Oris Erhuero

Interview by Toluwani Praise Akhaehomen

Produced by Marion Amanambu

Biography

Oris Erhuero (born September 23, 1968) is a British actor, producer, writer, and former fashion model. He is highly acclaimed for being the most photographed and publicized, international fashion runway and print model of his time era. After modeling for several years, he transitioned into television and film, with roles in The Adventures of Sinbad, The Bill, Highlander: Endgame, Black Mask 2, Sometimes in April, and Chicago Pulaski Jones. Erhuero continues to utilize his innumerable talents by embarking on film production and screen writing.

Erhuero has a daughter and was named Father of the Year in 2004 by the National Fatherhood Initiative at the Golden Dads Awards. In 2007, Jamati Online named Erhuero one of the top 10 sexiest African men. Erhuero strives for world peace in his daily practice and is often involved in numerous local and global charity organizations.



Toluwanimi: How would you introduce yourself to people who do not know you? Who is Oris Erhuero?
Oris: Wow! (sighs and pauses) well….I am an artiste, a poet, a philosopher, ….someone who’s been around, someone who’s goal is to help and inspire the next generation. I have been very fortunate to be around a lot of circumstances and I am still growing – in my life and my career and within myself. We get better at things, and I hope never to find myself repeating myself, because when you do that you are not growing.


Toluwani: So what you are saying is that you’re constantly evolving and redefining yourself?
Oris: Yes


Toluwani: Right, Can you tell me specific ways that you have redefined yourself in the last year?
Oris: I have grown spiritually, mentally, and career-wise, I decided to take responsibility by starting my own film company. And that is through my many experiences over the years and growing in the business. I finally put my feet down and decided to start my own company and resurrect my projects rather than sit around and wait for the next big thing. I realised that the next big thing happens everyday and if you sit around waiting for it, you’ll end up losing out. I stepped into the arena, and can now say I have a company with a vision to take responsibility for telling the stories of my continent, Africa, on a grand scale. That grand scale could be anything from 50 pounds to a billion pounds, or whichever way you choose to define that. I’m in that place where I am willing to help the next generation, to show them, to teach them, and if I don’t know then to ask questions from other people with more experience to say, “hey, how do we make this work”? I would have to say that it is how I have evolved this last year. Also, my work has evolved to become a lot stronger.

Toluwanimi: So you’re very happy about where you’re at, really.
Oris: Yes. But I will not say that I am content. My idea of contentment is to say that I am in that place where I can get knocked down but not shaken. That is my idea of being content. Yes, I am content, meaning that I am enjoying the battle. But there is still room for more; I am not satisfied yet. No on will ever be satisfied. Being satisfied is a myth. It’s a myth – no one will ever be satisfied. It’s like a woman who goes to the salon to get her hair done in a certain way but is still not quite happy about it. That is the way we human beings are. We will never be satisfied and we need to embrace that as part of human nature! You can never say that you’ve done your best work. You can’t say these things; it’s for people to say them about you after you leave the world. So for me, it’s hard to digest it when someone says, “I have done my best work”. It’s for others to say that about you when they come to your funeral, until then, do your best!

Toluwanimi: I’m curious. Your name is really Oresiri, not Oris. I read that a photographer friend gave you that name.

Oris::Yes

Toluwanimi: So what is the meaning of Oresiri?

Oris: In the Urhobo dialect of Nigeria, Oresiri means "God’s time is the best" and that’s very interesting because my that’s the story of my life.

Toluwanimi: So that name has meaning for you?

Oris: Oh yes! As I get older, I realise that the names our parents give us….we may find them very….. (pauses). Why in the world did my dad give me such a name? But the reality is that it came out of passion when they made love. As a kid, I never liked the name but as I grew older, I began to appreciate it because people started to ask me questions about my real name. When I tell them that it is Oresiri and tell them the meaning, tears slide down their faces, and I am not trying to sound dramatic here. Then they change from calling me Oris to calling me Oresiri. More often than not, these people go on to become close friends, and I am talking about people from different countries and cultures. Oris is just a stage name and funny enough, the name Oris is the name of the Egyptian sun god and its meaning has to do with the times (laughs).

