Why I love cool, polished guys –Rita Dominic

(NIGERIA) Rita Dominic has got that alluring appeal that makes you feel welcome! Her smooth soft voice is sensuous, especially when she wears one of her red trade-mark lipsticks, which she has traded for a more mature ‘nude’ look, for now. Rita is a stunner talking on and off screen. Tope Olukole captured her mood

Rita’s stage presence in movie largely draws from the emotions and passion with which she entwines her audience, as she successfully interprets her roles to the last detail. Often as sweet as candy, she’s got the look that you could at once intuit that she was born into and for the screens.

“I want roles that would take me away from the usual norms; you know, challenging roles,” she blurts to signal her confidence level. Although she wouldn’t be too specific, Rita admits she’s done one or two such roles that take her out of the stereotype in movies. Her appetite isn’t quenched yet. “I’m still looking to do more. You know, by challenging roles, I mean role that will stretch me and take me away from anything that has to do with me.”

And Rita knows, to star in a novel, unconventional movie role will have to begin with an exceptionally brilliant script. “It has to be a very good script with great and challenging characters. At this point of my career, I’m looking to doing roles that would push me further and bring out the little things that I have inside, I never thought I had or knew existed.”

That Rita talks and walks with the poise of someone who knows her natural gifting is not in doubt. What might appear a bit queer is the root of the courage and confidence that pushed her to opt for the camera lens when her family is rooted in the elite profession. Even though her parents are medical practitioners, her father was a medical doctor and her mother, a nurse, Rita Dominic, the youngest of four children, was intent on pursuing the envelope of her passion.

She always imagined herself mingling with the best of Hollywood and exhibiting her brilliant acting skills on set. So she started performing when she was a child, appearing in school plays and children’s television shows like children’s variety show and junior opinion. When she was in her primary school, Rita was already showing traits of her great talents, winning several dance competitions both at the local sports club and later at the Federal Government College, Ikot- Ekpene, before she went on to obtain a Degree in Theatre Arts from University of Port Harcourt, 1998. Rita, who hails from the royal Waturuocha family of Aboh Mbaise in Imo State, got her first chance to star in movie-”A Time to Kill”. Her talents shone through as she rapidly rose through the ranks, nicking the 2004 City People Awards as the most outstanding actress.

However, Rita insists she’s not resting on her oars yet and declares that she’s got something new up her sleeves. “We’re hoping to shoot good movie and tell good inspirational stories that hopefully, people out there can take something positive away from.”

Away from the TV screens and cameras, Rita could also come across as a little taciturn; preferring terse, concise answers to broad views on goings-on in the industry.

“Yes piracy! That’s a big one,” she spurts after a moment of reflection on a question about limiting factors in Nollywood. “And of course, distribution. That’s another one,” she adds.

Like it’s widely believed, Rita acknowledges that scripting constitutes a huge challenge in Nollywood, although she thinks the present scenario still deserves some credit. “Nollywood is known for the simple stories that we tell,” she defends “We tell the stories that the man on the street can relate to. But if we can do fantastic stories and make it better… You know, better quality, better scripts and better equipment and distribution, then, we’ll just explode. We actually need an infusion of all these,” she tails off, flashing a wide grin.

Rita admires real and humble people, love guys who are cool, polished, intelligent and who know how to put it all together to achieve that individual sense of style. (NEWSWATCH TIMES)