by Wilfred Okiche

So the whole Thandie Newton or not mini-controversy got us thinking – surely there must be hot Nigerian actresses just rearing to go, especially in Hollywood. Thanks to one of our readers, our search was made easier! So below, we present 10 Nigerian actresses working abroad who are set for their big break.

(Read up on the controversy HERE and HERE.)

You best get ready for them!

Sophie Okonedo

 

Okonedo is an Oscar nominated England based actress best known for her star making turn as Don Cheadle’s wife in the genocide drama, ‘Hotel Rwanda’. Other high-profile roles followed in films such as, ‘The secret lives of bees’, Aeon Flux’ and ‘Skin’. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2010.

Adepero Oduye

Oduye impressed critics across the globe with her touching portrayal of a lesbian teenager coming to terms with her sexuality in the tiny movie, ‘Pariah’. She also made headlines this year as one of the two black cover girls of Vanity Fair’s annual Hollywood issue (the other was Paula Patton). Both ladies joined a bevy of talented performers like Oscar nominees Rooney Mara (Girl with the dragon tattoo) and Jessica Chastain (The Help).

Hope Olaide Wilson

Wilson living in Nigeria until 1996 when her mother won the Green card Lottery and they moved to the States. She finished high school and was ‘discovered’ by Tyler Perry who cast her in his 2010 film, ‘I can do bad all by myself’. The movie was also notable for giving actress Taraji P. Henson her first lead role.

Carmen Ejogo

Born to a Nigerian father and Scottish mum, Carmen was born and raised in London but moved to America to pursue an acting career. She has appeared in movies like, ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’ alongside Martin Lawrence, ‘Away we go’ and tv series like ‘Law & Order’ and ‘Lackawanna blues. She will be seen next in ‘Sparkle’, Whitney Houston’s final film appearance.

Caroline Chikezie

Chikezie popular on British television for her roles in the series, ‘As if’ and ‘Footballers’ wives.’ If you look hard enough, you might recognize her in films like ‘Aeon Flux’ and ‘Eragon’ and she played the lead role in last year’s ‘Inale’. She covered True Love West Africa magazine a few year’s ago.

Annie Ilonzeh

28year old Ilonzeh began her career in 2007 with the CBS series ‘How I met your mother’ and has had bit parts in films like ‘Miss March’, ‘He’s just not that into you’ and ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians’. She was cast as the first Black angel in the short lived ‘Charlie’s Angels’ reboot series.

Enuka Okuma

Okuma has appeared in numerous series in her native Canada as well as in the US (Greys Anatomy, 24). She shared screen time with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in last year’s box-office flop, ‘Larry Crowne’

Judith Shekoni

Shekoni was born and raised in England where she has appeared in the popular BBC soap, ‘Eastenders’. She later moved to Los Angeles and has appeared in ‘Damages’ and ‘All of us’ on US television and will be seen later in the year in ‘Breaking Dawn’ Part 2, the final installment of the wildly popular Twilight saga.

Osas Ighodaro

Ighodaro is a former Miss Black America and was cast in the acclaimed film, ‘Cadillac Records’ where she shared screen time with Beyonce Knowles and Adrien Brody.

Megalyn Echikunwoke

Echikunwoke worked extensively on US television with acting credits in high-profile shows like ‘24’, ‘The 4400’, ‘90210’, ‘The Game’ and ‘ER’. She was also in House of Lies on the Showtime series, along with Don Cheadle.