Oris Erhuero

I had the rare honor of doing an interview with a very successful male model turned actor. Oris has multiple years of experience in front and behind the camera. He’s highly acclaimed for being the most photographed and publicized, international fashion, runway and print model of his time era. You can see Oris in the all new fourth season of the US and UK Hit Action Drama series «Strike Back», where he plays Brigadier General Lewis of the United States Air Force. Oris is also now on a world tour with the hit play «The Diary Of Black Men» and he is currently in talks with a major fashion house to collaborate with his new clothing and accessories line for summer release. Oris, how did you get into modeling? I believe the reason I got into modeling was faith. It was a path I never intended on walking down at all, but looking back today I am very grateful I did. Not only has it opened doors beyond my wildest dreams, but modeling really helped shape the person and artist I am today. It has set the tone to my mission in life in a way I never expected. I was living in Miami Beach in 1993 after walking away from New York, where I had been living for almost 10 years. It was in New York where I was trying to find my place in the music industry and my place in life as a young man. It was there where I had had it with life. 1993 was a strange year. I almost died from a robbery and I was shot 7 times defending a friend of mine who at the

Oris Erhuero time was a very famous Rap artist. From being robbed and almost killed, I fell into a coma and was in and out of surgery quite a bit. The moment I got better and out of critical condition, I decided that this was it; I wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the beautiful Big Apple. And this is coming from a man who left London, England at the age of 16 to pursue his dream in the land of the free- LOL ..During my young years in London, I felt like Europe had nothing to offer me as an artist and an actor studying drama and films. I felt like a bird in a cage that wanted out. I just wanted to fly. So moving to New York was the ideal place for me at that time. Little did I know that life would send me down the path to the world I am in today? While in Miami, I decided to get a job waiting tables, I honestly had given up on my dreams and was just happy to be alive, period. During that time, one of the biggest hurricanes in history had rocked America’s coast called Hurricane Andrew, it had hit the state of FloActor, producer, writer, and rida causing billions of dollars in damages. fashion model I left New York on a bus and came to Florida after it had been ripped apart and was being reconstructed. It was crazy, but in time Miami was back on its feet and I can gladly say that I was part of a community of people from all over the world wanting to start a new life and help rebuild the little and best of Miami beach. Modeling agencies, night clubs, cafes, restaurants, films, TV shows and commercial shoots started to come in from all over the world. It was during that same time when the late Gianni Versace moved to Miami from Milan and was constructing and building his villa and flag ship store. Photographers, models, actors, and artists all started to flock in from nowhere. It was like an electrifying wave of creative and beautiful people with incredible ideas coming into Miami. One evening, I served drinks to a man named Azabra and a very beautiful model. This was when my life took a turn forever. He happened to be a very young insightful and vibrant photographer on the rise from Toronto. He invited me to sit with them and they questioned me about why I was working as a waiter in Miami. They said that I should be in Europe modeling and making waves as an actor to be reckoned with. It was weird because he saw my future right away and for a second I thought this guy was nuts. But after the next few weeks, he was doing test shoots of me daily and sending them to agents. The rest, as we know, is history.

Tuxedo by Dolce & Gabbana

MODELING CAREER

Tell us a little bit about the successful modeling times. What is rewarding about mode-

ling?

Well one of my many memorable successful modeling moments was joining Boss Models in London the moment I arrived back to Europe from Miami. It was the first super male model agency in the world. They were one of the only male model agencies that knew how to market male models and made us business men. Half of them I must say are still working today, way into their 50’s! It’s crazy. After seeing my book and potential, they immediately booked me for a 3 to 6 month contract for modeling and TV commercials in Capetown, South Africa. It was an incredible experience. It was during the time when Nelson Mandela became the president. Meeting him personally was the icing on the cake and definitely a far cry for someone who almost dead a year earlier. It couldn’t have been more of an inspiring and rewarding time in my life. My bookings took me as far as South America, Asia, Russia and around the world numerous times shooting with the finest and most renowned photographers, stylists and commercial directors in the world.

Out of all of the photos that you`ve taken throughout your modeling career, which is your favorite photographer and why?

I have to say out of all the photos that I have taken throughout my modeling career; my favorite photographer has to be NICK KNIGHT. It was before the air brush craze and the only tricks came from photographers in the dark room pulling these 35 mil.

He photographed me and a couple of bodybuilders in a live action, superhero comic book kind of story, like the movie, «300». It was for a book he was putting together to be published and it was only when I saw the movie «300» , years later that I said to myself, «I knew a photographer who was doing that with a 35 mil camera in the 90’s.» Wow, how ahead of his time he was. And to mention, he is one of the finest photographers shooting major fashion campaigns for the top-end designers in the world.

What’s your fashion mantra?

My fashion mantra has always been: If it makes you happy, wear it and wear it well, like you were born in it.

Who is your favorite designer of all times and why?

