ONYE OZI (The Messenger) Preview Series: Ngozi Igwebike

This new face to the film industry has already started carving her own niche in the industry. She is a Model, Fashion Editor, and now has extended her brand into acting.

Full Name:  Ngozi Gayle Thompson-Igwebike

State of Origin:  Awka, Anambra State

I first got into modelling just a little over a year ago. I have always been told by friends and family that I should model, but never really paid any attention to all of that because I always used to think I was not ‘tall enough’ to be a model.

Last year (2012), a friend told me that Africa Fashion Week London, (AFWL) was holding an open casting and that I should give it a go. I did not even have a portfolio but I went along anyway, and to my immense surprise, I was picked as one of the models. Next thing after that, I got signed up to Mahogany Model Management. That was the beginning of my modelling story.

What shows have you modelled in?

I have done runway modelling for London Fashion Week for both last year and this year. This year, we did a street walk catwalk all the way from Convent Garden to Somerset House. It was so much fun and a photograph of us taken by a photographer, won him the Cannon Photography Competition for September 2013.

I have done AFWL for two consecutive seasons so far, and this year’s one was huge. I mean we literally had a runway that was soooo long, even models who absolutely love being on the catwalk, were pleading for it to be shorter. The whole event was covered by the BBC and CNN.

I have also modelled at Oxford Fashion Show Week and a few graduate fashion shows.

Well, I don’t really think of it in terms of ‘how far’? or, ‘how long’?. It’s more like I flow with the momentum. I love and enjoy modelling, so whenever opportunities come my way that are interesting to me, I won’t turn it down.

There are so many different genres of modelling that to totally rule it out will not be necessary I think.

That is correct and I tell you, it’s been an immense learning experience for me. I have and still am, learning new skills every day. Running a magazine is a completely different ball game to anything else I have ever done before. The Chief Editor, Faustina Anyanwu (a.k.a, Fauntee Bon) keeps going from strength to strength. Only God knows how she keeps her head on with the pressure. I commend her prowess.

I am mainly focused on the fashion and beauty side of things as well as interviews, which I absolutely love. It just gives me excuses to spend days shopping and scouting for trends and styles or doing the same thing attending fashion shows. I also help with organizing events that the magazine sometimes holds.

That’s a bit of a funny one. I have always wanted to be a presenter and having tried a couple of channels like BBC and ITV without luck, I mentioned to a friend that I was ready to give up.

She incidentally mentioned my predicament to a friend of hers, (Kayode) who said he already has someone in mind for the job. When I met him, he told me that he had unfortunately, decided on whom he wanted to have on the show. He said he had not met this person, but only heard their voice on a ‘voice pop’ presenting clip that the person did.

When he then showed me the clip, it ironically happened that ‘I’ was the one talking in the clip he heard. So you could say that, that was an opportunity packaged just for me and waiting……You know the rest!

It’s been crazy so far. I tell you all my experiences in the media world have been a baptism of fire. I have never been ‘eased’ into anything, just thrown into the deep end and left to sink or swim.

It is very stressful. Live TV is very scary. The pressure and unpredictability of how events may turn out whilst you present live is just too frightening.

Having said that, I am not complaining at all because I really do love presenting on the show and as I only do a five-ten minute segment only, I leave the rest of the worry and stress to Kayode….LOL.

Yes I have. It was certainly not intentional. I just get requested for when there events happening especially within the Diaspora sector. I think that for some reason, people seem to like my face and maybe, my style of presenting…?? I really don’t know what it is, but all the same, I thank God, because it means more work for me and of course more networking opportunities too.

I am due todo some more presenting on the Nigerian Centenary celebrations coming up in January, but before that, I will be doing the independence events and some of the centenary preparatory works involved, and I am loving every minute of it…so far!

Scary, very scary!! I had never done anything like that before and have no idea what I was getting myself into. But I received so many amazing feedbacks when it was all over, that I did it all over again the next month…and know what? I loved it!!

Being on that stage, where all eyes were on you with everyone looking directly at you, was a very daunting experience. It made me realize and appreciate the talents and skills that theatre actors posses. To be able to ignore all those eyes on you and do what you are meant to do and do it well??

Definitely requires skills, and therein lies the difference with being on stage and acting in front of a camera. It is the comfort of knowing I am only really speaking to a machine, and although that can be quite daunting in its own way, it is mostly, me against the camera, so less scary critical eyes on me to make me lose my nerves.

