and you have to be on top of your game to keep it going, so how do you intend to stay relevant in the industry?
It’s by improving in my career and hoping to get more roles from directors and producers. I don’t mind any role at all , being an actor you should be open to take any role, so I’m open to any role, especially interesting and daring stories. I love daring stories. My character in ‘3some’ stage play is a way to the top, so lesbian character is pretty little compared to what I have done in the past.
Marvelous Dominion’s story is a daring and interesting one; she is an actor and a model, who studied contemporary performance art in Oxford. Marvelous is a budding actor who is trained and prepared to take up any role at anytime .The most fascinating thing about her story is that she recently appeared in a stage play, a psycho-erotic drama about a mother who struggles to save the crumbling marriage of her daughter, in the course of which she stumbles on a deadly secret that threatens her relationship with her daughter, her son-in-law and her inner self. It is a drama about marriage, desire and morality in the internet age, titled’ 3some’, produced and written by Jude Idada, where she appeared nude on stage. Her courage to take up such daring role attracted us to her and we would like to share her story with you:
So you have been a budding actor and a model, how did it all start?
Since I was 16 or while growing up as a child, I have always had this flair for acting and modeling, but mostly for acting. So when I was 17, I had to go to England to study professionally in school. Then from studying acting on camera in London, then I had to go to Oxford to study contemporary performance art. Then from there, I came back to Nigeria to pursue my acting career, so far it’s been good.
Alot of people would definitely say you actually smiled to the bank after your nude performance on stage. Would you say it was the money that made you take up such a role?
Not really, but the money motivates you know. First of all, it’s the passion. Secondly,was the story line, the character, and then the money motivates you . If I wasn’t well paid, maybe I wouldn’t have done it, but I was well paid. The first thing here is if the story line wasn’t as strong and daring as it was, I won’t take it at all, even if it involves mouth-watering pay. So it was the story line, the passion most importantly, and then the money backed it up.
Coming from an African background, Nigerian home to be precise, were your parents aware of the fact that you went on stage nude? If yes , what was their reaction like?
My both parents were aware of this. Firstly, I came from a beautiful family, my parents have been very supportive of my career and passion for acting. Acting is what I have always wanted to do since i was a child. When my mum heard the story line and my role in the play, though I told her later that I was going nude on stage, and the only thing she said was, are they going to recognize you in reality on stage, then she said anyways as long as it makes you happy and you know what you are doing, you have our full support. My dad was like, oh it’s good.
If you don’t mind, do you have a boyfriend?
Presently I don’t have a serious boyfriend, I used to have a boyfriend but not anymore. I had a 5years relationship which was suppose to lead to marriage but we had so much issues and then again I suffered domestic violence. He was overly protective and stuff like that so it’s a long story, but we still cool though. so I’m trying to like stay on my own for a while, I want to get myself back in order, not like I am a saint but I need to get myself together and focus more on my career.
Do you mind telling us what transpired between you two?
It was more of domestic violence and a lot of other things attached to it. I was really in love so I didn’t really see that part until it got to my hook and I couldn’t take it anymore.
Please tell us more about it because domestic violence is one of the issues women face in relationships today, we would like to hear your domestic violence experience.
He was overly protective, he did a lot of things to me and he was always hitting me for some petty reasons. Initially, I never knew it was like this, along the way my eyes opened to some deep things and I realized I was in a wrong relationship. At first I didn’t know what to do because I was stupidly in love .
So at what point did you decide that you have had enough of it?
When he came back to Nigeria and we both stayed in my own apartment. On his birthday, he acted really crazy and hit me again, that was the day I decided to leave the relationship for good. Not that I don’t have friends, I do have a lot of them and we hangout sometimes.
As a budding actor and a model, you can’t take away the fact that some of these directors and producers sometimes try to abuse some of their female actors sexually. Have you had such experience before?
