“I have a lot of Nigerian and African friends and I can understand where they get their power and spirit from.”
Shekoni, stars in the final blockbuster ‘Twilight: Breaking Dawn’, out this au- tumn. Now based in Los Angeles, Judi is no stranger to outstanding performances and in her latest highly coveted role, she is sure to hit new heights as ‘Zafrina’, a like- able, dangerous and enormously talented vampire. Zafrina’s giſted powers keep her in control, making people see whatever she wants at will. Standing 6ſt tall, Judi is clearly a good
A
choice to play the sizzlingly powerful vampire. And her stunning looks and enchanting screen presence are sure to delight ‘Twilight’ fans. She spoke to New African Woman’s Ogo Okafor on bagging the highly sought aſter role of Zafrina.
Q How does it feel when you are working on such a big Hollywood
Judi Shekoni mixes glamour and acting
prowess in equal measure
blockbuster as ‘Twilight’s Breaking Dawn’. ? It feels great, it’s really exciting and I have to just keep pinching myself. You realise just how big it is when you’re shooting or meet the fans waiting outside the hotel! It’s a great ride and I feel so blessed to be able to experience being a part of something so big. It’s one big crazy adventure!
Q Your character Zafrina is said be “uncivilised, likeable, dangerous
and enormously talented”. Can you relate to her in real life? Well obviously I relate to the enormously talented part – just kidding! She’s so cool – she allows me to delve into my darker side and my more animalistic side. Research- ing her has also allowed me to find out more about vampires, which I have always been interested in. I’m also so glad she has a mental ability rather than a physical one as I feel that’s what interests me most – the
s ardent fans await the last instalment of the popular ‘Twilight Saga’ movies, a new vampire, in the name of Nigerian actress Judi
power of the mind and how we are all con- nected – so I feel it’s the perfect power for me. And her natural, raw side gives me so much freedom with her to allow myself to be more instinctive and work more from that animal side of me (smiles).
Q How did you prepare for your role?
I watched just about every vampire movie going – I’d already read the books but I re-explored them. I did some animal research and I went to the gym. Zafri- na had to have more muscle than I did!
Q You’ve enjoyed a fruitful career in TV, had spreads in Vogue and Elle
and you’re now taking on Hollywood. Do you have any other career ambi- tions you’d like to achieve? Tere are so many amazing people in the industry I would like to work with. I would love to do a really dramatic film that really shows a wonderful character journey. I am also working to make my hair extensions company – www.exten-
sionevolution.com – more successful. I had so much trouble with my hair and I really want to help black women feel their most beautiful self. And I would love to get more involved in charity work and maybe come back to Africa and raise the spotlight on a charity or two.
Q Your career has taken you all over the globe. Are there any experi-
ences that particularly stand out to you? ‘Twilight’ right now definitely tops it – and I think the next couple of years in the ‘Twilight’ world will be pretty awesome. I loved shooting ‘When Women Rule Te World’, a show I hosted in Fiji. ‘EastEnd- ers’ in England was a blast. And winning ‘Celebrity Fear Factor’ in Argentina for charity was a great one, too – so many.
Q Where have you been to in Africa? Tell us about your time
there? I have been to Nigeria a few times and loved it – I am Nigerian so it was great to visit where I am from. So many peo- ple born in different countries don’t al- ways get the chance to go to their home- lands so I am very blessed. I loved the energy and spirit of the people, I have a lot of Nigerian and African friends and I can understand where they get their power and spirit from. I can’t wait to go back – there is something special in Af-
AUTUMN 2011 | NEW AFRICAN WOMAN | 89
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