Over the years, Nollywood has produced unforgettable stories, and women have contributed immensely to this. From emotionally wrenching breakdowns to fiery monologues, Nollywood actresses have delivered performances that go far beyond the screen.
Whether it’s a comedic standout or a harrowing dramatic turn, these performances have helped define these actresses and reminded us just how much power rests in the hands of a woman who owns her role.
From Genevieve Nnaji’s raw elegance in Lionheart to Sola Sobowale’s villainous rule in King of Boys, this list celebrates the star power, range, depth, and impact of actresses in Nollywood.
Here are the 20 best performances by an actress in a Nollywood film, ranked.
20. Gbubemi Ejeye in Farmer’s Bride (2024)
Running time: 1h 52m
Directors: Jack’enneth Opukeme and Adebayo Tijani
Genre: Drama
Gbubemi Ejeye plays Funmi, a girl married to an older, wealthy farmer in a village. Unsatisfied with her union with an older man, she begins an affair with his young nephew. Ejeye’s AMVCA-nominated performance in this film powerfully captures the raw vulnerability, resistance, and eventual emotional complexity of a girl thrust into a world she didn’t choose. She subtly channels rage, innocence, and resilience, making Farmer’s Bride an intimate story of survival, the dangers of patriarchy, and the price of sacrifice.
Farmer’s Bride isn’t currently available for streaming.
19. Ini Edo in World Apart (2004)
Running time: 1h 23m
Director: Tchidi Chikere
Genre: Drama
In this classic Nollywood flick, Ini Edo plays Ulli, a sharp-tongued, village girl who, by a twist of fate, becomes the romantic interest of a wealthy prince from a polished, upper-class family. However, their relationship is frowned upon due to class differences.
Her performance as Ulli is full of spunk. She’s defiant but endearing, rough around the edges but charismatic. She doesn’t just play a girl in love; she plays a girl who refuses to shrink herself just to fit into a “refined” world.
Though Ini Edo had already been in Nollywood before this film, her performance in Worlds Apart cemented her as a Nollywood screen star.
18. Bimbo Ademoye in Anikulapo (2022)
Running time: 2h 22m
Director: Kunle Afolayan
Genre: Epic, Mystery
Bimbo Ademoye plays Arolake, a royal queen who sacrifices everything for a man who eventually betrays her. With this role, Ademoye breaks away from the love interest she has played in multiple movies, for a layered and textured performance of a wife in a polygamous royal family in a pre-colonial Yoruba town.
Her delivery is sharp, which makes the character the anchor of a story steeped in Yoruba mysticism, politics, and fate. If epic movies catch your fancy, you should watch Anikulapo.
17. Adesua Etomi-Wellington in Falling (2015)
Running time: 1h 33m
Director: Niyi Akinmolayan
Genre: Drama, Romance
In Falling, Adesua Etomi-Wellington delivers the kind of performance that marks the arrival of a true screen star. She plays Muna, a young wife whose husband falls into a coma after a tragic accident. Muna’s world is shattered instantly, and we watch her unravel and rebuild. She battles with grief, financial strain, loneliness, and the unbearable uncertainty of whether her husband will ever wake up.
Etomi-Wellington plays all this role with breathtaking honesty; her silence speaks just as loudly as her tears. What makes her performance in Falling so special is how grounded it is.
Etomi-Wellington finds the delicate balance between emotional intensity and quiet restraint, making Muna very familiar. If you’re looking for a Nollywood love story that explores grief and faith in intimate and universal ways, you’ve found one.
Falling is streaming on Netflix but unavailable in Nigeria.
16. Dakore Egbuson-Akande in Isoken (2017)
Running: 1h 40m
Director: Jadesola Osiberu
Genre: Romcom
Dakore Egbuson-Akande steps into the shoes of Isoken, a 34-year-old smart, successful, and single woman. But her being single has her Nigerian family on high alert. Butterflies do not come alive in her belly, not even in Osaze (Joseph Benjamin), whom her mother introduced to her. But when Kevin (Marc Rhys), a white man, enters the picture, she falls madly in love.