Toluwanimi: Really, so it’s like a coincidence but not really

Oris: No, not really. 

Toluwanimi: so tell me, what are your likes, the things you enjoy doing?

Oris: I enjoy meeting different people from different walks of life. I enjoy investigating and finding out more about how human beings can make a difference, and that passion has really come with my philosophy as a Nichiren Daishonin practitioner. I have really enjoyed that because that solid foundation has really helped me to go deeper within myself, to enjoy my newly found discovery, to see the light and to enjoy the works of other people.

Toluwanimi: ….and is this a kind of religion or…….?

Oris: It is a sect of Buddhism of which I am a part. It’s a part of the SGI Organisation. We don’t like to consider it a religion. Religion is a sensitive word these days, and religion itself can be very cultish, so I like to be very careful with that. However, for me, it’s something that is very fulfilling, and as a philosophy, it gives me that “kick” because it came with many years of me investigating different forms of religion…..

Toluwanimi: …….So you kind of found yourself in that?

Oris: Yes, I found myself in that through my work. It’s given me a purpose to appreciate one of the things I like – Art. I love art and I’ve started to love the continent of Africa all over again. That philosophy has helped me to go deeper and I have enjoyed wanting to face reality, to take responsibility instead of complaining about this and that. I am also enjoying trying to find myself around people who also want to make a difference, even if it’s for one person. And just finding ways to define and be the most incredible person that I can be to myself.

Toluwanimi: So what are those things that turn you off?

Oris: I am turned off by people who think and say that “this is what it is, I can’t do anymore, I can’t go any further, things will never change”. That mentality or philosophy, I greatly dislike. Or the term “it’s meant to be this way, it’s meant to be”. I don’t believe that because with that mentality, we kill ourselves and the next generation. For a long time as a kid, I used to think something was wrong with me until I understood that it was people that were not willing to change.

Toluwanimi: What other talents do you have that the world doesn’t yet know about?

Oris: (laughs and laughs some more) Wow!

Toluwanimi: Yes…. I’ve heard that you’re a multitalented man, and I know that deep down there, there’s something that you’re planning to “unleash” on us in another year or so, to storm the world with and make us go “wow” – so let me in on that. Give me an exclusive on that.

Oris: I am a visioner……(pauses, sighs and pauses again)

Toluwanimi: (laughs) It’s deep, isn’t it?

Oris: Hmm…. I’ll try and answer that question as closely as possible (pauses again). I have a gift to know people, and I am going to use that gift to resurrect some things out of Africa.

Toluwanimi: You mean to touch people in ways that others cannot?

Oris: Yeah. And I am talking about using my work of film. I think that the world will see one of the greatest producers within the next year or two. Not just from me but also from my network of people who work for me. Again, I go back to what I said about being a visionary. I can visualise things that actually stun directors and producers.



Toluwanimi: You mean you have insight and foresight?

Oris: Yes. I have insight and foresight when it comes to films and how they should be brought to light. It’s a natural gift and that’s one of the reasons why I have taken the helm to embark on my own company. So it’s not from a selfish place but its place to move and shape things in the most profound ways. My life speaks for itself, which is beautiful because it’s from within. It’s something that you can’t pretend about. You can’t do that and I think that people will see that. It’s just a matter of me staying in tune with it and like you said, in the next year or two the world will be stunned in a way that will inspire them to move and shape things in their own right.



Toluwanimi: Excellent. I am sure that what you have to showcase will hit people in the right places and hit the right chords
Oris: I stand by that
Toluwanimi: Good, cos I’m going to hold you to that
Oris: Please do


Toluwanimi: Now on a lighter note, I hear that you make the hearts of girls skip some beats. What do you do to maintain such good looks
Oris: Well, there is a saying that what you eat is who you are. What you take in and how you see life is what defines you. I think that’s what makes women’s heart skip. I love women, I adore them. I also adore my mother, and I think that love for women is something that women are saying that they don’t see in men. It’s a different kind of love. It’s love from a place that I don’t care to look into and that I don’t worship or look at within myself. I think women are attracted to that. Most women could look at me from an angle of arrogance but when they spend an hour or so with me……


Toluwanimi: They get bowled over, man (laughs)
Oris: Yes……, and then they say “I’m so sorry but I’ve always thought you were arrogant but you know what….wow
Toluwanimi: (laughs). As you are bowling me over right now……
Oris: I am what women see in themselves or what a woman should see in herself if she’s not already seen that.


