Showmax spotlights Genevieve Nnaji: From child star to Nollywood icon

Genevieve Nnaji is arguably one of the most prominent faces in Nollywood and in the entertainment industry across the world. Dubbed “The Julia Roberts of Nollywood”, the 42-year-old actress has carved an unusual niche and has become one of the few to hit stardom effortlessly.

Genevieve’s iconic acting career dates back to her childhood days. She was eight years old when she first appeared on screen in the television series Ripples and featured in several commercials for various famous brands. She was a child star.

At 19 years old, she made her adult debut in the movie Most Wanted and first gained viewers’ attention in Mark of the Beast. A few years later, she shot to fame with her part in Sharon Stone.

Between her acting debut and becoming one of Nollywood’s golden girls, she has featured in national and international record-breaking movies and has more than 100 acting credits. She starred in Ije: The Journey, Mirror Boy, Chimamanda’s Half of a Yellow Sun, Doctor Bello, Road to Yesterday, Tango With Me, and many more.

Speaking in retrospect, she said, “When I was very prominent in the film industry, I played all sorts of characters. Mum, daughter, deaf, dumb, blind, young, in school, wicked, kind – [I’ve] done it all. Even a madwoman.” 

For some, taking a brief stint away from the acting scene can be detrimental to their careers. However, the 42-year-old gained more recognition with her directorial debut in the movie The Lion Heart, which premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival alongside Farming; where she also starred with Kate Beckinsale, Damson Idris, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

Apart from her mastery in acting, this gorgeous actress has many accomplishments only a few can match. She won the first ever Best Actress of the Year Award at the inaugural African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in 2005. In 2009, she was the first Nigerian actress to be profiled on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where Oprah first described her as the Julia Roberts of Nollywood. 

Two years down the line, she was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MON) for her contributions to the country’s movie industry.

In 2020, The Lion Heart producer was appointed as an Ambassador for Toronto’s Film Festival (TIFF) along with other movie stars worldwide. In the same year, the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), popularly known as the Oscars, extended a membership invitation to the screen diva, an act equivalent to being knighted by the Queen of England. 

Genevieve Nnaji is undoubtedly a talented and phenomenal woman but it goes beyond the screen for her. She is a strong advocate for social justice centring on women. She is an iconic star shining a light on the path for thousands of other young women who look up to her.