When I think about Nollywood actresses I think about Nollywood as a whole. Nigerian movie industry is globally recognized as one of the largest film producer in the world.
Did you know that after Bollywood of the Indians, is our dear Nollywood? Even US Hollywood is behind us in terms of volume. Nollywood is the 2nd largest movie in the world.
Have you ever given attention to the top Nigerian female actresses who make waves in this industry? Let’s check this out!
Top 15 Nollywood Actresses In Nigerian Movies
Here is a list of top 15 all time Nollywood actresses in Nigeria movies:
1. Genevieve Nnaji
First on my list of top Nollywood actresses is Genevieve Nnaji. The multi award winning Nigeria actress started her acting career as a child in the film “Rested Soap “but she became well known in 1998 with the movie “Most Wanted”.
Ever since, this beautiful and talented actress has contributed immensely to the film industry. Over the years, this star actress has acted many movies but now she has gotten to a stage of selecting.
Yeah, she must enjoy the story and derive pleasure from the script before accepting to take up a role. Genevieve Nnaji is a super star. I love her dress sense when it comes to fashion and style.
She has won numerous awards both in Nigeria and on the international platform and she is one of the highest paid actresses in Nollywood.
Her first movie, “Road to Yesterday” won the best Movie Overall in West Africa at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards.
Well, don’t think she has reached the peak of her career because she still feels there is something inside her that hasn’t been let loose.
Her secret she says na God o. The cautious and conservative actress is determined and does not believe in impossibilities.
If she is one of your role model, she advises you to listen to yourself and discover what you can be good at.
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2. Omotola Jalade Ekeinde
Omo sexy as she is fondly called is one of the best actresses Nollywood can ever have. The 40 year old star actress discovered her future when she accompanied her friend to an acting audition.
Omotola Jalade started acting at the age of 17 in the movie “Venom of Justice”. Since then, the high profile actress has performed in over 300 films.
She was described as the queen of Nollywood in 2013 as she makes the list of world most influential alongside world leaders like Michelle Obama.
[Tweet “Omotola Jalage has performed in over 300 films“]
That same year, she was recognized in TIME magazine and that validated her career, and brand in Africa. She has been honored with numerous awards.
This exceptional actress has impacted the entertainment industry meaningfully and immensely. Currently she is building a 20 acres film village in Badagry as she believes Nollywood needs infrastructure.
She married very early and she is one of a few Nigerian actresses who have a stable marriage. She managed her family life remarkably.
Her husband actually found a good thing. Feel free to nod in agreement. Asides acting She is a philanthropist and a musician. To Whom It May Concern, She charges huge fees. Na so!
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3. Joke Silva
If you don’t know, she is the dark, beautiful, charismatic and talented grandmother of Nigerian Film Industry. See why you should agree with those accolades;
She was born 29 September 1961 and adopted into the Silver family. Her love for acting made her take a year off from University of Lagos during which she began working as an actress.
She later went back to complete Weber Douglas Academy of dramatic Art her studies and she continued to in London where she studied drama.
She has been acting both English and Yoruba movies for close to 3 decades. Her first known English film was “Mind Bending” in 1990 and in 1993 she acted “Owulorojo”, a Yoruba movie.
[Tweet “Joke Silver has appeared in more than 250 movies and she is still active in the film industry.”]
She has numerous awards to her name. To mention a few, she won the best Africa movie Academy Awards for the best actress in a leading role in 2006 and in 2008 she won for a supporting role.
As a prominent figure in the film industry, she was chosen by the United Nations as a good will ambassador. Also, she is a member of faculty of MTN project fame academy.
She is married to veteran actor Olu Jacobs. She is a woman who prioritize her family over her carrier yet successful in her carrier.
She shuffles being a mother, wife and a professional. What a wonderful example for all, especially upcoming Nollywood actresses. Her Charming smile is priceless.
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4. Stephanie Okereke Linus
This beautiful dark skinned woman from Imo state was born on 2nd October 1982. She is a graduate of New York Film Academy.
She is one of a few seasoned Nollywood actresses who combine acting with producing, directing and scriptwriting. She started her acting career in 1997 with the two Nollywood movies, “Compromise and Waterloo”
The star actress has received numerous awards, released two award winning movies within an interval of 7 years.
These movies “Through the Glass” and “Dry” received awards both on local and international platforms. Indeed her seed has sown fine fruits. She is happily married with a child.
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5. Funke Akindele
Hmm, Funke Akindele – Jenifa kan, worldwide kan, omo to chan (Meaning a child with swagger and is widely known). That’s what she is known for in her hit TV Show called Jenifa’s diary. She is the lead character with very funny English accent.
