There are many adventures to be had at a film fest of the quality of Park City’s Sundance. But, without doubt, one of the purest joys of a weekend in the snowy mountains such as this is to catching up with and getting to see the real life versions of our favorite stars. Enter the sparkling FOLAKE OLOWOFOYEKU, star of Chuck Lorre’s/CBS “Bob Hearts [Yes, Emoji!] Abishola,” and you really could not ask for a greater “get” in Utah over the last ten days.
For fans of the show, she is the immigrant from Nigeria nurse, and young single mom, who captures the heart of middle-aged, divorced medical sock salesman “Bob” (Billy Gardell). Plausible? Yes. But as much as she plays the unassuming and enchanting title character in this surprisingly popular show, Ms. Olowofoyeku has an ever stronger punch to the heart and brain to follow.
Born in Nigeria as the youngest of twenty (not a typo or editorial mistake) children, Ms. Olowofoyeku is a multi-talented actress with a passion for music, the fantasy genre, and, of course acting, whose energy and spark brings a much-needed bolt of energy into the sometimes staid world of Hollywood. At the Sundance Film Festival last week, she was slated to appear and speak at the Women In Film Panel moments before we had the pleasure of speaking with her. Alongside her eventually were Gina Yashere, co-creator of “Bob Hearts Abishola,” as well as Nkechi Carroll, Showrunner for the CW’s All American, about diversity in storytelling and representation in the industry.
But, before all of that went down, Don Birnam of the SplashReport had an exclusive chat with her at her reclusive Park City, snow-laden villa, where we had the chance to speak to Folake about her life, the show, her plans, and more. Read on…
Don Birnam/SplashReport: How’s it going, are you excited to be here? How are you feeling that you are here? Are you excited for the panel?
Folake Olowofoyeku: Yes, very. I’m always excited to talk about the show, and I used to be a member of Women in Film, so I’m always excited to be involved with them in this capacity. I have so many thoughts about why it is important that we are all represented—it’s an accurate depiction of our world. What part of our world do you not need women to survive? It makes for richer imagery, richer content, a sort of nuanced storytelling that you can only get from a female perspective. To neglect it seems really stupid, to be honest. I’m happy that so many people are working on creating space for women to be involved in the process.
JDB/SR: What role does the audience play in all of this?
FO: I think they—and they are starting to realize this—they decide, what gets produced, what gets seen, what gets carried over to screen. Their eyeballs dictate what will continue to be produced, what sorts of content everyone wants to see. We have seen that the audience is very powerful, in politics, in other fields, in consumer relations. It is not different in our interest.
JDB/SR: We had been assuming, hadn’t we, that audiences did not want these stories? And it turns out we were wrong, right?
FO: Actually, I have a theory about all of that. I don’t think people thought that others didn’t want to see it. I think they just didn’t want to do it, to be honest. The rest was an OK excuse to go with. I have no idea why they wouldn’t want to do it. Again, I think it’s silly. Perhaps fear of the unknown, fear of their success and having competition. I don’t know, but I really don’t believe anyone honestly really thought that women behind the scene or productions would not sell.
JDB: That is interesting and probably correct! So, tell us a little about the show. How has the experience been? How did you come about it and what have you learned?
FO: Well, I went home, to Nigeria, sometime for the summer. When I was home I wrote a song and when I came back, I called in for the audition for the show. It was one of the easiest processes I have ever been to. I got the material, it was so easy to memorize. It rolled off my tongue. It was so easy to memorize, it was like Shakespeare. That is a sign of good writing, by the way. I just went over and over and over it and found a way to create the character of Abishola. During the tests I met with the creators—Eddie and Chuck—it was all very fast. And then by October (2018) I was in the shoots. I heard I booked the job by the end of November. We started shooting in March of 2019. I am enjoying it SO much. I try to find ways to self-care so that I can rest and be present. You have to get sleep at some point! I love traveling, so I love traveling to promote the show. It is part of a lifestyle I have always wanted. I feel like a won the lottery to be honest…
JDB: What hopes do you have for the show, where do you want to see it go?
FO: Weeeeell…[Chuckles]. I think we should win all the awards! [Laughing]. More seriously, I could not even begin to tell you, with Chuck…what can we do? But that said, I would love to see an episode in Nigeria. I just got back from there two weeks ago and I got accosted in the bathroom! It was sweet, people kept reciting lines from the show. Someone else at Lagos Polo Club was smiling and came up to me and said: “Oh that’s you, I wasn’t sure! It is Abishola,” and they come running over to me! “We love your show!” I try to play myself in the show, allow myself, but it is still pretty great.
JDB: How is Bob [Billy Gardell]? What else can you tell us about the show?
FO: He is a gentleman. I love him. I have learned how to be a decent human being from him. He is so forthcoming and humble. If I had an issue in my life I would probably call him first, before anyone else. I trust him.
As for the show—I did not expect to like to be pampered that much! At first, I was a little hesitant but after a while, it was fun and easy. I am trying not to get use to that!
And then there’s Chuck. I really like talking to him, we don’t spend a lot of time doing that but when I do, it’s pretty amazing, he’s a really really smart guy and he’s into music so we talk about that.
JDB: Tell us about that—where does you music come from? What do you like?
FO: Music was my first love. It was the first thing my parents said no to. I studied audio engineering after school. I taught myself guitar after I moved to America. The point is I have learned it and have always loved it. I got to play with Bowie…I have so much music. I just got back from Nigeria and I recorded four more songs. I’ve been thinking about collaborating with four DJs. It is hard to do with all my work commitments. And I have actually started to pick up DJing. I am going to do that tomorrow night at the festival at [a studio/awards experience]. The music will be great but limit your expectations with respect to the beat!
JDB: Tell me about your favorite shows, movies, heroes, themes – other than CBS !? If you were going to be in a movie, and you allowed yourself to fantasize, tell me about that movie…
FO: It would be a fantasy adventure. I would like it to take place in a place with red sand. I am actually developing it right now.
JDB: That leads to my next question, which is what sort of other stuff are you working on?
FO: I’m on STAR WARS Virtual Reality, the videogame. Immortal Vader. But what I am really looking forward to is a project with a writer in Nigeria, with a draft I wrote over 10 years ago. People in Nigeria did not think anyone cared about African fantasy, but I think that we have proven them wrong.
JDB: Tell us something else about you that the audience doesn’t know?
FO: I like physical roles, action-based roles. Big characters. I love watersports.
JDB: That is so cool! Tell us about the panel! Are you excited? Tell us about it in advance. Also tell us about your heroes or heroines.
FO: I am very excited. I was fortunate to be a member of this organization a few years ago and I was lucky enough to participate. This effort is so important. It’s called: “VOICES IN VISION: Women in Character Filling the Narrative.”
As for heroes? My mother is the top of my list. All the stuff she went through and preserved and gave us. My father too, by the way!
JDB: Well, thanks Folake and good luck!
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