“In The Midst Of The Loss, My Faith In God And My Love For Him Never Dropped”- Francis Duru Opens Up On The Death Of His Son

Actor, Francis Duru, tells NAOMI CHIMA how he managed the grief of losing his son, his career and other issues

Do you remember your first-ever role in a movie, and how did that experience shape your passion for acting?

The first movie I acted in was ‘The Missing Mask’, which was shot around 1992/1993. I was privileged, but it was also a case of preparation meeting opportunity.

I had just obtained my first degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. And while I was at home, a group of producers came all the way from Aba to Choba where I was living. They introduced two guys to me and said that they wanted to shoot a film in Aba. Having gone through the school of arts, I was already a professional; so it was a welcome opportunity. They gave me the script, and said it would be done in Igbo language. I had just spent two years in the village with my late grandmother, and that experience was the only thing that equipped me for that role. It was not about how much money I was going to be paid, but a glorious opportunity. It wasn’t my first time on TV though, because I had done some things at NTA Enugu.

You’ve won many awards over the years. Which one holds the most significance for you?

My greatest award is one that nobody saw or knows about. It was my encounter with the great playwright, Ola Rotimi in 1992, when I acted in a stage play titled, ‘Spokesman for the Oracle’ and committed a blunder, by using my hand to break glass, and he saw blood from the injury. It was a nice performance and he was impressed but he scolded me for hiding the cut and blood. Safety on the stage was important to him. After that, he drove me to his house; and when we got there, he went into his kitchen and prepared a meal of yam and stew. He then asked me not to wash the plates after eating. I ate with mixed feelings, because he had just shouted at me, and now he was feeding me. After the meal, I quietly went into the kitchen to wash the plates. He walked in at that point and asked why I was washing the plates when he had told me not to do so. He then said something that I consider to be the greatest award I have ever received. He said, “You are a bloody good actor but don’t let it get into your head.”

How has your approach to acting evolved over the years?

My approach to acting is very serious in terms of perspective and perception. I am proud to be called an actor. In fact, I value that more than being called a superstar.

My approach to acting involves continuous learning. Every person I see on screen is a potential school for me. When they are not doing it well, I know and I question “why” and think of how they can do it better. By so doing, I empower myself.

What lessons has life taught you and what legacy do you want to pass on to the next generation?

Lessons of life could be political or philosophical; but, my foundation is spirituality. My greatest lesson is that the grace of God is the ultimate thing. For me, anything outside God is useless. It’s a creative world and the ultimate source of creativity is God. One should constantly refine and refuel one’s talent as an actor and fly higher. I hope to be remembered as that actor who brought succour, because movies give people direction in life and make them happy. The best legacy is how much of me is remembered in terms of my experience and process.

How do you handle criticism, rumours or misunderstandings as a public figure?

First, I am not out to impress nobody. I only impress my family and I. I don’t respond to everything out there. There are so many funny things written about me that I just overlook. In a world where conscience is dead, people want to make money at the expense of others all in the name of social media (clout).

How does your faith influence your lifestyle and career?

God is the most fundamental source of everything in my life. He is my strength and support structure. For me, it is God first before anything.

You’ve been married for over 20 years. What’s your secret to a lasting marriage?

I met my wife in school. She was a fresher (100 level student) while I was graduating from Uniport. We were friends till we got married; there was no pressure. Marriage comes with a grace, and when a man feels he is ready, he should pray for that grace.

However, people are not taking into cognisance that there so many celebrity marriages that are flourishing. They only see the ones that are breaking, and that is a disservice to the creative industry. We need a balance.

How do you keep the spark alive in your family?

I strive to make sure everyone is on course by giving my best time and effort. As the head of the family, one is a priest, caretaker and provider. One has to live up to the responsibilities, knowing that each time one is not there, things could go wrong.

Aside from being an actor, what else do you do?

I am a master of ceremonies and a consultant. I also teach master classes, and record jingles and voiceovers.

You lost your son last year. How did that moment shape your outlook on life?

It has deepened my perspective and outlook on life. It made me understand that I am just a mere custodian and caretaker for my family. They all belong to God. But in the midst of the loss, my faith in God and my love for Him never dropped. Rather, it was amplified. On the next day after he was buried, I conducted a service in church because I needed to prove to God that He remains the creator.

The next week, we had youth’s week in church, and I tried to look for him among the audience, then I remembered he was in a better place. It was a grieving time for my family, but we have taken it one step at a time, knowing that we serve a God who comforts us.

How do you ease stress and relax?

Aside from sleeping, I sometimes sit out with friends and gist about football. But, most of my activities are within the church, where I take care of the drama team.

At what point did you feel you had started making an impact in the industry?

It was beautiful and is something I will always thank God for. That was the point that whenever I travelled out of the country, people would recognise me. It is when one goes out that one will know how much of an impact one is making as an actor. It is wonderful when one meets people who respect one. One receives several accolades, and people even take one out and pay one’s bills. The president of a West African country is still a friend till date.

There is usually a lot of internal feuds among actors. How can this be curbed?

During our time in the industry, it was all about love. We focused on passion and there was mutual respect. I remember a time that Liz Benson, uncle Olu Jacobs and I used to eat together. Those days, ambition was the focus. Ernest Obi, Ramson Nuoah, Segun Arinze, Ejike Asiegbu and I still eat together because of the mutual love and understanding we have built over time. But now, there is unhealthy rivalry and competition. You will never see that in an RMD who has been in the industry for a long time. It is not about the competition but how we complement one another. Funke Akindele made us proud with her movie, and I called to congratulate her. I appreciate people who are doing well. I have also complimented AY Makun on a number of occasions. For those of us, who are the OGs (veterans), anytime we meet, the love is there because from the time we met, it was organic, so the sustainability is there.

What is your advice on the use of social media and some films to promote nudity and promiscuity?

Times have changed. Everybody now does their thing on social media. However, there is promiscuity everywhere. Issues of morality exist in all aspects of human existence; but we should stop marketing it like it is peculiar to the industry.

Source: Punch

Email: elora.akpotosevbe@yahoo.com