She is a dynamic and hardworking actress whose great works have been honored with numerous awards. She was born on 24th August 1977 in Lagos and she obtained a law degree from University of Lagos.
Her acting career started with the TV series “I Need to Know” in 1998 after which she boomed in the movie “Jenifa” in 2009.
Since then, she has been contributing immensely to the film industry. She has more than 100 movies to her credit. I love it when she comes out in her Nigerian native attire styles.
Funke has many endorsements to her name and she runs a non-Governmental Organization called Jenifa’s Foundation. Kudos to Funke as her fans awaits more interesting stuffs from her.
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6. Mercy Johnson Okojie
The curvaceous young woman Mercy Johson Okojie who hails from Okene, Kogi State was born in Lagos on 28 August 1984.
In 2004, she started her acting carrier with the movie, ‘the maid” and since then, she has acted various roles in numerous films.
The star actress still maintains her figure 8 even after three children. Mercy Johnson has won reasonable number of awards since she started acting in 2004.
These awards includes best actress in a supporting role at the 5th Africa Movie Academy Awards, Africa’s queen of the screen held in Sydney, Australia, best actress of the year at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in 2013 and others.
In 2011, she was Google’s most searched Nigerian celebrity. She is one of the Nollywood actresses who make positive impact in her root as she currently serve as the special assistant on culture and tourism to the Kogi state governor.
She is still mourning the death of her mum Elizabeth Johnson who died in May 2018. May God console her and all those concerned.
More Nollywood Actress Names and Pictures
My list of top Nollywood actresses that are hot still continues.
7. Kate Henshaw Nutall
Kate Henshaw Nutall is a fitness enthusiast who never stops training. The ever fit actress started her carrier in 1993 in the movie “when the sun sets”.
She hail from Cross River state and was born on 19th July 1971. Kate won the best actress in 2008 AMAA award.
She has appeared in more than 45 Nollywood movies and a judge on Nigerians got talent. She is one of a few Nollywood actresses who at 40 still look fit and sexy.
8. Patience Uzokwor
Patience Uzokwor – Mama G has she is fondly called was born 14th September 1958 in Enugu State. She was known to some extent in radio drama and in a soap opera before her first appearance in a movie in 1998.
She is a graduate of fine and applied art from institute of management and Technology Enugu.
Mama G usually play tough role and is known as Margaret Thatcher of Nollywood. Although I have never met her, report has it that she is very kind and tender in the real world.
According to her, she doesn’t ask for the roles but she does not reject whenever she is given one. In fact she said acting such roles is not easy since that’s not her nature in the real world.
Hence, you might need to change your mindset if you hate her because of those roles. Though her husband is late, the AMAA award winning actress married at the age of 19. She has 3 biological children and 5 adopted Children.
9. Rita Dominic Nollywood Actress
Rita Uchenna Nkem Dominic Nwaturuocha is another wonderful performer on my list of top Nigerian actresses. Rita Dominic is a graduate of Theater Arts from the University of Portharcourt.
She is one of Nollywood actresses who started performing since childhood, appearing in school plays and children’s television shows in Imo State.
She stared in her first movie “Time to kill” in 1998 and she has appeared in over 100 movies. She has more than 14 awards to her honor.
These include the best actress in 2012 AMAA awards, best actress in 2015 Africa Magic viewer’s choice award and many more.
10. Uche Jombo
This Abia state actress is a graduate of mathematics and statistics from University of Calabar. She started her acting carrier in 1999 in the movie “Visa to Hell”.
She is the CEO of Uche Jumbo studios and has been honored with 11 awards. The 39 year old actress does not only act, she writes and also produces film.
With that her beautiful gap teeth, she can smile for Africa. Even during tough times, she smiles. I think it’s her strength.
More List of Top Nigerian Actresses
I’ve got more on the list of Nigerian female actresses. At this point, you should note that this list in is no particular order.
You’ll find more info about the most beautiful Nigerian actress below, and I hope to write on Nollywood actresses who are dead. But for now, here are the remaining four on the list.
11. Iretiola Doyle
The seasoned actress was born on the 3rd of May 1967. She obtained her degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Jos. Asides acting; she is an accomplished writer, producer and presenter.
The star actress has won numerous awards which include Best Actress in a lead role at the GIAMA Awards in Houston Texas in 2013, best Actress in a lead role at the 2014 Nollywood Movie Awards and lots more.
Iretiola Doyle also played a role in the Wedding Party, which is the highest grossing Nigerian film in Nigerian cinema history.