I have to say, I have a lot of favorite designers, but my most favorite has to be the late GianFranco Ferre. Not only because I worked for him many seasons; for the men`s show in Milan, but he wasn’t just a designer; he was one hell of an architect. The way he cuts his clothes made people who wore them the centerpiece of the room. Even when you saw an actress on the red carpet at the Oscars, you knew his style. He also ran the house of Dior in Paris for a while and did a damn good job at it. He was such an amazing soul and he loved working with models of all colors and walks of life. He wasn’t afraid, like some designers are today, to use people of color to show his collections. Even during the time where designers were playing to the public or just wanting to be safe and kept the catwalk a certain style to impress buyers, he didn’t budge or give in. Gian just did it his way. That’s what life should be about, not everyone following and copying each other.

I pray for peace throughout the world at this time and for the happiness of all humanity.”

Where do you generally shop?

Well, I like to shop in boutiques and places where one would least expect to find certain things.

What are your hobbies?

I like traveling and being creative. Photography has also become one of my hobbies over the years.

In 2007, Jamati Online named you one of the top 10 sexiest African men. How do

you keep your body in such a great shape?

Well, I do a lot of yoga and cardio and weights.

What`s your favorite movie?

My favorite movie of all time has to be Scarface.

We learned that you also recently begun to explore film production and screen writing.

Is that the direction that you`re trying to go towards in the future?

Yes, film production and screen writing is something I am deeply into at the moment. There are so many great stories and scripts coming my way and I am still spending my days finding the right story that will move people. That’s very important to me, so I am not rushing it.

‘Oris managed by Vanessa Fernandez at Cheeky Monkey Management and her e-mail: vanessa@cheekymonkeymanagement. com PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART DIRECTION BY GIULIANA CASAROTTI www.giulianacasarotti.co.uk Make-up by: Indigo London

ACTiNG CArEEr

We know that you transitioned into television and film, with roles in The Adventures of Sinbad, The Bill, Highlander: Endgame, Black Mask 2, Sometimes in April, and Chicago Pulaski Jones. What feeling did you have when you first saw yourself on film, instead of a photograph?

The kind of feeling I had when I first saw myself on film instead of in a photograph, was very moving for me because it`s about what`s going on deep inside of you. What people were seeing and the reactions of my friends, family and people who knew me. How excited and moved they were, and still are, definitely keeps me wanting to put a smile on their faces by doing films. But I have to be honest; I really find it hard watching myself on film or TV. I tend to just read the script now, go on camera, shoot and move on and let my family and friends tell me what they thought and how they felt.

You look very comfortable in all your movies. What`s the secret behind embracing the characters so well?

For me, there is no secret behind what I do to embrace my characters. I just give it everything I got, as I am a very passionate individual who loves life and making people happy. The world is going through quite a lot on a daily bases, as we know. It’s important I pay attention to society and what`s going on in our world and try to reach out and touch them through my passion as an actor. As we know, people tend to gravitate to magazines, books, music, TV, films and play at a time of stress and to escape for a bit. I feel it`s very important that I don’t cheat them by being sincere to the best of my ability in every role and opportunity that comes my way. It`s important that I tell the truth with each character and not look for an easy way out. I’d rather not do it if it was any other way.

Who are your favorite actor and actress of all times and why?

Well my favorite actor of all time has to be Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. They’ve always been consistent over the years and they get better with age. I love the realism they bring to their work. Of course, there are many actors that I like, but these two never let me down. For the actress, I love Judy Dench, Helen Mirren, Kate Blanchett and, of course, Angelina Jolie. Angelina’s journey and what she does for many women from 3rd world countries makes me feel that I have a lot more to do regarding my mission in life.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART DIRECTION BY GIULIANA CASAROTTI, www.giulianacasarotti.co.uk, Make-up by Indigo London,Pearls models own, The hooded outfit and shorts by H&M divided Grey, Model: ORIS ERHUERO ORIS ERHUERO - An inspirational artist

What movie that you played in are you most proud of?

I have to say that one of the movies I am most proud of and grateful for in my life to have starred in, was «Sometimes In April». It was the story about Genocide in Rwanda in 1994. It’s strange, because that year, I was in South Africa modeling and I remember watching the tragic events unfold on the news every day. I was so sad and moved, that to see myself many years later as an actor playing and telling the story on the big screen was something out of this world. I couldn’t believe I would be filming in Rwanda and spending time in that part of the world where all those tragic events happened. Visiting the actual places and revisiting the horrific events was moving. Especially those precious moments when I spent time with witnesses, people and children who actually saw these things happen on a daily basis. I just never imagined that I would be in such an epic part of history, that many generations would use to educate themselves so we would never have to repeat such atrocity again. I’m also looking forward to telling many great, epic, historical stories of humanity; it`s the one movie that everyone I meet worldwide would have a conversation with me about. The look in their eyes when we talk about this tragic event. and how our lives were in that moment, is always amazing. It really makes people stop and embrace each other as human beings because deep down, we are really such precious beings.

Anything else that you`d like to tell us about you?

I am also looking forward to launching my clothing and accessory line in the coming year and I’ll be surprising everyone with it. I have spent so long in the fashion world that I just can’t ignore and suppress it any longer, because it’s something that’s been in my heart. It`s been in the making for the past 10 years and it`s time to unleash it and get it out.