This romantic comedy explores the experiences of the modern Nigerian woman and how she continues to confront society’s expectations even when she seems to be in a space of independence. What makes Egbuson-Akande’s performance in the film particularly stunning is the seriousness with which she portrays a love-struck woman. If this is your cup of tea, add Isoken to your watchlist.
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15. Zainab Balogun in God Calling (2018)
Running time: 2h
Director: BB Sasore
Genre: Drama, Faith
Zainab Balogun plays Sade, a grieving mother spiraling after the tragic loss of her daughter. With a raw honesty that feels too intimate, she navigates the dark corners of despair, from addiction to anger. But her vulnerability isn’t just the strongest thing in the movie.
When Sade begins to experience supernatural encounters that suggest God is literally calling her, Balogun shifts the energy of her performance from rage to surrender, disbelief to redemption.
It’s a delicate, spiritual arc that could have easily felt preachy, but Balogun grounds it with sincerity and restraint. God Calling is, at its heart, a redemption story, but it lives or dies on whether the lead can make you believe such transformation is possible. Zainab Balogun does that and more.
14. Toyin Abraham in Elevator Baby (2019)
Running time: 1h 23m
Director: Akay Mason
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Toyin Abraham’s performance in Elevator Baby proves she’s more than just a comedic star. She plays Abigail, a heavily pregnant domestic worker stuck in an elevator with Dare (Timini Egbuson), a spoiled, self-centred rich kid. Her encounter with him changes their lives. Abraham balances humour with tension and transforms a simple premise into an exploration of privilege, class, and compassion.
Her character’s pain, fear, and strength unfold in real time, and Abraham holds viewers’ attention in every scene.
Elevator Baby is a one-location drama, but it never feels small, thanks to the emotional weight she brings.
Watch Elevator Baby on Netflix.
13. Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde in Ije (2010)
Running time: 1h 47m
Director: Chinese Anyaene
Genre: Drama
In Ije, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde plays Anya, a Nigerian woman on trial for murder in the United States, and at the centre of a storm of secrets, betrayal and immigration politics..
As the mystery unfolds, Ije becomes more than a legal drama. It’s a story about sisterhood, trauma, cultural dislocation, and the fight to be heard. At the centre of it all is Jalade-Ekeinde, who gives one of the most layered performances of her career. She doesn’t play Anya to win sympathy; she plays her to reveal the truth.
Ije isn’t streaming anywhere at the moment.
12. Nse Ikpe-Etim in Mr. and Mrs. (2012)
Running time: 1h 40m
Director: Ikechukwu Onyeka
Genre: Drama, Romance
In Mr. and Mrs., Nse Ikpe-Etim gives an explosive performance. She plays Susan, a woman whose once-loving marriage has eroded into condescension and emotional neglect. What begins as a domestic drama slowly blooms into a story of rediscovery, and Ikpe-Etim carries every moment with poise and precision. Her delivery is fresh, but the emotions underneath are molten.
You feel every word when she finally begins to fight back and assert her value. The role demands subtlety, but when she eventually breaks free, it’s unforgettable. You should watch Mr. and Mrs., not just for the plot, but to witness a woman crawl out of silence and revive herself.
11. Ijeoma Grace Agu in Swallow (2021)
Running time: 2h 8m
Director: Kunle Afolayan
Genre: Drama, Thriller
In Swallow, Ijeoma Grace Agu plays Tolani, a young woman working in 1980s Lagos, grappling with economic hardship and mounting pressure to enter the risky world of drug trafficking. Her acting is understated yet emotionally dense. Agu never plays Tolani as a victim but as a woman constantly calculating risk and survival.
Her silences speak volumes, and her body language is a living diary of struggle, uncertainty and fear. Swallow is about how poverty shapes choices, but it’s also about dignity, and Ijeoma Grace Agu embodies that tension with grace. You should watch this thrilling drama.
