Osas Ighodaro | |
|---|---|
 Ighodaro at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in Lagos (2014) | |
| Born | Osariemen Martha Elizabeth Ighodaro 26 October 1990 New York, United States |
| Nationality | Nigerian-American |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | See below |
| Website | Official website |
Osariemen Martha Elizabeth Ighodaro (born 26 October 1990) is a Nigerian actress, television host and philanthropist born in the United States. She won the 2010 Miss Black USA Pageant and founded the Joyful Joy Foundation, a fundraising organization for malaria.[1] Osas emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood actress of 2018[2] and was awarded Best Actress in a Drama consecutively at the 2022 and 2023 AMVCA for her roles in Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story[3] and Man of God, [4] respectively.
Early life and background
[edit]Osas was born on 26 October 1990 in Bronx, New York, United States, to Nigerian parents of Edo origin. She obtained her degree in Broadcast Journalism with dual minor degrees in Entrepreneurship and Theater from Pennsylvania State University. She further obtained her MA in Fine Arts from the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and the founder of Imuetinyan Productions.
Career
[edit]Osas began her acting career in New York after graduating college. She started with performing in theatre plays and indie films. In 2012, she moved to Nigeria where she played acting roles in Nollywood films including Adanna in Tinsel.
Since then, she has starred in Cadillac Records, The Smart Money Woman and Gbomo Gbomo Express. Following her performance in Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story and Man of God (2022), she was awarded the Best Actress in a Drama' awards at the 2022 and 2023 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards respectively.
Osas co-hosted The Headies 2022, The Headies 2023, 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards and the family show Maltina Dance All.
Personal life
[edit]She was married to Gbenro Ajibade in June 2015 and had their first child in 2016.[5] They divorced shortly after.[6]
Filmography
[edit]
Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Killa Season | Shinae | Video |
| Hookers in Revolt | Delilah | Video | |
| My African Uncle | - | Short | |
| 2007 | Luggage | Sade's sister (singing voice) | Short |
| 2008 | Across a Bloodied Ocean | Nafisa | Short |
| Cadillac Records | Maid | ||
| Jewslim | Rochelle Whitman | ||
| 2009 | Notorious | Party Girl | |
| Park Sharks | Neglected Girlfriend | ||
| 2010 | Computer Love | Chastity | |
| The Tested | Sheena | ||
| 2011 | Computer Love | Chastity | |
| He Said, She Said: A Romantic Comedy | Donna | Video | |
| Psa 64 | Woman Scorned 64 | Short | |
| 2015 | The Department | Tolu Okoye | [7] |
| Gbomo Gbomo Express | Cassandra | ||
| Where Children Play | Nia | ||
| 2016 | Entreat | Margaret | |
| Put a Ring on it | Eki | ||
| 2017 | Idahosa Trails | Osamuede | |
| Little Drops of Happy | Mano Ojo | ||
| Wurukum Roundabout | - | ||
| Countdown | Helen | ||
| White Pickett Fence | Brenda Caldwell | Short | |
| 2018 | New Money | Angela Nwachukwu | |
| A Rose for Freddy | Kemi | ||
| Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons | Chidinma | ||
| We Don't Live Here Anymore | Leslie | ||
| King of Boys | Sade Bello | ||
| 2019 | My Mfon - an election day story | Sola Bassey | Short |
| Bling Lagosians | Demidun | ||
| Your Excellency | Candy | ||
| 2020 | Kenim O Presents: A Second Husband | Tope | Short |
| Double Strings | Detective Isoken | ||
| Mama Drama | Mena | ||
| Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story | Amara | ||
| Ratnik | Sarah Bello | ||
| 2021 | Namaste Wahala | Preemo | [8] |
| Mamba's Diamond | Eloho | ||
| Keeping Promise | Teni | ||
| Bad Comments | Hilda | ||
| The Ghost and the Tout Too | Amoke | ||
| Who Lived at Number 6 | Dimma | ||
| 2022 | Man of God | Teju | [9][10] |
| Knee Down | Ese | [11] | |
| Single Not Searching | Kai | [12][13] | |
| Conversations in Transit | Adeola | [14] | |
| 2023 | Love, Lust and Other Things | Lydia Danjuma | [15][16] |
| 3 Cold Dishes | Esosa | [17][18][19][20] | |
| 2024 | When Love Strikes | Tinuke | [21] |
