I’m scared of marriage – Luchy Donalds

By Rita Okoye

Renowned for her stunning beauty, Nollywood actress, Luchy Donalds has established herself as a significant figure in the entertainment industry. In this interview with Saturday Sun, the Imo State native shares insights into her Nollywood career, philanthropic work, and perspectives on relationships.

Enjoy.

You just turned a year older, how does it feel being celebrated by fans and colleagues worldwide?

The feeling is lovely. It is something that is out of this world. Seeing my colleagues celebrate me on my birthday, the beautiful wishes, prayers and all. And then my fans, honestly I don’t even know what to say. My fans are just everything. You know that feeling, knowing that people in different parts of the world who don’t even owe you that love, they don’t owe you anything yet they show you genuine love and love you with all of their lives. They don’t owe you those things but they just love you. Honestly, I can’t explain that feeling. It is out of this world.

What are some of the lessons you have learnt so far?

I’ve learnt a lot in life. The older we grow, the more we learn. The more we have different experiences and somehow understand life better. I would say that I have also learnt that sometimes people may not understand you. People may misunderstand your personality. They may misread you and you don’t have to judge them. Maybe just find a way to balance it. For me, I am an introvert to the core and I am my own company. I don’t know how to socialize, and I honestly don’t know how to mingle, but I am trying to learn. It’s not been up to three months since I said, you know what, I want to push myself to learn to mingle and socialize because colleagues and friends have misread my personality.

A lot of times, they think I form. They call it form, but it’s not what it is. It’s just that I don’t know my left from my right when it comes to socializing.

This is the 7th time you have spent your birthdays with the ‘most privileged’, what’s the inspiration behind this kind gesture?

The inspiration is God. God just told me to be doing that. Also, in the process, I started getting attached. Because right now, sometimes I wonder how they cope. I think about them and wonder, do they get to eat even what they want to eat? Do they get to eat and get their fill? How do they cope? They’re just taking life as it comes. I think about them a lot. I don’t know how they feel, and I know that they won’t be feeling so good. They don’t have the necessary things to cater to their families, they just make do with what they have, just the way it is. They eat what they are given, not what they feel like eating.

I just want to love them and show empathy towards them. It is emotional. Especially when you know that they are all alone in this world.

They don’t have choices or options. They go to school and the one that they are even opportuned to go to is the one they attend, not the one that they desire.

Can you share some of the challenges you have faced in the course of your career?

Honestly, I wouldn’t say I have faced many challenges. My journey in Nollywood is just one that I cannot explain. God has been so good because I have never gone for an audition all my life. I have never reached out to any producer to give me a role. It’s just grace. I haven’t faced many challenges except when you’re a young lady just starting in the industry, you would meet some producers who would tell you certain things you wouldn’t want to hear or entertain. I don’t entertain it. When you bring up such topics I just put it aside.

Colleagues not understanding me might be one. When I come to work, I just stay in one corner, sit down and mind my business. So they tag me with pride. On their own, they will just start having issues with me because I like to stay on my own. There was hate because of it. I faced that as a challenge.

Are there certain roles you wouldn’t want to accept, even with an enticing fee?

Of course! I have turned down so many roles. I have had three Netflix roles that I turned down. Netflix jobs are very good ones, and they are what every actor needs because it is a big platform. But I have had three major roles for Netflix that I turned down because it had to do with nudity. So, anything that has to do with nudity, I would turn it down no matter the price or platform. Even if it is a Nollywood movie I would turn it down.

I had one where they said they would go as far as having a double, or someone else would use the person’s nakedness. I told them at the end of the day, it is my face that is going to show, and people are going to see. Am I going to start explaining to my fans that it was a different body?

Nollywood is full of competition and drama. How do you stay ahead of the drama?

I feel pressure, and competition is a terrible disease, and we need to speak against it. Because it is damaging a lot of young girls’ lives. Competition is devilish. It is evil. Why do you have to compete? Who is that person that is going to make me compete? I have not seen any.

Anybody I see winning, I simply applaud. In my heart, I am happy for you. Because if you are destined to win like that, even before you were born, it is written that on that very day, you would achieve that very thing. That’s how I see life. Staying authentic and staying ahead of the game is just God. Because, I would say, in my career, it has been God.

My journey in this industry and life in general has just been full of grace, and I’m so grateful to God for it. Everything just comes to me with ease. It is just grace and God. Appreciating how God has made me and just being myself. I have to stay authentic and enjoy myself.

Are you single and ready to mingle?

I would skip that one. I don’t want to talk about my relationship.

Any marriage pressure from home?

Not at all. I come from a very sweet home. There is no pressure at all. I would even say the only person who says it to me more is my brother. My brother is the one who is always saying he can’t wait for me to get married. He’s the one I would say that speaks more on it.

Is Luchy Donalds scared of marriage?

Sometimes. Not all the time. Marriage is not a joke. I have to marry and marry once. My parents did not get married and divorced. So, it is not an option for me.

Sometimes, I’m scared, and sometimes, I’m not because you can never know people. You might think you know a man but you don’t. The fear is not that I don’t want to get married. I want a kind man that knows God and has a conscience, outside wanting a man who can take care of me very well. These are the things that I pray to God about. I want a very peaceful marriage, where there is a connection. It’s just a lot, and sometimes, I tend to get scared because I don’t know people.

Sometimes, you do things that you don’t expect. I love marriage because it is a beautiful thing. It’s the fact that you are going to see your beautiful children. And that is something that gets you feeling fulfilled.

I think the beauty of marriage is having kids. I’m a lover girl. I’m not against marriage at all. I’m not under pressure at all. I just pray that God gives me my heart’s desire when it comes to marriage.

When you’re not on screen, what do you enjoy doing?

I love to be by myself in my room. I’m always thinking of how to become more successful. I’m always thinking of how to become better. I pray a lot. I read books, surf the internet, and read things that will make me very successful as a woman because that is what I want. I am always opening anything that has to do with becoming a boss lady, a strong independent woman who has got her own thing going and going strongly. When I’m not working I’m always trying to build myself and become more powerful.

Can you mention some new projects that you are excited about?

I’ve had some jobs that are coming up. I would love people to look forward to Black December – it is a big project. My movie Cinder will also be put up again soon. Love Reverse is also coming up soon, and many others.

What would you say to younger women who look up to you?

Just be yourself. Put in the work and understand that in Nollywood, your body cannot make you a star. So many people have tried it and did not even get anywhere. Know yourself. Pray to God. All you need in this industry is God. When God is your pilot in the game, even people who do not love you will give you opportunities in this industry. You don’t even need a man. When it comes to life, the number one person that you need is God. You also need one another, because you also need people. If you have God, God is the majority. He is everything you need.

The right people you need in your journey to become who you have been destined to become, God will bring your way. Just put God first and work on your act. Always put your best into every role you are given. As if your life depends on it. Always see yourself as a beginner, even when you are a star. That helps you to keep putting in your best.