Showmax Spotlights Biodun Stephen: A sublime tale of the film-guru

Biodun Stephen worked hard as an actress but never got the desired breakthrough. However, she created a niche for herself in the Nollywood industry, producing and telling unique romantic and comic stories.

Biodun built a career in media for many years after studying at the London Film Academy. She worked at Star FM as a newscaster, MITV as a TV Presenter, and Insight Communications Agency as a copywriter.

She later ventured into the entertainment industry as an actor but didn’t break through until producing her films. Her debut movie The Visit, featuring Nse Ikpe Etim, Blossom Chukwujekwu, and Femi Jacobs, catapulted her instantly to the limelight. 

Asides from The Visit, she’s produced other successful films including Tiwa’s Baggage, Breaded Life, Picture Perfect, and Ehi’s Bitters, and also written, produced, directed, and starred in movies like Love Unusual and Miz Behaviour. Biodun is renowned for using the main character’s name in her stories to create the title of her films. She has received several awards for her work, including the 2017 Best of Nollywood Awards in the Best Actor and Best Use of Food categories.

During Biodun’s chat with Nigerian Press on her relationship with other female filmmakers in Nollywood, she revealed that she often collaborates with women. She stated: “We are in a time when women lift others. Women have lifted me, and I have also lifted other women. I have had a lot of female producers who hired me as a director for their films. My film, Breaded Life, was a collaboration with another female.”

Biodun has shown incredible commitment to the Nollywood industry. Through perseverance and hard work, the filmmaker has moved from a struggling actress to one of the foremost Nollywood filmmakers. She has created a safe space for Nollywood women, and she’s helping to break the bias.