NOLLYWOOD FANTASTIC FIVE

GENEVIEVE NNAJI

Genevieve Nnaji
started her acting career as a child actress in the then-popular television
soap opera “Ripples” at the age of 8. She was also featured in
several commercials, some of which included Pronto beverage and Omo detergent.
In 1998, at the age of 19, she made her debut in the growing Nigerian film
industry with the movie “Most Wanted.” As an upcoming actress, trying
to create a niche for herself, she went through various minor roles seeking for
that opportunity for a breakthrough. Her subsequent movies–“Last
Party,” “Mark of the Beast,” and “Ijele” (which is
still considered to be one of her best epic performances to date)–brought
forth an icon to be loved and adored by many Her name became a household name
and her image the desire of every young girl. In 2002, she starred in the movie
Sharon Stone (2002), and her fame shot beyond the shores of Nigeria to the rest
of Africa and several European countries. One can say that through the buzz,
Genevieve reinvented the Nigerian film Industry, introducing Nollywood to the
rest of the world. Genevieve appeals just as warmly to Kenyans, Liberians,
South Africans, and Ghanaians, who avidly watch Nigerian home videos at home
and abroad.

In recognition of
her immense contribution to the Nigerian film industry, Genevieve was presented
with numerous awards, some of which have been in Dublin, London, and the United
States. She won best actress of the year in the 2001 City People Awards and in
2005 at the inaugural awarding of the prestigious African Movie Academy Awards
(AMAA).

In 2004, a search
for the face of Lux was embarked upon, and out of several celebrities all over
Africa, Genevieve emerged with the highest votes. She graced several billboards
and television stations with her enduring smile and personality. In 2009,
Genevieve made history by being the first Nigerian actress to be profiled on
The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986) on an episode about the most popular people around
the world. Genevieve is believed to be the highest-paid and most desired
actress in Nollywood today.

OMOTOLA JOLADE

Omotola
Jalade-Ekeinde is another actress who has proved that she is also one of the
best around. She hit the limelight with her role in “Mortal
Inheritance” years back and also proved her worth in Kingsley Ogoro’s
movie, “Prostitute”, This mother of four fondly called “Omo
Sexy” is endowed with a good height and good figure.

Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde

Since her Nollywood
film debut in 1995, she has appeared in an astounding 300 films, selling
millions of video copies.

During the early
2010s, Omotola starred in several high-grossing films, which saw
record-breaking success. The first being “Ije,” (2010) becoming the
highest grossing film ever in the African cinemas. This was followed by
“Last Flight To Abuja,” earning Omotola another box office record for
becoming the highest grossing film in opening week. These accomplishments
earned Omotola a new nickname, Cinema Box Office Queen.

In 2011, Omotola
was invited to attend the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, CA in recognition of
her work with Amnesty International and her song “Barren Land,” which
was featured in a public service announcement, addressing the Shell Oil spill
in the Niger Delta.

2012 marked another
career high for Omotola. On October 27, she was awarded The Black Entertainment
Film Fashion Television and Arts BEFFTA Icon Award, an exclusive honorary award
for her outstanding contributions to the global film jindustry.

In 2013, she was
named one of TIME Magazine’s Most Influential People In the World.

After receiving
numerous high-profile awards, launching a music career, and amassing an
enviable fan base, the press has revered the Screen Nation ‘Best Actress’ as
Africa’s biggest star.

Today, she is not
only noted for her incomparable showbiz accomplishments, but is also applauded
for her remarkable humanitarian efforts. Over the years, Omotola has been a
pioneer in the Nollywood film industry, successfully becoming the most watched actress
in Africa.

FUNKE AKINDELE

Funke Akindele is
another top name in Nollywood. She 
worked in television before switching to cinema, becoming known for her
starring role in the family-oriented Nigerian television show I Need to Know. Funke’s
qualifications include an OND in Mass Communication from the Ogun State
Polytechnic and a law degree from the University of Lagos.

Funke Akindele

She made a great
deal of impact in the 2008 comic and educative movie titled “Jenifa”. The movie
in the first year of release bagged 4 nominations from African Movie Academy
Awards. Funke Akindele also won African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress
for her performance and role in the movie which made enough wave in 2008-2012.
Aside the AMAA awards, she’s also been nominated both in Nigeria and other
International platforms for the role she played in the movie JENIFA.

RITA DOMINIC

Rita Dominic is one
of Nigeria’s most famous Nollywood actresses. Her movie career spans more than
a decade with scores of high profile movies she has starred in.

Rita Dominic

Rita Dominic
started displaying her talent and love for acting right from childhood, as she
played very active roles in many school plays and children’s television shows
in her state. However, her journey to stardom began in 1998, a year to her
graduation from the University, when she starred in her very first movie titled
“A time to kill”. Since then, she had featured in over 100 films in Nollywood
and she is being regarded as one of the most successful actresses to have ever
surfaced in the industry.

In 2004, she won
City People Awards for the most outstanding Nollywood actress of the year. In
2012 she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Presently, Rita
Dominic is worth over fifty million naira in assets, and is one of the top five
richest actresses in the Nigerian movie industry.

KATE HENSHAW

Kate Henshaw  has been in the industry for a long time and
still waxing strong. She is  known for
River of Tears (2008), River of Tears 2 (2008) and Stronger Than Pain (2007) In
1993 Henshaw auditioned for the lead role in the movie When the Sun Sets and
was handed the role. This was her first appearance in a major Nollywood movie.
Henshaw has starred in over 40 Nollywood movies.

Kate Henshaw

In 2008 she won the
African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the film
Stronger than Pain. She is presently “The Face of Onga”. Kate is presently
one of the judges on Nigeria’s Got Talent.