The best of Joselyn Dumas on Showmax

Her characters, especially when working with Ghanaian director Shirley Frimpong-Manso, often navigate misogyny to live a happy and successful life—just like most women. On Shampaign, where she plays a single mother gunning for the Ghanaian presidency, she was glad Frimpong-Manso trusted her with a role that sees beyond her looks.

“I was very excited when Shirley told me about this role,” she tells Showmax, “because I’ve had instances where I wish that people would just go beyond the hips and see what else I’m doing.”

And she throws herself fully into these roles, showing both strength and empathy and devastation genuinely and believably. For Shampaign, she read more on politics, watched several episodes of The Good Wife, and studied the mannerisms and movement of the show’s lead character, Alicia Florrick.

At Showmax, we have some of Dumas’s most inspiring performances playing formidable women. Read them below.

Shampaign

A series that strays from the stereotypical portrayal of Ghanaian women, Shampaign places Joselyn Dumas as an independent single mother with an ambition to rule Ghana. Expectedly, she faces strong male opposition, but she’s just as capable as these men.

“The character that I play, Naana, is an ambitious single mother who wants to become the first female president in Ghana,” Dumas tells Showmax. “Usually, when you are a single mother, you can’t run for office without some backlash from your opponents, which this show tackles. The show is driving the idea that anything is possible if you work hard at it. It portrays a lot of strength in women.” Watch here.

Why you should watch it: It is more than just a show about an ambitious woman. Shampaign is as exciting and arresting as other series out there; it doesn’t sacrifice entertainment for its socially conscious message.

Who’s in it? Joselyn Dumas, Oc Ukeje, Fred Kanebi, Anima Misa Anoah.

Love or Something Like That

Here, Dumas plays a woman whose world is crushed by the long-forgotten actions of an ex. She plays Kwaaley, a young surgeon who just married and is living her best life until her ex walked into her office. His re-introduction into her life brings chaos as she makes a damning discovery about her past.

Dumas told Showmax it is the most challenging role she’s ever played. “I needed to take myself into a dark place in order to show my character’s emotions,” she says. “It was not a matter of snapping in and out of it; I had to stay like that for six weeks while we were shooting.” Watch here.

Why you should watch it: Love or Something Like That dives into the many actions of men that ruin the women in their lives.

Who’s in it? Joselyn Dumas, John Dumelo, O.C. Ukeje.

Dede

Dede is probably the most stereotypical role Dumas has ever played, but she is so enjoyable in it. She plays a wicked and conniving stepmother (reminiscent of nasty stepmoms by Nollywood’s Patience Ozokwor) who sabotages her stepdaughter’s every move and eventually deceives her into trading her career for a job as a maid. Watch now.  

Why you should watch it: Dede is super hilarious and, trust us, when we say you’ve never seen Joselyn Dumas like this!

Who’s in it? Joselyn Dumas, Adomaa Adjeman, Adjetey Annan, Anita Erskine, Gloria Sarfo, Lydia Forson, Dean Amegashie.

Cartel: The Genesis

A top Narcotics Investigative Unit takes on Ghana’s most powerful drug syndicate, responsible for the booming narcotics trade in the country. Heading this fight is a US-trained agent with a vendetta against these drug traffickers. Watch now.

Why you should watch it: It is a dive into the world of narcotics, and Dumas plays one of the female members in the elite squad tackling this menace.

Who’s in it? Joselyn Dumas, Adjetey Anang, Prince David Osei.