Tonto Dikeh Speaks on Her ‘My Life, My Damage’ Movie Role, Says It’s Only A Movie, Not Her Real Life

Actress Tonto Dikeh is once again before us to clarify another rumour making its round that she is on drugs. The finger pointing arises from her recent role in movie, My Life, My Damage,which is set to premiere in September in several countries. In the movie, the actress plays the role of a lady who uses drugs to get high and ends up with drastic consequences. The finger pointers allege the actress was pinned for the role because of her use of drugs in real life which made her fit perfectly into the script.

In the movie which has a trailer on youtube, we are shown how Tonto gave up her whole back too have her face tattooed on it. The question is, ‘Who goes under the needle to have their whole back tattooed if they are not high on drugs?

Why did colleague Uche Jombo – Rodriguez pick Tonto for this controversial drug role? Were the scenes where the actress was shown sniffing drugs real or make believe? These questions are not available to us so we decided to approach Tonto, the alleged drug user to explain why she is constantly being referred to as a drug user in real life and why she agreed to play one in a movie. She answered our questions but was full of fire and even almost cursed us out!

Enjoy the spit – fire – response…..

Tonto, how are you been? You have been really quiet these days. How is work?

I am fine Stella, and i have been very busy on location making movies. When you say quiet, I don’t understand what you mean. I am not a loud person, I just do my things and mind my business. Anytime you call me I know something is up. This is an interview? What have I done again?

There are some questions I want to ask you from what is being whispered in the grapevine. I hope you will be nice enough to provide the answers. You shot a movie, My Life, My Damage, with your colleague, Uche Jombo; we are yet to see the movie but it is alleged that the drug addict role played in the movie is your true life character.

Here we go again! I am an actor, for Christ sake. And I am supposed to make my audience believe whatever role I interpret. If any past role I have done has made anyone put a tag on me as Tonto a person, that’s their problem to deal with and not mine. I have heard so many things about myself that sometimes I wonder if it’s me or someone else. Am I not supposed to have a life because I am actor? if they are saying I got the roles because I am on drugs why are you calling me? Why don’t you call the person who saw me fit to interpret that role? People just sit in their comfort zone and talk all sorts of rubbish. My Life, My Damage is a movie where I interpreted the role of someone who got high on drugs. Acting like a drug addict is easy. As an actor you just have to make sure you are convincing enough. Please, let them say, I am not going to respond to anyone on this issue again!

The tattoo of your face on your back was done during the movie shoot in America. Drugs and tattoo sometimes go together. Have you gone for therapy to solve this problem?

I don’t understand these questions you are asking. ave you also gone to therapy for poke nosing into people’s affairs? I am sure you would call it a job. That’s fine. I had my back tattooed because I always wanted to do so and during the movie shoot we figured we could put the scene into the movie. Like you said drugs and tattoo sometimes go together and we thought it was perfect for the movie. That’s all it is Stella. That’s all it is.

I will ignore the insult. From the synopsis of the movie your character did not end up well. Are you not worried that you might end up like this if you continue with  drug abuse?

Yes, the character I played ended up with HIV/AIDS and that’s a good lesson out there for people who abuse sex and drugs without protection. My Life, My Damage movie should be a sound warning to any young person out there who is living life on the fast lane because they can afford it. The consequences are very, very serious and in most cases the damage done cannot be undone.

What lessons did you learn from playing the role of this drug character and how do you think you will impact on lives?

I am sure the person who wrote that script was trying to pass a message across which I have done. If the movie does not impact on anyone’s life then I am sorry I cannot say more. I tried my best to deliver the role of one who got hooked on drugs and everything bad. It’s a good movie and I am sure the message will touch and change lives. That is what every movie we as actors aim to do, that is to pass a message across and try to correct some ills in the society or alert people so that they recognize the signs. I don’t mean to be rude but if anyone calls me again attaching a movie role to Tonto as a person and asking me such questions, I will not give any response and I won’t be nice. It is just a pity that people take their eyes off the film and begin to put question mark on the actor’s personal life! people should focus on the character and not me. Thank you all the same for asking me, albeit that I find these questions totally demeaning and insulting on my person. Have a nice day.

HT Encomium