Oh yes, I have those experiences here in Nigeria, sincerely its terrible. I know Nollywood is a very fascinating industry, a lot of things happening left and right. There are a lot of upcoming actresses and actors who are very desperate to go on camera, on Tv basically. I have been a victim before, whenever I go for auditioning , I get picked one way or the other and it always end with I like you. Most of them say the sentence ‘I want to protect you in the industry’ and I’m like really? I am a trained actor and am I suppose to sleep with a producer or director to get a movie role? So that is the main reason why I have to keep my cool in the industry. You have to be very strong in this line , because if you are not strong you will be forced to do what you don’t want to do in the process of trying to make your way to the top.
It feels good to know that you have a stand even as an upcoming actor. So, would you say that your acting or modeling does not really affect your Religious life?
First of all, I am not a church person. I don’t like going to church. I have had bad history with churches in Nigeria and above, but mostly in Nigeria. So I just worship God in my house, you don’t need to go to church to praise God, you can do that in your room, pray to him in your room. so I don’t believe in going to church.
Obviously something triggered that, why did you decide to worship God at home?
Don’t get me wrong, I do go to church I go to church like once or twice in a year. Though I used to be a serious church girl but I stopped going because a pastor duped my family. It all started when my father had stroke, I was in England then, I had to rush back to Nigeria when I heard about my father’s condition. A pastor said my dad’s stroke was caused by one of my uncles. My grandfather was the king of my village, so they said my grandfather’s brother was the cause of my dad’s stroke. We paid a lot of money to church and the pastor had to come to our house to pray for us. Ever since the pastor came to our apartment, I have been having serious nightmares, spiritual attacks left and right. I thought church was place to look for help and not give money to the pastors for no reason. My parents still go to church, they don’t have a problem with that, but I go twice in a year. Nobody talks to me about church related stories because they know I’m not going to listen to them.
Taking you back to Jude Idada’s stage play, where you went nude on stage , have you ever thought about the fact that taking such role could scare men or suitors away from you knowing that fact that our tradition frowns at Such?
Yeah I thought about that, but the exposed Nigerian men who know much about acting, will understand that that wasn’t the real me , it was just and act. But what I did on stage is acting, what is acting? Acting is make believe, it’s building, make believe what is not real. I am on stage nude doesn’t mean I am like that on regular basis; it doesn’t mean that is marvelous. That character was a not me , it was a different person. Some prospective suitors will say; she went on stage nude, I can’t propose to her.
Been an actor comes with a lot of negativity especially with your recent role in the stage play , how do you intend to handle negativity and criticism?
Negativity only come to those who allows it come to them; you can block it if you want to, so far I have been great in that area. I will just keep on blocking negativity. The truth is, i am not ready for anything that will destroy me or tarnish my image, so I block every negativity that comes my way. I say to myself ‘why listen to all those crap when I can focus on positive vibes, family and my friends who understand me much better. I don’t care what some Nigerian men will think of me related to what I did on stage. Well, those are their own opinions not mine, so I’m not bothered. I don’t give a hoot about what people think.
I would like you to tell us how you met the Producer and the writer of 3some play, Jude Idada, how did you find out about 3some the play?
I think it was destined to happen. I was working on a project , soldier’s story part 2, then someone said your need to meet a crazy producer, his name is Jude Idada. The next day we met Jude and we discussed about his future projects. He then mentioned the play and that actors involved, he later said he was looking for someone who can act nude on stage. Was surprised he couldn’t get an actor to take up the role. He even said he was forced to involve a stripper but her conditions were unethical, she wanted everything real on stage and jude was like that is nasty and beside the man involved is a married. That was how I came on board and played the role.
If you had the opportunity to hang out or probably have a dinner with a particular celebrity, who would that be?
Lupita Nyong’o, she is very educated, she is also an expressionist in the field as well. She’s just a great actor, she is my role model. I would love to act with her , it’s going to be a dream come through for me.
What inspires your craft?
God comes first and then my family. My family is very encouraging .I would say I have the best parents ever.
This is a very competitive industry and you have to be on top of your game to keep it going, so how do you intend to stay relevant in the industry?
By improving in my career, hoping to get more roles from directors and producers. I don’t mind any role at all. Being an actor you should be open to take up any role, so I’m open to any role, especially interesting and daring stories, I love daring stories. My character in 3some stage play is a way to the top, so lesbian character is pretty little compared to what I have done in the past.
