Nigeria Content Online

Nollywood Actress,
Mercy Johnson, first graced television screens in 2004 when she starred
in Kenneth Nnebue’s ‘The Maid’. Portraying a possessed maid in a
wealthy household alongside already established acts, Eucharia Anunobi
and Clem Ohameze, the Kogi State born actress garnered attention for
herself afterwards. With the film going ahead to receive rave reviews,
it also brought the young actress into the limelight.

Born in the 80s to
a retired military officer father and a mother who trades in fabrics
and jewelleries, the actress has no formal acting training. The
offshoot of fame: she had to drop out of the Lagos State University
(LASU) where she was studying English, to yield to the demands of the
movie world.

Johnson, who has
six younger siblings, had a humble beginning and so is quick to make
reference to those trying times, adding that it prepared her for the
challenges ahead. ‘My past makes me work hard and crave for success in
all I do, for fear of going back to my past. It made me a better person
in every ramification because I am where I never dreamt to be; and I
realise that hard work is all you need to succeed. I never look down on
anyone unless am helping them up and I learn to always keep my head
low,’ she says.

New role

While critics have
dubbed her a typecast performer who only takes emotional and steamy
roles, the leggy actress says she is a versatile actress who has her
eyes on the bigger picture. “I hope to play something as challenging as
an autistic patient, like the Bollywood Actor Sharuk Khan did in ‘I Am
Khan’. I want a character which will portray me different from all I
have done. For example, if I had to play an autistic patient, it will
require me to have extreme interaction with [those living with the
condition] in order to practise and achieve the best characterisation,”
she says.

As a step in a
right direction, the actress buttresses her point by making reference
to her latest movie role in ‘Heart of a Widow’, which made her the
highest trading topic on Twitter. For the movie, Johnson had to shave
off her hair for the second time in her career (the first was for
‘Before the Light’, in which she played a cancer patient). She then
posted photos of her shorn self on Facebook and Twitter, in a move that
caused quite a stirr among her fans. Visibly excited about the
challenge, she said, “Heart of a Widow’ is dearest to me now. The movie
is being produced by Magic Movies’ Chijioke Nneji, written and directed
by Micheal Jaja. I had to shave my hair in the movie because I got to
go through the unbelievable experience that widows go through, their
fears, tears and shame. Its theme is all about the negative belief of
what friendship means as well as the betrayal and inner experience of a
widow that is inexplicable to the outside world. I played June, the
widow alongside Kenneth Okonkwo.

“The complexity of
the life they live after the loss of their dear ones and husbands were
too heartbreaking. It endeared me to accept the role and I can proudly
say that it is my best work for now,” she adds.

Did this role see
her smiling to the bank and a few millions richer? She laughs off the
speculation, merely saying that she was “very well paid”, but declining
to explain further.

Although in person,
the actress appears quite soft spoken and calm, she reveals that
because a lot of people do not know her well enough, they are quick to
describe her as a snub. “I have a personality that people cannot handle
and so they tend to mistake it for an attitude, but I am just me,” she
quips.

The actress, who in
the past months has gone from media sweetheart to a tabloid target, is
rumoured to have had squabbles with her colleagues, Patience Ozokwor
(a.k.a Mama Gee and most recently, Mike Ezerounye. But she says this is
not the case. “I am very cordial with them,” she insists, but adds
that, “I don’t have friends in the industry.”

Moving forward

Lately, Johnson
shuttles between her Lagos base and Asaba, Delta State, where a number
of Nollywood movies are being shot. However, she says going back and
forth has being necessitated by the “need to make movies and do
business by the side.” Charity is one area the actress holds very dear
to her heart. “I have the Mercy Johnson Foundation for Children, the
‘Widows Smile for Widows’ and the ‘Easy Movement Scheme for the
Handicapped’,” she says in an emotion laden voice. She has also
succeeded in shielding her love life from the public eyes, but marriage
is in now on the cards for the 27-year-old. Her eyes light up as she
talks about her man. “Odi and I are working on it. We are engaged and
are taking our time because this is a lifetime union so no rush, but we
will inform [the fans] when it happens,” she says, smiling.

Acting, she says,
comes naturally to her; and she asserts that she has gotten better over
time. Surprisingly the buxomly actress is quick to add that although
she is not inspired by any foreign actor, “Genevieve Nnaji is my sole
inspiration for arts here and abroad. I never had any foreign
motivators but her; and for charity, it should be Oprah Winfrey”.

In her six year career, the actress is grateful for the accolades
and encomiums she has received. Kicking of the year on a bright note,
she clinched the Future Awards Best Actress, edging out the likes of
Ini Edo, Uche Jumbo and Tonto Dikeh. Johnson informs that, although she
is yet to feature in any international movie, “I am in negotiations
with a crew doing a feature film in London and the Ukraine.” Any plans
to move into movie making? “Yes,” she replies. “I do want to make my
own film in future, but am taking my time because I want to make an
impact in my career in an extremely positive and different way. When I
do that, then I will start rolling out my own movies.” Describing
herself as the “girl next door”, Mercy Johnson, who describes herself
as a child of destiny says she is rebranding for the new year. “After a
strategy meeting with my management company, Platform Management and
publicist, Bigsam Media, we set a goal for my career and that goal is
for me to be more committed to my craft. Year 2010 was wonderful but we
hope to move to greater heights in 2011. I want to do more, break
boundaries, move higher and contribute my quota to further put and
entrench Nollywood on the global map. That is my goal and that is why I
will do whatever it takes to interpret my role and entertain the
audience without debasing womanhood and the African culture.” So, there
you have it.