Chioma Akpotha stole the spotlight at the 2025 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards with her win for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Two decades in, and she’s still collecting flowers for the powerful performances she’s consistently delivered on screen.
Whether she’s playing a mother, a wife, a gangster, or the girl in love, Akpotha has given us unforgettable scenes that continue to live rent-free in our heads.
To celebrate her big win — and her even bigger legacy — we’re ranking 10 of her best Nollywood performances that prove she’s truly in a league of her own.
10. Trapped Flames (2025)
Running time: 1h 55m
Director: Great Valentine Edochie
Genre: Drama/Romance
Chioma Akpotha stars as Vanessa, a lawyer unravelling under the weight of betrayal. Her husband’s affair forces her into painful denial, until the truth threatens to destroy their family.
This role lands on the list not just for its emotional weight, but for how Akpotha captures the quiet disintegration of a woman holding on too tightly. Trapped Flames may be recent, but her performance is a reminder that she’s still delivering layered, emotionally complex characters — even two decades in.
Watch Trapped Flames on YouTube.
9. Love Me Again (2024)
Running time: 1h 39m
Director: Great Valentine Edochie
Genre: Romance
Chioma Akpotha plays Renike, a single mother torn between her own desire for love and the fears of her children, who worry about losing her attention. The film delicately explores the emotional tug-of-war between personal happiness and maternal responsibility.
Akpotha’s performance stands out for its quiet restraint and emotional honesty. She brings tenderness, strength, and vulnerability to a role that could have easily slipped into cliché. Love Me Again is one of Nollywood YouTube’s most beloved romance films this year — and Akpotha is the heart of it.
Watch Love Me Again on YouTube.
8. When Love Spins (2025)
Running time: 2h
Director: Great Valentine Edochie
Genre: Romance
Chioma Akpotha plays Ogechi, a heartbroken village girl who flees to the city after her longtime boyfriend betrays her. As she begins working as a maid, her boss (Fredrick Leonard) falls for her, but Ogechi, scarred by past love, starts planning her next escape.
Akpotha brings a quiet defiance to the role, showing us a woman who wants love but fears it in equal measure. When Love Spins earns its spot on this list for how well she captures emotional walls built from heartbreak, and the courage it takes to tear them down.
Watch When Love Spins on YouTube.
7. Sisi London (2024)
Running time: 1h 22m
Director: Omoni Oboli
Genre: Drama
Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha performs as Philo, a spirited and outspoken market vendor. The narrative centres around Philo’s personal journey, which begins with a heartfelt promise to her dying mother to control her fiery temper.
Her promise is tested when her husband introduces a second wife into their household, challenging Philo’s resolve and igniting a series of dramatic and comedic events. Chioma’s portrayal of Philo captures the character’s internal struggle between honouring her mother’s last wish and confronting the emotional turmoil of her husband’s actions.
6. Collision Course (2021)
Running time: 1h 15m
Director: Bolanle Austen-Peters
Genre: Action/Drama
Chioma Chukwuka acts as Ekaete, the estranged wife of Magnus, a beleaguered police officer (Kelechi Udegbe). She takes her kids and leaves her husband after he unsuccessfully uses his kids’ school fees to buy his way into an elite division of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
Through Ekaete, this Nollywood movie sheds light on the ripple effects of institutional failures, emphasising that the impact extends beyond the individuals directly involved to their families and communities.
Watch Collision Course on Netflix.
5. Wives On Strike (2016)
Running time: 1h 32m
Director: Omoni Oboli
Genre: Drama
In Wives On Strike, Chioma Akpotha plays Madam Vera, one of several market women who initiate a sex strike to protest child marriage. She’s bold, persuasive, and unapologetically vocal — rallying other women to stand up against a deeply entrenched injustice.
This role stands out because it blends activism and comedy without diluting either. Akpotha’s performance is both entertaining and urgent, striking a rare balance in socially conscious storytelling. The fact that she returned for two sequels — The Revolution and The Uprising — shows just how central and memorable her character was to the franchise’s impact.
Watch Wives On Strike on Prime Video.
https://youtu.be/F-OPPU6bcrs?feature=shared
4. Akweke (2016)
Running time: 3h 22m
Director: Ugezu J. Ugezu
Genre: Drama
In Akweke, Chioma Akpotha takes on the title role as a noble daughter of the gods tasked with protecting her village. As tensions rise, she’s forced to confront the burden of leadership and a sacrifice she isn’t ready to make.
This film earns its place on the list for the sheer emotional weight of Akpotha’s performance. She carries the story with quiet strength and vulnerability, proving she can lead an epic traditional drama just as powerfully as any modern role. It’s a masterclass in restraint, poise, and presence.
3. Moment of Truth (Part 1 & 2) (2005)
Running time: 2h 27m
Director: Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen
Genre: Drama
As Evelyn, a humble bread seller whose life is upended by a deceptive saviour, Chioma Akpotha gives a performance packed with emotional intensity and quiet strength. What begins as a story of hope quickly spirals into one of manipulation and abuse, with Akpotha anchoring every twist.
This role stands out because of how convincingly she charts Evelyn’s transformation — from wide-eyed gratitude to resilience in the face of betrayal. It’s one of her earliest showcases of emotional range, laying the groundwork for the powerhouse performer she’d become. Moment of Truth remains a classic in her filmography for good reason.
Watch Moment of Truth (Part 1 and 2) on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/oMlII4aQY_M?feature=shared
2. Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020)
Running time: 1h 50m
Director: Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz
Genre: Comedy
As Chummy Choko, one of the fierce and chaotic Askamaya Bees, Chioma Akpotha dives headfirst into street-smart agbero life — and completely owns it. She delivers a hilarious yet grounded performance, balancing raw energy with unexpected moments of softness and loyalty.
This role proves Akpotha’s comedic chops and solidifies her versatility. Going from dramatic leads to full-blown comedic chaos without missing a beat? That’s star power. Omo Ghetto: The Saga became a box office juggernaut, and Chummy Choko was one of the reasons it worked so well.
Watch Omo Ghetto: The Saga on Netflix.
1. Gangs of Lagos (2023)
Running time: 2h 4m
Director: Jadesola Osiberu
Genre: Crime
In Gangs of Lagos, Chioma Akpotha plays Mama Ify, a market woman and single mother whose son is tragically caught in the crossfire of gang violence. Her performance is raw, guttural, and unflinchingly real — the kind that grips you and doesn’t let go.
Akpotha doesn’t just play grief; she embodies it. In a film filled with tension and violence, her scenes land the emotional punches. She gives the film its heart — and for that, this is not just one of her best performances, it’s her most unforgettable.
Watch Gangs of Lagos on Prime Video.
Bonus: Other Nollywood films with Chioma Akpotha that aren’t streaming anywhere at the moment but are definitely worth your time.
Past Came Calling (2012)
A Ghetto Love Story (2023)
On Bended Knees (2013)
Accident (2013)
Sins of the Flesh (2005)
