Acting has changed my perception about life-Daniel Lloyd

Daniel Lloyd is a handsome young man, whose face is seen in most Nollywood movies and TV commercials lately. From Bayelsa State, Daniel Lloyd is not just one of those Nollywood actors but one of the adored and finest in the industry. He started his acting career in the university in 2006 with the movie, Tempted To Touch. He holds a Civil Engineering degree. The chocolate skinned actor has acted in over 50 Nollywood movies amongst which is the first Nollywood-Bollywood movie shot in Nigeria and India, entitled J.U.D.E. Not so many will know that Daniel was once Timaya’s manager for several years until few years ago when he returned to the industry full time again. Cornered on set of yet another flick, ‘From Freetown’, Daniel told MUTIAT ALLI about his new role in the movie, working with Dem Mama Star, Timaya, and relationship amongst others. Enjoy…

So, how has it been with you?

Oh, I’m doing great. Am alive and talking to you right now. Work will be better. God has been so faithful. I tell you this for a fact, I’ve exceeded my expectations so far. Some of the big projects I have this year are coming through. This year has been so great with me.

What other projects besides this one are you working on?

I’ve been working on a whole lot of projects. I mean, week in week out, projects coming out. Most of my movies came out in cinemas and they are doing pretty well. I got nominated for City People award most promising actor. I’ve been on lots of projects and some are yet to come out.

What role are you playing in the movie, Freetown?

I’m playing FD, the lead male character.

Who is FD?
FD is a guy that wants to make it in Nigeria’s movie industry. He came in from Sierra Leone, things happened but he was so focused oblivious of his environment that he had a mind-set of where he is going to and he got there.

How challenging do you think the role will be?

It is challenging because I’ve been to Sierra Leone once but it was on different purpose, so now I have to try and put some accent into what am saying and act so very naïve. And then again, there are some fight scenes, I need to fight like karate guy to need to hold that through pretty well and train myself. Prior to now, I was looking bigger but I have to lose some weight to fit into the character very well. So yes, it’s been really challenging. Before the production and am sure with production still going on, a bit more challenge is coming my way but I’m ready to go.

Professionally, when did you start acting?

Three years ago.

Before acting you were managing music act, Timaya. As his manager, was there the need to take into acting?

Yes! I was his manager. I’m a graduate, so I had my first movie in my final year in school in ESUTH. So, I’ve always wanted to be an actor and I was in stray to start a project in Port Harcourt with Timaya. He was in singing category why I was in acting category. I came in second. So we just bonded. We became like brothers and doing everything together. I mean I’ve been around the world with Timaya in different shows at different places but in all these while, I’ve always wanted to still act movies. It’s that thing that gets me up in the morning and takes me back home at night. Not my alarm clock this time. My passion for this wakes me up in the morning. When we came back from a US tour, I and Timaya, I decided to be me, be my own boss. You know, I decided to take the bull by its horn and that’s what I did.

So it’s not like you have a fall out with him right?

No! Of course, I spoke to him on his birthday recently. So we’re good. But obviously one or two things happened back then that we squashed because I mean, we realised that where we were coming from was far, I mean we’re in the same hustle together. I’m from Bayelsa State which he is from too. We are like brothers, so there is no need for any bad blood. I would just say life happened when I left.

Differences aside, was he a difficult person to work with?

Timaya is one of the best guys to work with. I tell you this for free. One of the attitude he gives is to build a wall that is like “am from Bayelsa State, I can be a militant if I want to be, don’t mess with me”, but deep inside, he is a soft guy. All the stuff you see around him is just a wall, like a shield not to be taken for granted. I’ve formed for him. In his first album, he was looking very hard in the face, it was just a stunt he pulled off and it worked for him.

So back to acting, how has these three years been for you?

It’s been rewarding but it’s been crazy. It has worked for me and gotten me to where I am in the industry. People with all the respect in their craft, have been there longer than me and haven’t gotten to where I have. I mean I can walk on the street as far as even in London or America and people will be like “Oh” you’re an actor”. I was in London at a train station when a guy walked up to me and said “when I grow up, I wanna be like you, you’re a Nigerian actor. I love your movies. I watch your movies like every now and then”. So I mean, I was touched and I get motivated by such speeches when people say “oh! You’ve inspired me, I’m proud of you because you are a Bayelsan”. It gives me the motivation to go on. So these past three years have been really amazing for me.

What has acting changed about you?

It has changed my perception about life. Because in these three years, I’ve had to interpret characters that are not necessarily my character. I’ve had to imbibe a certain spirit into myself to make them believe. I try to see life from different perspectives – How you see life from being a poor guy and from being a rich guy or girl. I mean it’s a lot. So I’m more patient with people now. I’m more matured and I’ve been able to see life in different ways.

So what is the most challenging role you have played so far?

(Sighs)…. Every story comes with its own challenging roles. There was this time I was in India to shoot a movie. It was challenging because I had to dance like an Indian guy. I had to grow my beards, I was looking very rough. I was there for a month for the movie. Like I said, any character you interpret which is not your character is challenging. That is not you as a person. You have to go on research. Like this one now, I had to go on little research on how people from there behave and how they talk and everything. Every script and every story comes with its own challenges.

Tell us about you… Your name, growing up and all.

My name is Daniel Ineye Lloyd. Ineye is my native name. I’m a graduate, Civil engineering, ESUTH. My parents are my greatest inspiration in life. My dad is an ex-shell staff, my mom is a middle wife/nurse. I have siblings scattered around, I’m from a polygamous home. I have step brothers and sisters. Like I said, I’m from Bayelsa State, I don’t allow where I’m from determine my future. I’ve been to Bayelsa a couple of times but I grew up in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Warri. My dad worked with Shell, so we always got transferred everywhere. Growing up has been amazing. Maybe not the best a kid will have but shipping me to where I am today.

Why did you study civil engineering? Is it because of your dad’s connection?

I get that all the time. The thing is, there is something called passion. Something that wakes you up all the time. There is a feeling that money itself cannot buy. Which is this, I mean, I left my comfort zone being Timaya’s manager. What I did with Timaya was to get shows, travel around the world, enter business class and come back. But leaving that as a job to be an actor that you are not even sure if they will call you for a job the next day, you’re not sure of your next meal and what the future holds for you, but I took the bull by the horn and three years down the line, I’m talking to you. Do you understand? Until you move, nothing moves for you. So it’s about you taking calculated risks and God being so kind, it has worked in my favour.

Are you married?

No! I’m so single and searching.

Like they say, “there are so many fishes in the sea”, why don’t you get one?

I don’t want a fish! I want a shark. You don’t see shark everywhere.

What exactly do you want in a woman?

I want in a woman what I want in myself. I won’t be selfish to say I want in a woman what I can’t be myself. I need to be the person I want as my partner. It’s a work-in-progress for me.Noll