| Olufemi | Kareemat | ||
| Someone Like You | Ciarra | ||
| Breakthrough | Ada | ||
| Safari | Nkiru |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Conviction | Desmond's Date | Episode: "Breakup" |
| 2007 | Law & Order | Model | Episode: "Bling" |
| 2010 | Meet the Browns | Nurse Mileen | Episode: "Meet the Unwelcome Back" |
| 2012 | 12 Steps to Recovery | Jellybean | Episode: "Jellybean and Things" |
| Tinsel | Adanna (Danni) | Recurring cast: season 5 | |
| 2013-14 | Parallels | Ruth Marshall | Main cast |
| 2013-15 | Maltina Dance All | Herself/host | TV series |
| 2018 | EVE (Africa Magic) | Sylvia | TV series |
| 2019 | Shuga | Sergeant Iyanu | Main cast: season 7 |
| 2020 | Assistant Madams | Chioma | Main cast |
| The Smart Money Woman[22] | Zuri | Main cast | |
| 2021 | King of Boys: The Return of the King | Sade Bello | Recurring cast |
Theatre
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Fela & The Kalakuta Queens | Malaika | BAP Productions |
| 2017 | Wedding Blues | Joke | Lagos Theatre Festival |
| 2016 | Sarafina | Mary Masumbuko | AFRIFF |
| 2014 | For Colored Girls (Nigerian Adaptation) | Lady in Purple | Fly Time Productions |
| 2011 | Dolores (by Edward Allen Baker) | Dolores | Actors Studio Drama School |
| 2010 | Underground | Queen | Poetic Theatre Production |
| 2008 | Platanos Y Collard Greens | Malady | Between the Lines Productions |
| 2006 | Revenge of a King | Afi | NYC Fringe |
| 2005 | Joe Turner's Come and Gone | Martha Pentecost | August Wilson Play Festival |
| 2005 | The Colored Museum | Lawanda / Model | Citizen Bank Theatre |
| 2005 | Ladies Night at the Cotton Club | Josephine Baker | Loaves & Fish Repertory |
| 2003 | Shades of Black and Grey | Mia | PSU Union Theatre |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Event | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Miss Black USA Pageant | Miss Black USA 2010 | Won | [23] | |
| 2014 | ELOY Awards | Actress of the Year - TV | Tinsel | Won | [24] |
| 2015 | Green October La Mode Magazine Awards | Humanitarian Award | Joyful Joy Foundation | Won | [25] |
| ELOY Awards | Brand Ambassador of the Year | Polo Avenue; Konga.com | Won | [26] | |
| Actress of the Year - Film | The Department | Nominated | |||
| 2016 | Golden Movie Awards | Golden Supporting Actress | ''Gbomo Gbomo Express | Nominated | [27] |
| 2016 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Supporting Actress of The Year | Won | [28] | ||
| 2021 | Best of Nollywood Awards | Best Actress in a Lead Role | Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story | Nominated | [29] |
| Best Kiss in a Movie | Nominated | [30] | |||
| Her Network - Woman of the Year Awards | Woman of the Year in Entertainment | Won | [31] | ||
| 2022 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Actress in A Drama | Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story | Won | [32] |
| Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Man of God | Nominated | [33] | |
| 2023 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Actress In A Drama, Movie Or TV Series | Man of God | Won | [34][35] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Malaria Deadly Toll". Huffington Post. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- ^ "Nigeria's top 10 highest earning actors made N3.5 billion in 2018". 17 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- ^ "Stan Nze, Osas Ighodaro win big - Full list of all di winners from 2022 AMVCA". BBC News Pidgin. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Osas Ighodaro wins Best Actress at AMVCA 2023". Vanguard Nigeria. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ Adebayo, Tireni (1 November 2018). "Gbenro Ajibade & Osas Ighodaro go separate ways as marriage hits the rock". Kemi Filani News. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
- ^ "Gbenro Ajibade calls out wife, Osas Ighodaro on Instagram over neglect of their child". www.pulse.ng. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
- ^ "Watch Osas Ighodaro, OC Ukeje, Majid Michel in trailer". ThePulse.ng. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ "Bollywood and Nollywood collide in a tale of a big fat Indian-Nigerian wedding". CNN. 17 February 2020.
