I don’t struggle to shine or be noticed-Tracy Daniels, Nollywood Golden girl

Treasure Daniels is the twin sister of Tracy Daniels, one of the popular Nollywood Golden Girls. She has starred in so many movies and soaps. Aside from acting, directing and scriptwriting, she has started producing her own movies with Tracy. In this interview withAdaeze Amos, she talks about life as an actress, among others. Excerpts.

You have an identical twin sister, how come both of you joined the acting world at the same time?

I must say destiny, and Sir Lancelot Oduwa Imansuen were instrumental to it. He needed suitable casts for Eucharia Anunobi’s daughters in a movie entitled ‘Last Burial’. During one of their rehearsals, we were coincidentally at the Hotel Presidential Enugu, Enugu State as well for a modelling shoot, and boom, he got his casts. He sighted us and sent for both of us. He tried us and the rest is now history. That’s how both of us evolved to what and where we are today.

What is your educational background?

I studied both in the University of Nigeria Nsukka and Enugu State University of Technology, and obtained degrees both in Social Works and Mass Communication.

How was the beginning for you in the movie industry? And who lured you into it?

Nollywood just like most other professions didn’t give way to me so easily. During our early days, things were done differently than they are done now, and you’ve got to earn every single job you did then. My saving grace was that I also have the gift of writing. I screen-played most of the movies. I was featured in the blockbuster movie ‘Billionaire Club’ for great movies, so that scaled me through.

Who are the seasoned actors you admire in the movie world?

I admire them all, but I have special respect for Majid Michael; I see him as a machine.

How did your parents cope with your joining the movie?

At first, they didn’t find it funny because it was as if our acting career was against their own mission in life as clergy. They expected us to also be on the pulpit, not on cinemas. But now they have seen how noble acting is, they have come to terms with it.

You and your twin sister are known as the Nollywood Golden Girls, how did you come by that name?

We came by the name Golden Girls because it was suitable for the three girls who initially formed the music group I’m in, Sophia Tchikere, my twin sister and I. We were all light-skinned, so that name came into our minds. When you see three of us on the musical stage, we do look golden. When she pulled out of the group, Tracy and I continued with the name.

Tell us some movies you have featured in, and the most challenging of them.

I will start by naming our own personal productions, ‘Beloved Twins’, ‘Twins Destiny’, ‘Love and Cash’, ‘Divided Secret’, and ‘Holy Diamond’. Also are ‘Hatred’, ‘Apian Way’, ‘The Headmaster’, ‘Dying for the  Nation’, ‘The Barons’, ‘The World of Riches’, ‘Family Separation’, among others.

Which of these films brought you into the limelight?

‘Beloved Twins’ shot us into the limelight, but I haven’t got any of them that is most challenging yet.

What do you enjoy most about your acting career?

What I enjoy about in acting is the fact that it gives me a platform to be another person. For example, if I am acting as a lawyer in a movie, I become a lawyer for that time. I can also switch temperaments, depending on the character I am interpreting

What else do you do aside from acting?

I am mogul by the grace of God. We deal in beauty products and beauty care. We have a parlour in Oniru Lagos where we make people look their best from hair to toe.

When you featured in a romance movie for the first time, what were the reactions of your parents and members of your father’s church?

My parents are not different. They reacted just like an average African parent would have done. But I must say that today, we are being honoured all over the world, because they have come to see us for who we are: cool-headed society role models who have stood the test of time, and who are different from the characters they play in movies.

What are the regrets for venturing into showbiz?

No regrets so far.

 How do you cope with stardom?

I don’t have to cope with it because I don’t live with the consciousness of that. I live my normal life, and I don’t struggle to shine or be noticed. However, I am careful with what I do now because, whether I like it or not, I’m a public figure; and lots of people are following my footsteps. But please don’t hit my car in the traffic just to see how I will react.

Can you relive your first experience on movie set?

Yes, that was in the ‘Last Burial’. I was very afraid of the director, but later I adjusted to his person.

What was the craziest thing a male fan has ever done to you?

That’s Mr. Richard Omokri, from the United States. We didn’t know who he was, yet he traced our address on one of our birthdays and sent me a Porsche Design. That’s the craziest.

Some actors say marriage is secondary to their lives just because of stardom, do you also share same opinion?

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but I’m far from that. I value family life above any career. I learnt well from my mum and dad, I can’t put marriage as secondary to my career.

When then are you hoping to settle down?

I answered this question in an interview last January and; here is another one. I will answer differently, please let my husband-to-be answer that question himself; I don’t know who he is yet.

What are the qualities of your ideal man?

My ideal man is the one with the fear of God, someone who has integrity, good character and can provide for his family comfortably. He does not have to do his own future financial projections on my own account. I see them a lot, and I walk my way.

What lesson has life taught you?

To count on no one.

What’s your regret in life?

The people I couldn’t help.

What is your life philosophy? 

Life has no straight jacket.

What really thrills you about life generally?

How people and things constantly change.

When you are down, what do you do to derive inspiration?

I read, play music by Terry Clark, Bob Fitts and Frank Edwards. I have tried it and discovered that these help to cast away sadness.

Can you define your style?

I’m subtle in styling myself because I’m already attractive naturally. It’s not all the time that I’m able to handle all that comes with it. I try not to get obvious after dressing up.

What do you think the world would look like without fashion?

You don’t want to imagine that because we will all get naked in the first place.

 What is the fashion item that forms a larger part of your wardrobe?

Shoe! I’m a size 38, the lucky size they. I love to see how every shoe looks on me.