By Isabella Akinseye
Ben Lugo Touitou is one of the fast rising stars in the new Nollywood. His star turn in Lagos Cougars caught the attention of many. Isabella Akinseye got to know a bit more about the man behind the smile.
Where are you from?
I am of mixed heritage; my dad is Israeli and my mum is Nigerian, from the Imo State. People don't know this, I speak really good Igbo. I wrote Igbo Language in WAEC and I got a B2.
Did you always want to be in front of the camera?
No. I had the ability to observe and imitate people. I love to make things happen and solve problems. And you can find these in film-making. I once had a friend who said I must study Cinematography because my imagination is so vivid and so fluid that I must learn how to make films.
What was the last Nollywood movie you watched on AfricaMagic?
That would be Lagos Cougars! There is a lot of buzz about this movie, people are just so dazed when they see it and come to me with so much love and appraisals which kind of puts me in a very mellow and humbled level and puts some pressure on me too, because it means that I have to step up my game further and keep making the movie industry in Africa, a place of true entertainment. Hence I can't settle. So yeah, I followed the showing time of the movie and saw it again.
In Lagos Cougars, your character dates an older woman, how was it?
It was a great challenge because women are really magical personalities and sometimes can be intimidating. It was fun. I had fun and got to be friends with Monalisa Chinda, who encouraged me as we shot. Many people who saw that movie so believed I had dated an older woman before, to be able to be so comfortable in the role. It's not true. Even the fight scene was all made up. But it was easier for me to fake being hit because while growing up I did a lot of karate, and saw a lot of fight scenes in movies and knew how they faked it, so it was easy duplicating that.
Would you consider dating an older woman?
Yes I would if her personality falls in balance with mine of course.
If you could appear on any show, which one would it be?
Wow! This question is making me excited! If it's an African-targeted show, probably MTV Base, because I love music. If it's outside Africa, it’ll have to be Saturday Night Live. I also don't mind anchoring a show say Studio 53 for one day, or a segment on Sound City.
What projects are you current working on?
I am gearing up for a huge TV series coming soon worldwide. There are also a couple of films next year. There is a short romantic comedy film with Brycee Bassey titled ASSumers. I’m also working on a production for reality TV show in partnership with a major electronics company in Nigeria.
Ben Lugo Touitou is one of the fast rising stars in the new Nollywood. His star turn in Lagos Cougars caught the attention of many. Isabella Akinseye got to know a bit more about the man behind the smile.
Where are you from?
I am of mixed heritage; my dad is Israeli and my mum is Nigerian, from the Imo State. People don't know this, I speak really good Igbo. I wrote Igbo Language in WAEC and I got a B2.
Did you always want to be in front of the camera?
No. I had the ability to observe and imitate people. I love to make things happen and solve problems. And you can find these in film-making. I once had a friend who said I must study Cinematography because my imagination is so vivid and so fluid that I must learn how to make films.
What was the last Nollywood movie you watched on AfricaMagic?
That would be Lagos Cougars! There is a lot of buzz about this movie, people are just so dazed when they see it and come to me with so much love and appraisals which kind of puts me in a very mellow and humbled level and puts some pressure on me too, because it means that I have to step up my game further and keep making the movie industry in Africa, a place of true entertainment. Hence I can't settle. So yeah, I followed the showing time of the movie and saw it again.
In Lagos Cougars, your character dates an older woman, how was it?
It was a great challenge because women are really magical personalities and sometimes can be intimidating. It was fun. I had fun and got to be friends with Monalisa Chinda, who encouraged me as we shot. Many people who saw that movie so believed I had dated an older woman before, to be able to be so comfortable in the role. It's not true. Even the fight scene was all made up. But it was easier for me to fake being hit because while growing up I did a lot of karate, and saw a lot of fight scenes in movies and knew how they faked it, so it was easy duplicating that.
Would you consider dating an older woman?
Yes I would if her personality falls in balance with mine of course.
If you could appear on any show, which one would it be?
Wow! This question is making me excited! If it's an African-targeted show, probably MTV Base, because I love music. If it's outside Africa, it’ll have to be Saturday Night Live. I also don't mind anchoring a show say Studio 53 for one day, or a segment on Sound City.
What projects are you current working on?
I am gearing up for a huge TV series coming soon worldwide. There are also a couple of films next year. There is a short romantic comedy film with Brycee Bassey titled ASSumers. I’m also working on a production for reality TV show in partnership with a major electronics company in Nigeria.