Toluwanimi: So if you’re all this, why are you not married – I’m correct to say that you’re not, aren’t I?
Oris: That’s the problem. If I marry now, I think that….. You can call me crazy but if I am to get married right now, I don’t know who would feel that way to give them that joy.


Toluwanimi: (Laughs out loud)
Oris: And I’ve seen it happen many times when I’ve been in relationships, I almost feel like Samson with the long hair.


Toluwanimi: Oh my goodness…. (laughs even more)
Oris: I’m scared and I have to find that security first. I’m gona have to find a woman like Michelle Obama, who’ll be able to say “Go ahead, honey, do what you’ve got to do. I’m watching. (Laughs). The reality is, I really, really have so much that needs to be accomplished and it’s important. I feel like I’m married to the world. Many years ago, my mum told me that the moment I go into the public eye. My life would change. I was very young then and was married, and she didn’t think that was a good move.


Toluwanimi: You were married then?
Oris: Yes. I married very young.


Toluwanimi: How old were you then
Oris: I was like 24/25. That was a pretty rough period in my life, and what my mum said made sense because as she pointed out, I’m a people person and people love me.


Toluwanimi: For how long were you married?
Oris: For a while but it was short-lived. The worst thing for an artiste or someone embarking on a mission is to tie himself to a sort of ball and chain relationship.


Toluwanimi: So there’s really no room….
Oris: There’s no room because it can really hurt that other person in one’s life and make her feel insecure. The worst thing that can happen to a man who is going through a difficult time is to be bogged down. It takes a special woman to stand back and say “He’s going through something right now. Maybe somebody out there or a critic said something. I’m going to let him fight this demon – which is really ourselves – himself”.


Toluwanimi: So you’re not looking at marriage at any time; it’s not going to happen, is it?
Oris: No. No marriage for me anytime soon.


Toluwanimi: But is there someone special in your life?
Oris: Well, honestly, no. There’s no one special. I think they’ve run when I’ve tried to do that because I’m a very intense and passionate person. I hate to say it but that shocks me because women are strong creatures. When I fall for certain women, I find that it’s either I am not ready for them or they are not ready for me. I don’t want to come from an ego place but I am yet to meet that solid woman- and I don’t mean a "king kong" type of woman but a woman who understands strength and suffering, one who understands what mum is.


Toluwanimi: A self-assured woman…..
Oris: Yeah – and mum these days doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have had a child.


Toluwanimi: A woman who can be all those things to you- lover, wife, etc....
Oris: Yeah. We know of some people for whom the women they set in their lives stood and struggled with them all the way. That’s my mum. My mum and dad are today until this very day. Most of the time it’s simple: women now come from a certain background and generation; certainly not my generation or yours. There are a lot of deep issues in their lives, and unfortunately, they’re looking for a teacher or a father figure. I’m sick of that, I don’t want that. I can barely be a father to my own little daughter because of my selfishness, because as artistes, we can be very selfish.

Toluwanimi: Speaking of your daughter, how old is she now?
O: My daughter will be eight this year (2010)


Toluwanimi: And how would you describe her?
Oris: (Pauses) First of all, may the readers forgive me, but I am striving to be a great dad. I’m really struggling with that. As I said earlier, we artistes can be very selfish, and sometimes we go on to do well by others and those that are ours struggle with that. The world sees one thing….. Have you noticed that at funerals people say so many good things about you but the people who are closest to you go, “hey, I didn’t know that”! (laughs). One thing I can say about my little girl, from the early stages, spending time with her, I discovered that she is a tough one. The reason for that is simple: she has a great mother. She’s a replica of her mother – very strong and I have to give her mum credit for an excellent work. She encourages me to have great dialogue with her, and it’s interesting because my daughter loves and appreciates that. I learn a lot from my daughter because although she’s eight, she has the wisdom of an 80 year old.


