With head covered in grey, veteran thespian, Victor Olaotan has a slightly exotic look which women often find irresistible. After debuting as a teenage actor in the early 1970s, he has constantly been on stage doing what he likes best.
And just like old wine that tastes better, Olaotan is waxing stronger and today he’s a face to reckon with in Nollywood. In this exclusive interview with TS Weekend, the Tinsel star opens up on sundry issues. Excerpts:
Could you give us an insight into Victor Olaotan?
I am an actor. I was born, raised and educated in Lagos. I attended University of Ife and University of Ibadan, and then Rockets University in New Jersey, USA. Being home now after 20 years in the US; I have been active in the industry. I am one of the 2nd generation Nollywood actors. Having started my career from the late ‘60s/early ‘70s at University of Ibadan, I am still waxing stronger and doing my thing.
What was your first course in the university?
I studied Dramatic and Theater Arts. I have always been in theater.
How did your acting career begin?
Naturally, I was a science student and then I was an athlete, I used to play football. I met a producer while playing football and he said that he would like me to act in his movie. I told him that I was an actor back in secondary school, but I never wanted to pursue it. So, he suggested I take a course in acting. I went to University of Ibadan and took a six-months certificate course in Theater Arts. When I left there I came and did his movie, ‘Candle in the Wind’, which was the first full-length drama on Nigerian television in 1974.
After that, I did some other movies before proceeding to University of Ife where I joined Wole Soyinka. When I left Ife in 1979, I have always been a part of NTA Ibadan; I was a producer in NTA Ibadan, I used to produce Baba Sala, the comedian and some other Yoruba theater artistes. I produced a lot of Yoruba theatre practitioners of today. Later, I went to the US, I was one of the athletes selected by the government of President Sheu Shagari to represent Nigeria in the United States in 1980. I performed on and off Broadway and from there I went to Rockets University. I left there and did some plays in Shakespeare Festival. I went to Canada and came back home in 2002 after acting in Germany, England, Canada, and USA. Now, I am back here in Nigeria.
How was your first exposure, travelling out of the country?
I was a kid, an aunt of mine took me to England, and I was about 12-years-old. It was a good experience, but unfortunately, it was winter so, I ended up coming home with heavy cold. By the time I was grown up, I went to the US for the first time; I had always anticipated something fantastic because most of the book we read about acting and entertainment were usually from the United States. But I wasn’t disappointed when I got there. I spent a few months and came back home, and then went back again in the ‘80s and stayed for a long time.
Tell us about your growing up, were you born with a silver spoon?
My dad was a senior police officer and my mum was a nurse. I have aunties in high places. I was lucky because I was a favourite son; maybe I was a little handsome when I was younger, so some of my aunties were very fond of me. I was privileged to have traveled to London with my aunty. From there on, I have been a lucky guy and I have always called myself the anointed one.
How would you compare Nigerian movies of the ‘70s to what we have today?  
It’s an irony. We were actually on a pace from the ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s when a few veterans made movies in celluloid. By now I think there is an improvement in Nollywood. We still haven’t gotten there yet, I pray that we will get the same breakthrough that the music industry got in Nigeria and be able to do movies to be distributed by Hollywood, but it takes money to make good movies. If we don’t put good money in the movies we should not expect miracle. Tinsel’s budget is probably more than 100 Nollywood movies put together. So, if you spend that kind of money, you get good result.
As an actor in those days, what were your challenges?
There wasn’t much of a challenge. We were inspired by passion. We saw a lot of actors from Hollywood movies, we watched the Roman movies and all that and we were inspired to become as great as they are. And when I first had my script work in the theater, I saw actors like Jimi Solanke and Akin Sofoluwe. I was very inspired and said to myself that ‘if professionalism is at this level I think this is what I want to do’. At that time, there was not a lot of money in the profession but there was dignity. Even, all over the world they reckon with Nigerian theater, they used to call the University of Ibadan theater arts department the Hollywood of Africa. Everything that had to do with movies in Nigeria today came out of there. Unfortunately, that place is down now and nobody is paying attention, but it’s the mother of our industry today.
Do you have any regret in life?
My regret is that I really didn’t go into some of the things I would have loved to go into when I was in America as a young man because I didn’t have the knowledge of it. There were schools that taught acting techniques which we had no knowledge of then. It was late before I started learning about them, the body is old now I can’t do a lot of those things again.
What’s your greatest achievement in America? 
It is performing on Broadway of course, not many Nigerian actors have performed on Broadway. Even not many Hollywood actors have performed on Broadway. In America, for you to perform on Broadway, it’s like somebody going to perform for the president, not many people will get that opportunity. It’s the height of achieving excellence in American theater.
In those days, did anyone try to discourage you from going into acting?
When we started, theater had dignity and that was the time when Festac 77 came. Most people looked at theater practitioners as jokers, never-do-well because there was not really a lot of money in it. But today, I am happy that some of our actors are becoming celebrities even internationally.
What has been holding you back from going fully into mainstream Nollywood?
What you call mainstream is relative; I am already in the mainstream. What you call mainstream, maybe the Igbo Nollywood, basically people don’t have understanding of what Nollywood is. Nollywood is any movie that comes out of Nigeria, just like you can say Gollywood for Ghana, and Bollywood for India and Hollywood for America. It doesn’t matter where the movie is made. Now, if it is the Igbo Nollywood, I have done mainstream industry, which I have no reservation about. I feel when the price is right I will be right there.
What makes a good actor?
What makes a good actor is the naturalness of your performance. When you act and people don’t even know you are acting, that makes a great actor. Some actors over exaggerate whatever role they play and I don’t think its necessary, sometimes less is better.
How do you manage the home front considering that most marriages in the industry don’t last?
I am happily married with children. My wife is also in the industry and we don’t have any problem regarding relationships or how our lives should be run. I think we both have good understanding regarding how our lives should be like.
What are the things you and your wife put in place to safeguard your marriage?
I think basically it’s the belief in God, being good Christians. When you create a Christian home, it covers all.
Do you have fans especially the female ones that always want to hang out with you?
Oh yes, there are people who will see you and say ‘I love you’ and they don’t even know you from Adam. It’s the self-control that you have as an individual that matters. I have seen a lot and I am of age, so no woman can easily lure me.
Have you ever been tempted to have something with any of them?
Not really. I have a good wife and I live in America. I have enjoyed my life, so if at this stage I get myself involved with any of such, I am sure it’s detriment to my career. I try to keep myself clean.
What would you like to be remembered for?
Remember that I have integrity as an individual and both professionally and socially.
What would you say is your most exciting award in the industry?
My greatest award as an actor was getting a presidential pin from President Ronald Regan in America. I don’t even know where the pin is today. I probably misplaced it travelling here and there.
Being a veteran, what is your greatest achievement?
My greatest achievement is doing over 1000 episodes of soap. Not so many of us have achieved it. And I give kudos to people who gave us the opportunity to do that.
What is your advice for those looking up to you?
My advice for anyone who wants to go into the movie industry is first, attain your tool; and train yourself before you dabble into it.

Victor Olaotan : No woman can tempt me