- ^ "Bolanle Austen Peters confirms first Netflix Original 'The Man of God'". 17 March 2022.
- ^ "Bolanle Austen Peters features Osas Ighodaro in 'Man of God'". 22 March 2022.
- ^ "Falz features Osas Ighodaro and Chike in new short film 'Knee Down'". 14 July 2022.
- ^ "Check out BTS photos from new Nollywood & Hollywood collaboration 'Single Not Searching'". 16 July 2021.
- ^ "'Single Not Searching': LisaRaye On Entertaining The African Diaspora In Her Upcoming Film".
- ^ "Rogers Ofime wraps up production for 'Conversations in Transit'". 28 February 2022.
- ^ "Ramsey Nouah, Osas Ighodaro steal the show in 'Love, Lust & Other Things' trailer". 16 June 2023.
- ^ "Ramsey Nouah, Osas Ighodaro Star in Romantic Feature Directed By Kayode Kasum". 16 June 2023.
- ^ "Osas Ighodaro, Wale Ojo, Femi Jacobs to star in Asurf Oluseyi's '3 Cold Dishes'".
- ^ "Here's what you Need to know about Asurf Oluseyi's '3 Cold Dishes'". 11 April 2023.
- ^ "Asurf Oluseyi's "3 Cold Dishes" Begins Production with Osas Ighodaro, Wale Ojo".
- ^ "3 Cold Dishes: Everything To Know About Burna Boy's Movie".
- ^ "Inkblot Productions Encloses 2023 Movie Slate With Nancy Isime & Natse Jemide Led Titles". 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Osas Ajibade stars in The Smart Money Woman series - P.M. News". pmnewsnigeria.com. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ "2010 Miss Black USA Crowned". News.cn. Wang Guanqun. Archived from the original on 15 October 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
- ^ "Exquisite Lady of the Year Awards Seyi Shay, Toke Makinwa, Mo'Cheddah, DJ Cuppy, Others Nominated". Pulse Nigeria. Chinedu Adiele. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "Green October 2Face, Tony Elumelu, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, others recognized at humanitarian/fashion show". pulse.ng. Chinedu Adiele. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
- ^ "Osas Ighodaro Emerges Brand Ambassador of the Year at ELOY Awards". thenet.ng. Kayode Badmus. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
- ^ "Full List of nominees for 2016 Golden Movie Awards Africa". Ghanaweb.com. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- ^ "Nollywood Actress Osas Ighodaro Ajibade wins Best Supporting Actress at the 2016 NEA Awards". African Hub Naija. Ngozi Ann. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "BON Awards unveils 2021 list of nominees -". The Eagle Online. 12 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ "BON Awards unveils 2021 list of nominees -". The Eagle Online. 12 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ "Winners at 5th Her Network Woman of the Year Awards 2021 -". The Pulse.ng. 12 September 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ^ "2022 Africa Magic Awards Nominees don land- See who dey list". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
- ^ "The Man of God Bags 9 nominations at the African Movie Academy Awards". 24 September 2022.
- ^ "Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees". AMVCA - Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ Kalu, Esther (20 May 2023). "AMVCA 2023: Osas Ighodaro, Tobi Bakre, Bimbo Ademoye win big (FULL WINNERS LIST)". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Osas Ighodaro at IMDb
- Osas Ighodaro Ajibade biography with Huffington Post
- Osas Ighodaro interview with Toke Makinwa