Toluwanimi: What’s her name?
Oris: Well….. I’d like to keep that.


Toluwanimi: I understand. Some things are meant to be private
Oris: It’s out of respect for her, really. One of the things I’m fighting for in society is that we need to respect the privacy of young people. My daughter may not want to be in the public eye or limelight simply because her daddy is. I wish she were here so that I could ask her permission. Until I have her consent, I can’t give her name.


Toluwanimi: I truly understand that. Oris, you’ve been described in many ways – as an actor, producer, director. You’re also a son, a father, a brother and an uncle. Which description strikes the deepest chord in you and why?
Oris: I think that I am more of a big brother because big brothers go through crap but do not want anyone else coming behind to go through those things. I have been through a lot and I am not saying that to incite pity. When we go through a lot in life, it’s wealth.


Toluwanimi: Yes. The school of hard knocks
Oris: Yes. I am the oldest of seven children and that makes me feel a sense of responsibility for them. I do that with friends and even with strangers. I sometimes talk to needy strangers like I’ve known them for years and it bowls then over. Big brothers do not complain, they just do what they have to do; they get on with it.


Toluwanimi: Thanks. Let’s talk about your work. Which are or areas of the entertainment industry gives you the greatest fulfilment.
Oris: I will have to say Acting because the older I get, the deeper it digs into my life. That’s frightening and beautiful at the same time because when I see a character, I see a story that comes to me dead but all of a sudden it comes alive as I apply myself to it. When I go out of character and you asked me to back there again, I couldn’t because for me, it’s almost like going into the spirit.


Toluwanimi: Like an experience that can’t be relived.
Oris: Acting gives me an opportunity to live my mirror image. I use my acting to reach out to people. A good actor does not go into a movie thinking about himself. A good actor, like a good leader, seeks to inspire, encourage and touch the hearts of people in that way.


Toluwanimi: Veering in a slightly different direction, tell us about your experience when you acted in a Nollywood Movie. How different was that experience from your other experiences?
Oris: Oh it was amazing because it gave me an experience that made me see Nollywood film making as an incredible process that will transform Africa. Nollywood is what it is: it’s beautiful even without the glitter and showman type of thing that Hollywood has.


Toluwanimi: In that case, would you be doing more of acting in Nollywood?
Oris: Yes, I would definitely make it a part of my curriculum as I move into the future. I would definitely want to lend myself and bring more attention to it. I want to bring more light to Nollywood and I see myself contributing to it even through my company, Myoho Films. The beauty of the Nigerian film industry is that there is always room for improvement. It is constantly evolving and the older it gets the better. It is like red wine, the more it ages, the sweeter. However, I would want to encourage us all to be patient with it because there’s more to come. Nollywood movie industry is doing phenomenal things and we ought to feel very proud of it and support it.


Toluwanimi: Who is your favourite Nigerian artiste and why?
Oris: There are lots of them and I love them all. It’s difficult to pick because they all have different strengths and personality and are all willing to keep learning. I am looking forward to working and sharing with them. As actors, actresses, producers and directors, we are constantly growing with each project.


Toluwanimi: What advice do you have for upcoming artistes in any area of the industry?
Oris: It is to fight to birth your vision no matter how small, big or stupid you think it is. No matter how much people criticise it, keep forging ahead, and keep working on it because when you look back many years from now, you’ll be happy that you didn’t listen to certain people.


Toluwanimi: If you had the chance to do something differently, what would it be?
Oris: After what I’ve been through, with a near death experience and other things, I don’t have any regrets whatsoever because all my life experiences, mistakes and faults are what define me. I have no regrets and lately I have begun to affirm myself constantly. I believe everything is for a reason.


Toluwanimi: Final question: are you Nigerian or British?
Oris: I am Nigerian. I was born in London but my soul is Nigerian because I spent a major part of my life there, and I remember every one of those years.


Toluwanimi: Any final words for our readers?

Oris: Yes. It’s Nigeria’s 50th anniversary this year. Let’s celebrate her and make her proud in everyway. Let’s show everyone how much we love life and let’s have a kind word or thought for those amongst us who are struggling and or in need




Toluwanimi: Thanks again and I do appreciate this time with you.