10. Tina Mba in For Maria: Ebun Pataki (2020)
Running time: 1h 15m
Director: Damilola Orimogunje
Genre: Drama
As the heartbroken mother in For Maria: Ebun Pataki, Tina Mba delivers a performance that cuts deep. She plays a woman trying to care for her daughter-in-law, Derin (Meg Otanwa), who is silently unravelling under postpartum depression. Mba’s character is equal parts tough love and cultural conditioning.
But the nuances in her gaze, the concern hidden behind her sharp tongue, make this portrayal so human. She becomes the film’s quiet moral compass, both a mirror and an obstacle to Derin’s healing. You’ll enjoy this movie if you’re interested in motherhood struggles like postpartum depression.
For Maria: Ebun Pataki is streaming on Netflix but it’s unavailable in Nigeria.
9. Bimbo Akintola in 93 Days (2016)
Running time: 1h 58m
Director: Steve Gukas
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Bimbo Akintola plays Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh in 93 Days, an impressive biopic about the late doctor who helped contain Nigeria’s Ebola outbreak in 2014. She’s just a woman doing her job while the world around her spins into chaos.
Akintola plays Adadevoh with reverence but also with emotional restraint that makes the character even more human. 93 Days is a tense medical drama, but Akintola’s portrayal imbues it with real-world courage. If you’re looking for biopics that hit close to home, this is what you should watch.
93 Days is streaming on Netflix but unavailable in Nigeria.
8. Stella Damasus in Real Love (Part 1 & 2) (2003)
Running time: 3h 59m
Director: Charles Novia
Genre: Romance
In this old Nollywood movie, Stella Damascus plays Anna, a blind young lady from a modest family who falls for a man from a wealthier background. Together they navigate class divides, family opposition and the painful cost of living in a world that measures worth in status. What makes Damascus shine in this role is how genuinely she wears her character’s emotions. You believe in her love, hurt, and hope, and root for her. Not only because the story demands it, but because she’s earned it.
This is a simple plot by today’s standards, but her performance makes it unforgettable. Her role isn’t just strong; it captures the charm of old Nollywood.
7. Chioma Akpotha in Gangs of Lagos (2023)
Running time: 2h 4m
Director: Jadesola Osiberu
Genre: Crime, Thriller
In Gangs of Lagos, a gritty exploration of power, violence, and survival on the streets of Isale Eko, Chioma Akpotha delivers a hauntingly grounded performance as Mama Ify, a mother caught in the crushing gears of a corrupt system. While the film focuses on the lives of young men entangled in gang rivalries and political exploitation, Akpotha’s role anchors the story emotionally.
Her portrayal of a woman trying to protect her child from being swallowed by the streets is deeply captivating. It’s filled with fear, strength, and the kind of expressive restraint that makes you feel every unspoken thought. It’s a brief role, but one that lingers.
Watch Gangs of Lagos on Prime Video.
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6. Genevieve Nnaji in Lionheart (2018)
Running time: 1h 35m
Director: Genevieve Nnaji
Genre: Comedy, Drama
In Lionheart, Genevieve Nnaji plays Adaeze Obiagu, a calm, capable executive who navigates the chaos of running her family’s transport business after her father falls ill. Adaeze isn’t loud or aggressive; she doesn’t need to be. Nnaji plays her with quiet steel: collected in crisis, sharp in strategy, and deeply human in her moments of vulnerability.
As she faces family drama, industry sexism, and financial disaster, her performance spotlights her perseverance. It shows that she’s a woman leading with grace in a world built for men and trying to prove she can carry a legacy without losing herself. You should watch Lionheart not just for what it represents in terms of family, tradition, and quiet ambition, but also because you want to see a woman in Nollywood who is not preoccupied with looking for men to save her.
5. Kate Henshaw in A Million Tears (2006)
Running time: 2h 8m
Director: Tchidi Chikere
Genre: Drama, Romance
In A Million Tears, Kate Henshaw plays Lola, a reserved university student who slowly catches the attention, and eventually the love, of campus bad boy Uche (Emeka Ike). This movie is set up with familiar Nollywood tropes, but Henshaw’s performance transforms the predictability into something deeply emotional. Henshaw’s character isn’t fragile by definition; she’s principled, soft-spoken, and grounded in her values.