She is married to Patrick Doyle and the marriage is blessed with six children
12. Ini Edo
This black and shine actress hail from Akwa Ibom state. She is a Graduate of English from University of Calabar.
The 36 year old actress Started acting in 2003 in the movie “Thick Madam” but she became well known in 2004 when she acted in” world apart”. She has featured in more than 100 movies.
Presently, she is the special assistant to Akwa Ibom state Governor on culture and tourism. She has been nominated for 10 awards and has won over 7 awards. You can follow her on Instagram @Iniedo
13.Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha
I call her ebony. A natural woman who is proud of her color. She is one of a few Nollywood actresses who never considered bleaching.
She was born 12 March 1980 and obtained a degree in banking and finance at Lagos State University. Chioma started her acting career in 2000 with the movie “handkerchief” and she has starred in over 80 Nollywood movies.
In 2007, the mother of two won the best actress in a leading role at AMVCA award and another in 2010 at the Afro Hollywood award. Chioma has also served as a brand ambassador both home and abroad.
14. Chika Ike
Another star on my list of top Nigerian actress is Chika Ike. The super star actress began her acting career in 2005 when she played a minor character in the movie “Sweet Love”.
That same year she acted another major role in a movie titled Bless the Child and has since played major roles in more than hundred movies.
In 2014, she graduated from the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, California where she studied Film Making.
As a philanthropist, Chika created the Foundation Help the Child which is aimed at helping poor children.
She is the executive producer of African Diva Reality Show; an African series which focuses on the search for the ideal African woman. In 2014, she founded Chika Ike Production Company and produced her first movie Miss Teacher.
Chika has received several awards and nominations for her work; this includes the Best Upcoming Actress in the 2008 Africa Movie Academy Award, and the Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 2009 Africa Movie Academy Award.
15. Adesua Etomi
Another star on my list of Nigerian actresses is Adesua Etomi. The beautiful damsel from Imo started acting at the age of 7 with a drama club in her primary school.
She graduated with a first class in drama and performance from the University of Wolverhampton. She started her carrier in 2014 with the movie knock on heaven’s door.
The first class graduate turned screen diva won has won more than 5 awards since she started. In 2014, she won best new actress in Nollywood reinvented award, actress of the year in the 2015 ELOY awards and others.
She has acted many movies but the one that is still fresh in d mind is the wedding party. She got married to Banky W last year November.
We wish the beauty with brain a blissful and stable marriage.
Four Hot Nollywood Most Beautiful Actress
1 Omotola Jalade
Isnt she hot? Omo sexy even after 4 children still looks hot and sexy. Her attractive hips and beautiful shape shows that age is not an hindrance to looking hot.
2. Daniella Okeke
This upcoming Nollywood actress knows how to cause commotion with her God given assets. She knows her strong point and she readily flaunts it.
Her behind is natural and real o. you can only disagree that she is one of the hottest Nollywood actresses if only you’ve not seen her pictures.
You Should Check: Our list of top 13 Nigerian Teenage Celebrities.
3. Mercy Johnson Okojie
Even if this beautiful black African woman takes part in a film that is not interesting, her audience will still concentrate. Her unique shape and curves is great. As a matter of fact, she is wonderfully made.
4. Venita Akpofure
This beautiful and gorgeous Nollywood actress hails from Delta state but was born in England. Even after two children, you can easily mistake her as a sweet sixteen. Guys, she has been taken o.
Who Is The Richest Actress In Nigeria?
It’s no other but our Nollywood Diva, Rita Dominic. She’s the first on our list of top 20 richest actress in Nigeria.
Rita Uchenna Nkem Dominic popularly known as Rita Dominic is an awarding winning actress who has been in the industry for over 18 years now.
She has featured in more than 180 movies. She started her career in late 1990s. She has won numerous awards so far including AMVCA in 2014.
Who Is the Richest Actor In Nigeria?
So who is the richest Nigerian actor?
You’ll agree with me that many people are instantly attracted to a newly released movie ONLY if their favorite Nigerian actor acted in the movie right?
Yes, personalities in Nollywood scenes matter to a lot of people (including me). Now that we have Nigerian musicians acting is even more reason to be choosy.
Over the years, Actors in Nigeria have put in hard work to become a movie star not just in the country, but outside the shores of Nigeria.
To do a quick round up, you should also check our list of top 12 richest actor in Nigeria film industry.
Top 15 Nollywood Actresses of All Times (Summary)
There you have my list of top 15 best Nollywood actresses. Nollywood is africa’s largest movie industry and it has quite a lot of super gifted people acting as actors and actresses.
Did you know that over 150 movies are now released per month in this big niche?
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