2018 was a roundly successful year for the Nigerian movie industry and a handful of actors and actresses got their big break, while others cemented and elevated their status.
Among the fastest rising Nollywood actresses who had a successful 2018 and will be hoping to extend the good fortunes in 2019 are:
Adesua Etomi: Since Adesua burst into the scene some two years ago, she has maintained a steady rise in the movie industry. She became famous after her starring role in the movie, “Knocking On Heaven’s Door.” However, the movie that actually shot her to limelight is “The Wedding Party (2016) where she starred alongside her hubby, Bankole Wellington, popularly called Banky W.
The elegant actress elevated her status as one of the fastest rising Nollywood Stars in 2018 with a handful star features some of which include “King of Boys,” Memoirs of 4, “Date Night” and more. She played the lead role in most of these movies. All things being equal, she is certainly one of the leading contenders to the ‘Best Actress’ accolade later this year.
Linda Ejiofor: She surely had a year to remember in 2018, both at the professional and personal levels. She became a household name in the industry with her starring role in the on going movie series – Tinsel, towards the end of the year, she crowned her professional success with a grander personal achievement.
She got married to fellow Nollywood movie star, Ibrahim Suleiman and for some reasons, her marriage further enhanced her popularity as well as that of her husband. Notable features of Linda in 2018 include: “Memoirs of 4,” “Chief Daddy,” “Tinsel” (series) “Rumour Has It” (series) etc. With a growing fan base she is definitely one of the actresses to look out for in 2019.
Belinda Effah: Belinda Effah is without doubt, one of the top rated stars of Nollywood today and while she has been in the industry for close to 15 years now, she is yet to break into the Nollywood A-class set up in 2013. She won the AMAA’s Most Promising Act. Since then she has not been able to take it one step further to the Best Actress category. Could 2019 be her year? Time will tell.
Belinda starred in a handful of movies in 2018 some of which include “Purpose Flame,” “Udemmenic,” I cannot “Fall In Love” and more.
Mary Lazarus: Mary Lazarus is one of the star actresses of new generation Nollyood, she started her career in showbiz since way back in 2002 when she left her corporate job to become a model. In 2009, she made her entry into Nollywood and went on to feature in a movie titled “Waiting Years,” directed by John Njama.
She has made a slow, but steady rise in the Nigerian movie scene, and she is today one of the most sought-after actresses in the industry so far in her decade and career. 2017 and 2018 have been her most successful years. All things being equal, 2019 is expected to follow the trend. Some of her movies in 2018 are “Downing, Married in Hell,” A Wildfire and more.
Zainab Balogun: Zainab Balogun has within the space of three to four years shot herself to the top of the Nigerian movie scene, she started her career in showbiz (as a model) at the age of 16 and she has enjoyed significant success in her chosen line of work.
The UK born actress made her entry into Nollywood a few years back. Within the period she has featured in some top grossing movies some of which include: the Wedding Party (IY2) Royal Hibiscus Hotel, “A soldier’s Story” and more.
Her most recent star feature is perhaps her role in ‘Syvia’ where she played the lead character named Syvia. Other notable 2018 features of Zainab Balogun include, “Chief Daddy” and God calling.
The actress was recognised by future awards for a successful year in the Nigerian movie industry and 2019 obviously shows more promise for her.