Greatest Nollywood Actresses Of All Time – Our Top 15

Nigeria is the home to the dazzling Nollywood movie scene. With its drama, comedy, and talented actors, it is a growing scene that is a force to be reckoned with. From Rita Dominic to Mercy Jackson, the A-listers of Nollywood are on their way to becoming global sensations. There is much more to these inspiring, greatest Nollywood actresses than just glitz and glamour though. We take a look at the lives of some of the most famous actresses in the industry and get to know them a little better.

The Names Of The 15 Greatest Nollywood Actresses

1. Oge Okoye:

Oge is a popular Nollywood actress who is known for her work and dominating social media presence. She starred on the Nigerian television show Hotel Majestic from 2015 to 2016. She has 1.4 million followers on her Ogeokoye Instagram account. Her first on-screen performance was in the 2002 film Spanner and it set her up for everlasting success. She married Stanley Duru in 2005 and they welcomed a daughter into the world named Crystal.

2. Rita Dominic:

Rita Uchenna Dominic is from a royal family in Abo Mbaise. Since her childhood, she has been going strong in the movie industry, having starred in over 100 movies to date. She is one of the highest paid actresses in Nollywood. Along with acting, she is multi-talented – she produced the award-winning romantic comedy movie “The Meeting”. In 2012 she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Rita Dominic is considered a fashion icon as she graces events looking gorgeous in dazzling attires. She has been named the best-dressed female in award after award.

3. Tonto Dikeh:

Tonto is a born, bred and raised Nigerian superstar. As an actress in the Nigerian film industry, she is known for her appearances in films like Missing Rib and The Plain Truth. She rose to national fame after appearing on the reality TV show The Next Movie Star. She and her husband welcomed their first child in 2016. And, although her schedule keeps her busy, she often participates in charity events where possible. She participated in a charity fashion show alongside Omotola Jalade Ekeinde.

4. Uche Jombo:

The Nigerian superstar was born on December 28, 1979, and she hails from Abiriba, Abia State, Nigeria. She has two degrees which she obtained from different universities in Nigeria. The beautiful and powerful Uche Jumbo recently got married to her Mexican guy. She is not just popular, but also one of the richest actresses in Nollywood. She starred in such hit movies as Games Men Play (she was also a co-scriptwriter), Girls in the Hood, A Time to Love, The Celebrity, among others. Uche Jombo usually starred in some of her self-produced movies, like Nollywood Hustlers, Damage, Holding Hope, Lies Men Tell, Keep my Will, Kiss and Tell, and Darkest Night. She is also a Globacom ambassador. Uche has been nominated for numerous awards and has won many awards till date.

5. Stephanie Okereke:

Stephanie Okereke has a multitude of talents. She directed, produced, acted in, and wrote the script for Through the Glass, which won an African Movie Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay. Not only was she the winner of the 2006 Afro Hollywood Award for Best Actress, but Rita was also a nominee for many leading actress awards. She got married in 2012 to Linus Idahosa. They welcomed a son, Maxwell, in 2015.

6. Patience Ozokwor:

“Mama G”, as she is fondly called, is by far the most popular female actress in Nigeria. She is one of the most down to earth actresses in Nigeria even though she is also one of the richest Nollywood actresses in the country. Popularly known as MamaG, Patience won several awards such as Best Supporting Actress award at the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards, Lifetime Achievement Awards in Cinema, among others. She has featured in more movies than any other actresses in the Nigerian Nollywood history. Apart from acting, she is also an entrepreneur, musician, and fashion design shop owner.

7. Mercy Johnson:

Mercy is a Nigerian actress who made her acting debut in the movie, “The Maid” in which she performed the role of an owned house help. Her appeal, talent, and down to earth nature in real life, which transcend into her character, brought her into the limelight. Johnson has emerged in over 100 Nollywood movies but keeps a low profile these days, yet occasionally appearing in Nollywood movies.

8. Ini Edo:

Ini is one of the best-known actresses in the Nollywood film industry. The beautiful Nigerian made her big-screen debut in the 2003 movie with a role in Thick Madam. In ten years she has appeared in close to 100 films, including Inale and I’ll Take My Chances. Apart from acting, she is also the Youth Envoy for the United Nations-Habitat program. She and her two sisters and one brother grew up in Nigeria’s southeastern Akwa Ibom state.

9. Omotola Jalade Ekeinde:

Omotola is also known famously as Omo sexy. She has won many awards. Her following tells it all – with over a million followers on Facebook; she is one of the most famous Nollywood actresses of all time in the Yoruba industry. Since her Nollywood film debut in 1995, Omotola has appeared in over 300 films and her movies are selling millions of video copies. She went on to receiving high-profile awards, launching a music career and winning the 2005 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Apart from her dedication to the industry, Omotola is also applauded for her heartwarming humanitarianism and causes she helps.

10. Genevieve Nnaji:

Genevieve Nnaji is one of the most successful female Nollywood actresses, a singer, and a fashion designer. She has appeared in countless Nollywood movies and a Hollywood movie and has some of the most popular endorsement deals like Range Rover, and Polo. She started her acting career as a child actress in the popular soap opera Ripples at the age of 8. Today she has her own production company, The Entertainment Network (TEN), which was founded by her in partnership with Chinny Onwugbenu.

11. Funke Akindele:

Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele a.k.a. Jenifer is one of the most popular actresses of Yoruba descent. She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2009 for her role in “Jenifer”. As one of the highest paid and the most entertaining actress in the industry, Funke is an actress to be reckoned with in Nollywood. Currently, she is active and working in the industry with many movie projects.

12. Chioma Chukwuka:

Chioma Chukwuka is a Nigerian actress who was born-and-raised in Oraifite, Anambra State. Chioma Chukwuka, occasionally credited as Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha, is a Nigerian actress and movie producer. In 2007, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a leading role and the Afro Hollywood award for best actress in a lead role in 2010. In 2006, she married Franklyn Akpotha. Together they have two children. A mother and an industry winner, Chioma landed her first role The Handkerchief, a 2000 film that was well received by fans and critics.

13. Kate Henshaw:

Kate is a television and film actress, activist, and politician. She has starred in over 40 Nigerian or Nollywood films. In August 2015 she announced that she was running for a seat in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, a true essence of beauty and brains. She won an Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2008 for her film Stronger Than Pain. She was also a judge on Nigeria’s Got Talent. Unfortunately, she is not in the industry anymore as she entered the political sphere in 2015 to help her hometown of Calabar in Southern Nigeria by changing the way they were represented in the House of Representatives.

14. Omowunmi Dada:

Omowunmi is one of the new Nollywood actresses who has had a rising start in the industry. She featured in a few movies throughout the years including the hit Jemeji and is known for her roles in King Invincible (2017), Ojuju (2014), and Oga Bolaji (2018). There is a naturalism in Ms. Dada’s acting, and she is certainly a delight to watch.

15. Daniella Okeke:

Daniella Okeke is a top Nollywood actress and a producer. She is not too popular like the rest of this list but she is an award-winning actress who deserves a lot more movie roles. In 2013, she starred as “Joke” in Lagos Cougars, a role that earned her the Best Actress in a Leading Role nomination at both the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards and the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. She currently owns a company called DCOVI Entertainment and has acquired a lot over the years in the movie industry.

Watch The Greatest Nollywood Actresses Of All Time

There are many channels and websites to watch your favorite, remarkable, famous Nollywood actresses. YouTube offers free channels with a variety of Nollywood movies. Netflix has a special category with Nigerian movies. There are also paid and subscription sites available online, like Demand Africa, with a monthly fee that gives you unlimited access to your favorite shows from the greatest Nollywood actresses.