Screen Celebrities That Will Sizzle In 2015 (2)

LAST week, we featured 10 screen celebrities that were nominated out of a pool of 50 celebrities, as players to watch in 2015. In this last part of the report, SHAIBU HUSSEINI randomly picks another 10 from that pool that were nominated by moviegoers based on an online poll. However, the list is not in any way exhaustive. 

Uche Jombo

Popular actress, scriptwriter and producer Uche Jombo- Rodriquez has more than a busy year last year. She featured in movies as much as she produced and only took a break when she travelled to spend sometime with her husband In the USA. Now the Abia born actress is back and she confirmed during the week that her management team have been working to see how they can manage her work schedule. A warm personality, Uche started off as a scriptwriters near a decade and half ago but she has so far produced over sixteenth movie, with another eight waiting in the wings to be released. She has equally featured in over a hundred movies and has written and co-written several scripts including ‘Visa to Hell’, ‘The Celebrity’, ‘Games Men Play’ and ‘A Time to Love’. 

Queen Nwokoye

There is a brand of Nollywood movies called ‘Asaba movies’, that is, movies shot on location in Asaba, Delta State. There is equally a variant called ‘Across the Niger’ and these are movies that are shot in the eastern part of Nigeria. But ask for the queen of the silver screen and the leading lady of either of the variants and fingers will easily point to the notable screen actress Queen Nwokoye. A native of Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State and a graduate of Sociology, Queen had a loaded outing in 2014. She was in at least 6 of every 10 movies released from that section of the vibrant Nollywood industry. The old girl of Queens School, Enugu and alumnus of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Queen who featured in some commercially successful productions like ‘Ada Mbano’, ‘Rebecca the Keke Driver’ and ‘Nneka My Daughter’ anticipate a busy year this year. In fact she may have knocked off two jobs already going by the schedule she shared with Celebrity in this December 2014. 

Bukky Wright 

Clearly one of the leading ladies of the Nigerian screen acting skies, Oluwabukola Sekinat Ajoke Wright re-emerged as a constant visitor in most homes for the better part of 2014 featuring in both English and Yoruba language productions and on major television soaps. A product of the Economics department of the University of Lagos, Bukky shuttled a lot between movie locations, taking care of family and superintending over her clothing line business- the Bukky Wright Collections. A diva by all standards, movies that benefitted from her depth of character interpretation include ‘Unforgivable’, ‘Dugbe Dugbe’ and ‘Koje Titun’. The delectable actress confirmed that it would be busy year for her this year as well. 

Desmond Elliot 

Before he three his hat into the political ring last year, popular Nollywood actor and later day producer and director Desmond Olusola Elliot was all over the place either as an actor, producer or director. He disclosed that the last time he checked the works he signed in 2014 he discovered that he featured in about 12 films as actor, produced and co-produced six movies and directed about ten movies including the emotive movie Knocking on Heavens Door. Now with eyes focused on politics Desmond Elliot recently emerged as the candidate to represent All Progressive Congress (APC), Surulere constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA), election this year. Although seriously campaigning now, Desmond hinted that he would still find time to do some acting and directing.

Joseph Benjamin

Popular as Joe Ben, Joseph Benjamin had a great year in 2014 and it looks as if it is going to be a particularly busy year in 2015 for the Kogi born star of critical acclaimed movies like ‘Tango With Me’, ‘Married But Living Single’,

‘Torn’ and ‘Mr. and Mrs’. Regular host of MTN Project Fame, a musician and a multi-award winning actor movies that benefitted from Joe Ben’s acting chops in 2014 include ‘Secret Box’, ‘Blind Promise’, ‘Murder at Prime Suites’, ‘Iyore’ and ‘Few Good Men’. 

Ini Edo

If moviegoers found the performance of popular actress Ini Edo stunning in 2014, they should brace up for more action as the Akwa Ibom star of Thick Madam and World Apart and a 2010 recipient of the Afro-Hollywood Award has promised to mesmerize her fans even more in 2015.  Though she spent sometime last year trying to answer to every query in the media concerning her embattled marriage to Phillip Ehigwina, her fans are optimistic that her reported separation from Ehigwina will not deter the pretty, young, talented, theatre arts graduate of the University of Uyo from reconfirming her rating as one of the most sought after actress in Nollywood. 

Mike Ezurounye

Popular actor Mike Ezurounye had a good year last year.  Observers say he was able to retain his status as one of the leading actors of Nollywood in 2014. The Glo Ambassador was everywhere a leading actor was required. Observers expect nothing but a superlative performance this year from ‘fair-mike’ as the oldest of five siblings born to the Ezurounye’s is simply called.  

Ejike Asiegbu

Ejike Asiegbu made a big come back to the silver screen in 2014 when he starred in a big budget movie, an initiative of the Zik Zulu Okafor led Association of Movie Producers, AMP, and directed by fellow actor Desmond Elliot. The actor who is popularly called ‘The Godfather’ was busy, during his long absence, with the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) politics; a body he once superintended in an era, which saw the then moribund body, come to life. However, after his term at AGN, Asiegbu was appointed Special Assistant to the Abia State Governor on Entertainment and later he became an Ambassador to an NGO advocating for the rights and welfare of premature babies. But Asiegbu is back. He assured that there would be no stopping him in 2015. 

Kate Henshaw 

Africa’s leading actress Kate Henshaw had a good year last year- acting, hosting shows and endorsing brands and products. But like some of her colleagues, she also threw her scarf in the political ring. However she was not successful at the primaries. She is back fully (she said she never left at anytime) to moviedom and the delectable actress, star of the award winning movie ‘Stronger than Pain’ and face of the food seasoning Onga hinted that she has a busy year ahead. 

Rita Dominic 

.The delectable actress Rita Dominic had a busy year last year. Apart from her brief as the ambassador of the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF), the award winning actress, star of the award winning movie ‘The Meeting’ and co-founder of The Audrey Silva Company (TASC) had a loaded schedule in 2014.  She featured in a few jobs but spent the better part of the year working on an epic production by Frank Rajah titled ‘Iyore’ that is due for cinema release this season. The star actress hinted that she has a busy year this year and part of what she will be engaged in will include working on a new movie, taking part in a couple of movie productions and travelling around Africa to promote AFRIFF