When Uche and his friends mock and misjudge her, she responds not with fury but with steady grace. As the story unfolds and Lola’s tragedy is revealed, Henshaw subtly shifts from composure to emotional fragility. A Million Tears is beyond the tear-jerking romance we’ve come to love the classic for; it showcases Kate Henshaw’s gift for embodying vulnerability.
A Million Tears isn’t streaming anywhere currently.
4. Rita Dominic in The Meeting (2012)
Running time: 2h 12m
Director: Mildred Okwo
Genre: Romcom
Rita Dominic transforms into the unforgettable Clara Ikemba, a fierce, over-the-top civil servant who is wickedly funny. She isn’t the lead of The Meeting, but she’s the storm in the room whenever she appears. While the film follows a corporate executive’s frustrating trip to Abuja to secure government approval, Clara becomes his biggest obstacle — a bureaucratic wall in pink lipstick and an attitude to match.
As the intimidating receptionist who holds the keys to a powerful minister’s office, Dominic embodies a local government worker with delicious precision, from her accent to the exaggerated mannerisms and the sense of power she wields with her side-eye and fake nails.
It could’ve been a flat comic role, but Dominic elevates it into something iconic. She plays Clara with hilarity, making you laugh even while you pray you never meet her.
The Meeting is currently not streaming anywhere.
3. Funke Akindele in Maami (2011)
Running time: 1h 33m
Director: Tunde Kelani
Genre: Drama
Funke Akindele plays Maami, a struggling single mother raising her son under the weight of poverty and an absent father. Her performance is a masterful balance of resilience and tenderness. She’s spirited, animated, and at times comical. But beneath her feisty exterior lies a deep, unspoken sorrow. You see it in the stolen silences, how her eyes linger on her son when he’s not looking.
She plays a woman carrying heavy burdens, yet determined to protect her child’s innocence at all costs. She’s not just playing any mother she embodies the emotional architecture of a woman holding an entire world together with sheer willpower and love. If you’ve only known her for her comedic genius, Maami will show you just how profound her dramatic range truly is.
2. Sola Sobowale in King of Boys (2018)
Running time: 2m 49m
Director: Kemi Adetiba
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Sola Sobowale plays Eniola Salami, an influential businesswoman with deep roots in Lagos’ criminal underworld and even deeper political ambitions. But the forces around her, from corrupt politicians, bloodthirsty rivals, to even former allies, are determined to see her fall. And it’s in this chaos that Sobowale finds gold.
She plays Eniola with a rawness rarely seen in Nollywood: a political juggernaut, criminal matriarch, and mother. The entire story orbits her, and she never lets it slip through her hands. In a role that could have easily leaned into caricature, she builds a complex, commanding woman who doesn’t just survive the system, she impacts it.
The way she balances the extremes of Salami’s life is exceptional. One moment, she collapses in grief over the loss of her child; the next, she commands a war room of criminals with a glance. Her voice alone carries decades of pain, power, and survival. Her every movement, the way she sits in silence and screams when wronged, feels lived-in and undeniable.
Watch King of Boys on Netflix.
1. Kehinde Bankole in Sistà
Running time: 1h 34m
Director: Biodun Stephen
Genre: Drama
In Sista, Kehinde Bankole is a single mother fighting against everything the world throws at her, from poverty to shame to judgment and the burden of raising children alone. She faces her worst nightmare when the father of her children returns accidentally into their lives and completely steals their attention all for himself, whilst trying to make amends for past sins.
With Sista, Bankole yet again finds the perfect role for her acting range. Her portrayal of the single mother is passionate but she doesn’t lose herself to her emotions. Bankole’s performance is focused on the message of the story and less on the dramatisation of what happens in the film. At times, the weight of the story is almost visible in her performance.
