A versatile Nollywood actress, Doris Simeon is
also a television presenter. In this interview, she
talks about her career and failed marriage to
director, Daniel Ademinokan
What have you been up to lately?
I have been busy with my duties as a DSTV
ambassador, as well as an ambassador for the
National Open University of Nigeria. Moreover, I
have a beauty salon at Ogba, Lagos. My mother
was into the business before she passed on. I
wanted to establish a salon for her before she
passed on. I have a passion for skill acquisition
and aside getting a salary, I advise people to
acquire a skill. Since my mum is gone, I do not
want to kill the dreams and the shop was open
for almost a year.
Do you still have time for your programme on
DSTV?
Yes I do. The Faaji Extra can have many
episodes recorded and can run for up to a
season or two. Don’t forget that I am also an
actress and I still carve out time to take on jobs.
I would say it is a passion and since I decided to
go into acting, I have not looked back.
But there are scandals which most actresses
cannot avoid?
Yes, I know but I developed a thick skin from the
first day I came on set. I decided I would not
expose my private life to the public but put God
first and not allow anything weigh me down.
But you must have suffered the pains of fame?
Yes, especially when your private life cannot be
controlled from infiltration. That is painful, and
the media would publish anything that happens
to you. The public does not see us as human
beings with blood flowing in our veins.
Was that why you kept quiet when you had
marital challenges?
Yes, I had developed a thick skin and I felt that I
could not explain to everyone what happened. If
after explaining to everyone and the man did not
change, what do I have to gain? Everyone has
his or her own ups and downs. How many
people was I supposed to run to except to go to
God in prayer?
Your marriage to Daniel Ademinokan was
celebrated as one of the best in the industry…
Initially, it was but at a point everything looked
rosy outside but not at home. He just woke up
one day and decided he didn’t want the marriage
again.
What actually happened? Was there another
woman?
I can’t say what actually happened. I did not
suspect if he was dating any woman or not
because we were the best of friends. I trusted
him too. When the problem started, I was
begging him for reconciliation. I am an orphan
with nobody to run to but his family members,
who also tried to intervene. At a point, they
fought with him because he stopped picking their
calls, even his pastor. Before the separation, I
suggested counselling but he promised to turn
around for good. He did not. He would leave the
house for some days and would not pick my
calls. He also accused me of nagging and
policing him around. At a point, he came back
and told me it was lack of money that caused
the problems. As a good wife, I suggested we
pray about it. He told me one day that he
wanted to go and see his mother and took our
only son with him (the union produced a child). I
didn’t suspect anything because they usually
went out together. That was the last time I saw
my then two-year-old son.
When was that?
That was about four years ago. The boy is six
years old now.
Did you take any action then?
If I let it weigh me down, he would use it as a
ground to fight me in court. I have not spoken to
the boy for about a year now. I am sure that
even if he runs away with my child for 18 years,
the boy will ask after me. I am his mother.
Currently, the case is in court.
Is there room for reconciliation?
I am not ready to reconcile with him.
Why?
It is going to four years since we split and I do
not see anything wrong in that. Maybe because
of the things he said when I sought to reconcile.
I wanted reconciliation when the whole thing
started but he said it was too late. He never
said what the problem was. It was a normal
hassle between couples. If he says I cannot
force him into a marriage that he is no longer
interested in, why would he want to come back
now?
But the custody of your child…
People live separately and still have children. The
child is with him and they are abroad but he
does not have custody of the child. I don’t want
to talk about it because the case is in court.
Do you have access to the child?
At the moment, I do not have access to the child
because they are not in the country. But I want
to leave it for the court to judge. After then,
whatever the court says I should do, I would do
it.
Now separated, do men still ask you out?
At the very beginning when it all started, I had
men coming but I felt they just wanted to take
advantage of the whole issue. At that particular
time, I did not want it too. I wanted to focus on
my life and career. I also wanted to shame the
enemy and make him know that I do not rely on
a particular man to make it in life. I am not a
lazy woman either.
But the incidence must have taken its toll on
you?
Yes, it did initially because I loved him. It broke
me down for about a year but I decided one day
to move on. I learnt from my mum not to listen
to what people say but maintain focus and I did.
Do you still communicate?
At the moment, because of the court case, we
don’t. He initiated the court case, sent me
divorce papers but when my lawyer saw it, he
discovered it was fake! That made me initiate
my own divorce case too.
Where and how did you meet him?
We met at a movie location. He was a movie
director.
Do you want to remarry?
I have moved on with my life. If marriage comes
I will get married, if it does not come, I will
remain single but I have some plans. Before my
marriage problems, I have always had it in mind
to help humanity. It is one of the things I am
trying to do very soon. I want to help young
widows who are suffering.
Who is Doris Simeon?
I was born and bred in Lagos. That is why I can
speak Yoruba, but I am from Edo State. I am
from a polygamous home and the second of my
mother but the third child of my father. I am a
quiet person.
How was your journey into acting?
I got into acting through friends, who invited me
for auditions. I missed the first and second Papa
Ajasco comedy auditions. It was on the Papa
Ajasco set that I saw Late Yomi Ogunmola who
brought me into the Yoruba movie industry. That
was about 15 years ago.
How have you fared?
It has been sweet and sour. I had to pay my
dues from the beginning. I did a lot of jobs for
free because I was just upcoming. Those were
the non-profit sides of the industry. But when
you become a star, they would beg you with
money to be part of their production. Acting has
opened a lot of opportunities for me and I thank
God.
How fashionable are you?
I don’t really have any particular code. I just
wear something I feel comfortable in. My dress
and styling depends on the event I am attending.
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