Beautiful, charming and with a high level of charisma, Tayo, 25, has done several stage plays as well. She has also done various voice-over works in the UK and US. She has worked in London’s West End and off-West End shows like Godspell and Pippin.
She is particularly proud of A Cry of Innocence, as this was a huge production at the Greenwich Theatre with the finest opera singers in the world.
Tayo, who came home for the AMAA Awards held recently in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, opened up to The Entertainer on her career and sundry issues. Excerpts:
What is a typical day like in the life of Tayo Elesin?
It depends really on what the programme of the day is. But, in all days, I get up and talk to my friend. His name is Jesus. He’s a really cool dude and I like to talk to him firstly in the morning. It’s always a beautiful thing. Thereafter, I get up and usually check emails or talk to my admin to ask for any updates that I need to know of for the day/week/month or anything generally. I respond to what needs responding. If it is a day where I am filming or rehearsing for a project at hand, I tend to just talk to Jesus, shower and get out of the house a.s.a.p for set or rehearsal! Lateness is not permitted in my industry so I try not to be late. Also, religiously, daily, I have a raw fruit and vegetable smoothie in my fruit blender. I cannot live without that stuff! It’s brilliant.
Tell us about your background?
My background is simple. I am Tayo Elesin. There are so many facets to myself that I celebrate. I celebrate my ‘Brigerian’ self. I am British and Nigerian, the last of seven children; I was raised up with poise, class, goodness and travelled a lot.
How did you get involved in acting?
I have acted since I was young, in professional jobs since I was 16 years old or so.
Your resume is quite impressive, at such a young age. How did you manage it?
Grace and favour from that friend I talked about in the first question. Secondly, relentless, almost ‘inhumane’ levels of hard work coupled with raw talent and an unexplainable level of charisma.
How long have you been an actress? Where did you get started?
For about 10 years now. It started from the day that I read out the soliloquy from Macbeth in year 8 at St. Saviours and St. Olaves Secondary school in New Kent Road, London. I felt free. Free to be someone else. Just free!
Growing up, did you always want to be an actress? Or did you have something else in mind?
Growing up, I wanted to be great. I knew with every inch and bone within me, my name was destined to be great. I was interested in the legal field and it was between being a lawyer and an actress. Both of them manifested but I professionally work in the latter.
Do you regret this decision?
Heck no!
Did anyone ever try to discourage you on becoming an actress?
No. Not overtly or to my knowledge anyways.
What drives you?
I don’t know. I am just driven, it’s innate. I would, however, say that my friend from the first question, my mother and my sisters and especially my brother who has passed. I want to make him proud.
Look back to your first audition. What was it like?
Bloody scary yet freeing; two much juxtaposed emotions.
What were the challenges you faced starting a career on foreign soil?
Britain is not ‘foreign soil’ to me. However, I would say that there are complexities as a black woman working in film, TV, stage in the UK, US and Europe generally. But they are complexities that talent and nothing but talent can overcome and they are not impossible to overcome at all.
What kind of roles have you performed throughout your career?
Very diverse roles I am absolutely blessed. I have been a domestically abused young woman who has a son with her abuser in the Journey of Alfred Small by Michael Archer, a prostitute in Law & Order, a refugee cleaner in Doctors, a bully in Casualty, an unrefined young woman-turned politician in Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again.
Are you satisfied with them?
Absolutely. They have been real characters with the shades and complexities of humanity. That is what acting is for me and that is what those roles have enabled me to delve into.
How different is it to act in a movie and to act in a stage play?
The mediums are different. As such, the ‘level’ of acting is different. By that I mean, screen acting is best when there are subtleties to how you act as the camera picks up literally everything! The stage, however, you can afford to be ‘big’ if you will. Nonetheless, both mediums have to be truthful and have a concrete character creation. Acting in essence, in whatever medium, be it stage, radio, TV, film, voice over, is all about truth. Being true to the moment and to the character.
Which of the two do you prefer?
Both are excellent. The energy on stage is electric and I would say, that for me, gives stage an edge. TV, film and commercials pay the bills very well! But, everything is about the character for me in whatever medium. Plus, acting is acting in every medium.
Tell me an area in which you would like to improve as an actress?
I am not sure there is. Acting is not a sport for me. I think acting is being real in a make belief world – so, for me, I wouldn’t use the word ‘improve’ per se, I’d say I would always want to remain ‘truthful and in the moment’ with every scene that I do in every medium of acting.
What are your strong points as an actress?
I am an excellent storyteller through character and I have the ability to be ‘chameleon like’ and be in the moment, I think!
What has been your biggest achievement in the field of acting?
The fact that I am still in it and I still retain every sense of who Tayo Elesin is – acting has not overcome me. I am Tayo Elesin first.
Which of your works would you say is the best so far?
I can’t pick! All of them; even though I have to say playing ‘Sikira’ in Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again was very enjoyable for me. The depth and arc of that character is a testament to the finesse of the writer, Ola Rotimi.
You have worked with many prestigious bodies: Sony Music, Law and Order, Alison Jackson Studios, to name a few. How does that make you feel?
Good. Grateful.
You’ve handled many local and international projects. How does that make you feel?
Even better and even more grateful!
Who is your favourite actor/actress?
That’s a hard one but I like the following people a lot: Audrey Toutou, Sophie Okonedo, Thandie Newton, Naomie Harris, Anthony Hopkins, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Nse Epe-Etim, John Light, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Viola Davis, Meryl Streep, Funke Akindele, Joke Silva, Denzel Washington, Al Pacino, Phylisha Rashad, Hlomla Dandla, and Jada Pinkett Smith.
Working on such tight schedule, what do you do to relax?
I don’t, work is relaxing and travelling is relaxing! I do try to sleep well, so I guess that is relaxing?
Are you married?
No comment!
What is the craziest thing a fan has said or done to you?
Asked me to marry them.
You are also a woman with a heart of gold. You have contributed to a lot of charity work. What’s the driving force behind it?
Love you neighbour as yourself. That’s what my friend in the first question said. I thought that’s a pretty cool thing, I’ll follow it!
Where do you see yourself in the next 10 to 15 years?
Alive!
What’s your take on Nollywood?
I am not sure I agree with the term ‘Nollywood’ but if your question is: what’s your take on Nigerian cinema, my answer is this: I think Nigerian cinema is vibrant, exciting, improving, worth of international praise, energetic and its coming, coming!
Would you like to join Nollywood?
I’m not sure what Nollywood is, so the answer might be no. But, would I like to do Nigerian films? Yes. With the right story, right director, right character, absolutely.
Are you engaged in any other thing, aside acting in the UK?
Presently no. But I go where the job is – Canada, LA, New York etc. and I have worked in all of them at one point or the other.
Why did you dump law?
I didn’t ‘dump’ it. I studied it and I loved every moment of it. Should I ever at any point need to re-live anything legal, I have the knowledge and ability to.
What are your dreams?
To be great, to leave a legacy – neither for my family nor myself, but for the advancement of anybody that needs help in this world to be greater.
Who will you like to work with, in Nigeria?
This is easy. Kenneth Gyang. That is the type of filmmaker that I want the world to see is coming from Nigeria. Also, I would like to work with a Nigerian in the Diaspora, Niyi Towolawi. Acting wise, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Nse Etim, Stella Damasus, Genevieve Nnaji, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva, and Funke Akindele.
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