Moyo Gates- I’m Very Much Drawn to Anything Artistic

Moyo Gates is an actor with a spark for action, suspense and intrigue. He defines his own style of acting and he is emerging as Nigeria’s foremost action character. In this chat with Tosin Clegg, he talks about career

Who is Moyo Gates? 

Moyo Gates is an art work. I’m very much drawn to anything artistic. Sometimes I wish I could paint because that seems to be my only artistic weakness. Talk about the name Gates, apart from being an actor and a presenter, I am a professional brand manager and strategist. I do manage my brand properly thus Gates came about after a series of brain storming sessions with the brand management company I work for. 

Tell us about starting out acting out

I went into acting about a decade ago in a movie titled Married but Living Single, featuring Funke Akindele and directed by Tunde Olaoye. Back then, it didn’t seem like they were opportunities because you needed to be in an actual film to be seen, but now, thanks to digital media you can shoot a movie in 15 minutes, publish for free and even sell it to make money online. 

Who are your role models? 

I really like Blossom Chukwujeku, who is quite the method actor. He reminds me of Marlon Brando. I would say he is one person I look forward to working with in the industry. I remember watching him and Nse Ikpe Etim in The Visit three years ago and I was blown away as he is a natural and I am a natural. 

What’s exceptional about your acting? 

Sinking into character is often a challenge to most actors but, as I said, I am a method actor, I take passion, emotion and attitude of a character and fall into it; sometimes it takes me days after a shoot to come out of that character. 

Where do you see yourself and brand in five years? 

In five years, I want to produce my first feature film. It seems like too far away to do that but like I tell people, I have no passion for producing my own films, all I love to do is act, like act act act and act. I have no passion for producing; hence I’m not looking at that now. I’m naturally an action figure, thus you’ll always find me acting most times.