I still act in movies - Liz Ameye

A seasoned evangelist and veteran Nollywood actress, Liz Ameye (Nee Benson), in this interview with ADA DIKE, reveals why she does not appear in movies like she before.

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Liz Ameye

Why did it take you many years to make a comeback into the movie industry?

I want to correct the notion that I was away from acting in movies for some years. As a minister of God, I still act to sensitise the public on issues like health, morals, good and righteous living. In fact, not long ago, I acted as a nurse in a movie ‘Dry’ which deals with child marriage and its consequences. It’s produced by my fellow actress, Mrs. Stephanie Okereke-Linus. I didn’t see my featuring in Living Funeral as a comeback; I started my practice on the stage and I have always looked for a story that has a depth; that touches the lives of people; something that will create an enlargement of understanding – you call it awareness. This was the same thing I saw when I was invited to work on Living Funeral.

Though the story was quite complex, it gives me joy because of the content of the message. So many things we take for granted around us; in our society happen to be health situation. For one reason or the other, we are not able to talk about it. For one thing or the other, we cannot share it and so there is no solution, no end, nowhere to go to and say this is the problem I am having and how to solve it.

I needed something that will drive home a point so that people would have listening ears when people are going through situations not the type that would make people sad -health situation for that matter. Cancer is one of them because we have the overblown Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), but people are dying of cancer without making it known. I still think we still need to create more awareness in the area of Breast and Cervical cancer as the case may be for women and other area of cancer for the men.

This one touched humanity hence, I said it is one thing I want to be part of, so that is the reason I am part of the cast and put myself together as part of the project.

What Pink Pearl Foundation intend to do through the project is that you can look at this as a film and you are drawn into wanting to make sure you don’t suffer the same fate but get tested, do your health check up as early as possible and try to be involved in the campaign.

Living Funeral will provoke you to get involved in the campaign in such a way that it would make you to be an advocate of encouraging people, family members, friends to go for early check up to avoid this situation of falling a victim.

This film is saying early detection is better; get tested and lend a helping hand to those victims out there. I acted in the movie based on the storyline.

What role did you play in Living Funeral?

I played the role of a mother of a young girl who had breast cancer in Living Funeral, a movie dedicated to creating awareness about Breast Cancer and to sensitise the public to embrace early detection as the only veritable solution to overcoming the disease. It tells an inspirational story of Yvette, a young woman coming to terms with the reality of her battle with breast cancer. It portrays the unbelievable journey of hope, valour and despair told through the eyes of the lead character’s sister (played by same actress – Stephanie Wilson and her hard-hearted mother (me) who struggled to come to terms with her daughter’s illness.

The film which was directed by Udoka Oyeka and produced by Mrs Orode Ryan-Okpu, founder, Pink Pearl Foundation. It was premiered in Lagos and later Asaba, Delta State in 2013. It has since received tremendous reviews from entertainment and public service critics. Its success has also garnered the movie impressive recognition and accolade, one of which is its nomination in the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards – AMVCAs 2014.

Can you shed light on the impact of the film on your life?

I always look for a story that has a depth and something that creates an enlargement of understanding. You call it awareness. This was what I saw when I was invited to participate in the project. I once lost a family friend through breast cancer so the film is dear to me. I want everyone to check their breasts on a regular basis.

What would you say about Nollywood of your time and today’s?

Nolywood has improved tremendously in terms of the equipment and financial wherewithal; we did not have some of the equipment we have today.

In terms of directing and editing, they are being done in a thorough way. The directors are doing well. But we are not there yet because a lot of infrastructure needs to be put in place.

What are the fond memories you always have when you remember your roles in movies?

I always have the movies that I fancy based on experience but it is the viewer that can judge that because they all have their favourite.

For me, every production brings its own challenges that come with it. I deal with them in their own way. I can’t place a hand. But if I want to take into account, Living Funeral is it because I’m doing something as a minister of the gospel that projects my faith and tells a good moral story. I was moved and shaken by the movie. Some of the lines of the scripts are killing.

To God be the glory, the best, depth and height of every human being and endeavor are all in the Bible. Even the most spoken words in history are taken from the Word of God. For me it is God because movie roles, boyfriend, girlfriend, romance and all that are no longer for me. The most recent one that we are projecting is in the Bible. That’s why I’m saying that it just have to be God standard or nothing.

We heard that you don’t like hearing people calling you Liz Benson.

(Cuts in) For the record, I am no longer Liz Benson. I want the media to remove Benson from my name and address me as Liz Ameye because I am formally married, that’s why I changed my name to Liz Ameye.

Why should a married woman still carries her father’s name along? There is no need to add your father’s name if you are married, except you have plans to change to your father’s  name if you divorce. As for me, I don’t have plans to divorce my husband so I don’t want anyone to address me as ‘Liz Benson’ again. I was not born to be famous and be known as Liz Benson, but it was by God’s grace.  The same God that made famous when I was called Liz Benson will do same now that I have devoted my time and talent to serve Him.

Kindly give us insight to your background

I have been acting since 1993 and have starred in over 40 Nollywood movies including Glamour Girls, Wisdom and Riches, Inheritance, Bridge-Stone, Diamond Ring, Political Control and so on.

 I got married to Bishop Great Ameye In 2009. He is the General Overseer of the Freedom Assembly in Jesse, Ethiope Local Government Area of Delta State. We are based in Jesse, Delta State.

Can you tell us how you met your husband?

I met him through God’s divine plan. (Laughs) God spoke through many people concerning our union. Initially, I was sceptical about it and was running, before a woman of God asked me why I was running from my husband. She advised me to stop running. While I was waiting for my life-partner, he was there waiting also.

When you are running from God’s plan, you won’t escape it till you surrender to Him. Although I used to go for evangelism in Lagos and preach to people, I didn’t know that I would marry a man of God or become a minister of God. There was a time I would preach in many streets, including Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. Two ladies saw me then and bore witness of my preaching around the place. One of them who acted in Twinkle sometime ago reminded me when she saw me at the airport sometime ago. She said she remembered that I came to her shop at Emporium Plaza at Allen Avenue, Ikeja to preach to her customers. So I used to do that a lot.

 Sometime in 2001 during a thanksgiving service at Faith Foundation Church, I shared a testimony and Bishop Sam Amaga and his wife visited me at home one day and told me that I had a call in my life.

How have you been coping with your church members coming for counselling?

We know the problems we go through, but by God’s grace we are able to overcome because He gives grace and wisdom. When we want to get upset, we remember His grace and continue to work in His vineyard.

I derive joy in solving their problems through advice and gifts. I feel fulfilled helping people and putting smiles on their faces. I normally call someone to check their blood pressure and advise them to minimize going to farm. I have to be involved; it is not just preaching but reaching to the less privileged and touching their lives in a special way. Now I can only appear in movies that have to do with humanity and preach good tidings. For me, the moral standard is what I deal in right now.

Do you feel fulfilled served God as an evangelist?

Of course, I am glad to available to God, to humanity and doing something that is touching lives. In one way or another, I am investing in the lives of people and seeing that effect on them is most fulfilling. Doing what pleases your maker is fulfilling both to you and God. You may not have the billions but God has his own reward system and it surpasses the way of the world. God is most gracious and most sufficient.

There was a woman that was ill, I visited her and advised to go to hospital for treatment and she returned hale and hearty. She is ever grateful to me, saying she would have died of ignorance if I did not meet her. Even if there are some hurdles there, you will always survive them. I have so much work to do in God’s vineyard.