I have a couple of things lined up. Just waiting for the final go ahead. You will be the first to know more details when I can give them. I will keep you posted.

What character do you play ?

I play the role of Mkpurunma. The name means, nugget of beauty. She is the wife of Okey Bakassi’s character, Metumaribe, whom she married and who just arrived from Nigeria.

Her character is portrayed as a worn out frazzled single mother trying to make a comfortable life for herself and her kids and when her husband joins her, life turns from boring to interesting and scary. I think the beauty of her character is in her relentless strength.

Amidst her friends jesting and poking fun at her, she keeps on holding on and fighting back for what she wants and believes in, without compromising her integrity. It’s really hard to describe her without giving the film away. So I suggest coming to the premier to watch it and make your own judgments about it.

You know the funny thing? When I auditioned for the role, I literally did it because it was an open audition and I thought why not? I did not know what to expect or who I’ll meet, having never even heard of Obi Emelonye at that point… So I just did it and left the rest up to God!

I think that till today, my family and some of my friends don’t quite believe I’ve completed a movie, never mind, the first ever of its kind. They are of course, very happy and proud for and of me, support me wholeheartedly and believe in me.

I come from that family that keeps you so grounded, you hardly have an opportunity to become jaded, so even with all the above said, it’s just a normal everyday thing with them in my case. I think no matter how big a star I become, I’ll never be anything but ‘Ngozi the Gayle force’ to them.

It was very strange at first. There is a level of Igbo that Obi wanted, which meant that we had to practice a bit more to get the flow. For instance, I speak Igbo reasonably well, or so I thought, but during rehearsals, I found out I really could not speak a full sentence in Igbo without adding a word of English. That had to go…completely.

With Obi, there’s no room for errors. He is tough on his cast getting things just right. I suppose that’s why he is the multi award winning director and not me…!! It was a lot harder filming in Igbo language than in English, certainly, but with time, it did get easier.

The filming process was great though. It was so much fun on set. We had such amazing time. Even though we had very long days, literally, we still had fun. Obi really knows how to look after his cast and crew. Fresh food and fruits and drinks in abundance.

We had Okey Bakassi, who was in his element as a comedian. Our sides just about ripped out of us because we laughed that much. It was just a laughter fest on set, everyday. We even had people just turn up, not part of the cast, but just volunteering to help and share in the fun.

We cultivated a real family home atmosphere and became quite close. I can honestly say that I have remained friends with most of the cast after the filming, and I mean proper, pick up the phone and chat friends.

No one wanted it to end. On our last day, there were tears…. from a lot of us….especially me!!

I think it has in part to do with lack of confidence on our parts as to whether an Igbo film will be accepted in London because of its’ immense cultural diversity.

Secondly, I think that the kind of revenue it will likely generate is a big issue for most people and their interests. Not that I blame anyone wanting to make money out of their hard work, but it does take away from the passion required to make such films.

Obi Emelonye happens to be a champion for the Igbo’s and our culture. This is a pet project for him and one can truly see that monetary gain was not the very first thing in his thoughts before venturing into this movie. If anything, I would say that ‘revival’ of the Igbo culture and language, was the main draw.

I would really like to see more Igbo films or plays being made from this venture. I love the idea of being close to home even in a foreign land. Imagine having an all Igbo drama in series regularly on TV. (Think Eastenders, think Coronation Street) How awesome would that be?

All the family lined up every Sunday evening in the front room, to watch their favourite Igbo play together. Even if your children were born here, you can help them learn the language and culture by watching your people act it out to them every week. Wow, I’m getting rather excited myself at the thought alone.

My dream would be to work on a project like ‘Homeland’ or Scandal’ and with great actors like, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Angelica Houston and Angelina Jolie. They inspire me and I like their style of acting and generally, who they are in their own persons. Not in your face kind of people and they come across as genuine as you can get for big celebrities.

Any closing comments?

Please support your up and coming actors/actresses. Go see their plays, movies or any small productions they might be involved in. It inspires, encourages and builds them up to do and be, much better in their jobs. Also, give constructive criticisms and pointers for us to learn from, not just a disparaging remark that does nothing but wither one’s courage.

How can people find out more about you?

I am with Mahogany Model Management, so can be contacted for any model works through themwww.mahoganymodelmanagement.com

Email; ngthompsonigwebike@gmail.com

Facebook; Ng Thompson

Twitter; www.twitter.com/GayleNgozee