What do Clara Maame Serwaa Amoateng Benson; Maame Yaa Konadu Jackson
and Emmanuella Antwi have in common? Well, some people would rightly
say they are all fast- rising, Kumasi-based film actresses in their
early teens. Others would also sneeringly describe them as screen
brats who have adopted distasteful adult traits. To the latter group
of people, the three young actresses think they must understand that
film is essentially a make- belief system and actors only play roles
assigned by their characters and as wished by directors. No doubt, it
is the roles those three play well in the movies that have caused some
folks to assume that they are disrespectful, quarrelsome and plain
nasty young persons. The young stars have disputed those claims and
stated clearly in interviews with Showbiz that they could not be
blamed for depicting roles assigned to them in the movies. Maame
Serwaa, 14, said though she had heard comments about her being rude
and disrespectful, she could not be bothered because people only
judged her based on what they saw in the films. "I always put myself
into any character I play. I learn the part so well that sometimes I
add my own bits apart from what the director desires in order to make
things look more realistic. I guess that has contributed to this
perception but I'm not respectful," she stated. A form three student
of Mount Hermon School, Maame Serwaa has featured in movies like
Fakye, Tumi, School Girl, Azonto Twins, Ahonhon Bone, Mprewa Nyinsen
and Jerusalem House. She stated that she could not be blamed for being
a good actress who plays emotional roles well, especially when she has
to cry on screen. "It is not my fault that producers have come to like
my style of acting. I am making fairly good money per movie and cannot
let that pass me by because someone thinks I behave too much like an
adult when acting. "I want to be a star actress in a few years and I'm
working towards that. I'm not 'too known' or whatever they see me to
be," Maame Serwaa remarked. On how she was coping with school
alongside acting, Maame Yaa said her screen career had so far not
affected her education in anyway and that her teachers admired her
brilliance at school. Maame Yaa started acting in movies about six
years ago. Films she has appeared in include Azonto Ghost, Azonto
Twins, Fakye and Ntafuo Tumi. She said she was not perturbed by
people's comments because they do not really know her and how she is
like in real life. "The fact that I am given a role that makes me act
like an adult does not make me feel big or disrespectful. I do and
will always respect the elderly. " The 13- year- old Junior High
School student of Selorm Educational Complex said she wished people
would rather take time to study her behaviour off the set before
passing comments about her. Meanwhile, Emmanuella Antwi,13, who is
also known for movies such as Tumi, Obra Ye Oko, Me Ba and Azonto
Ghost Reloaded admitted that though she had heard some comments about
her two other colleagues, she was yet to hear anything about herself.
She said that could probably be attributed to her relatively short
period in the industry and the fact that she doesn't really play many
adult roles. "My fans have really supported me over the three years
that I have been in the industry. My father is very particular about
my education so I can't toy with my studies" she added.
