Women are considered the epitome of beauty, and Nigerian actresses are known for their astonishing beauty. The Nigerian film industry has women who have proved their beauty inside out time and again. These celebrities, some of which are the most beautiful actresses and the hottest Nigerian models, have been in the limelight for decades and are considered one of the boldest and most charming women in the world.
What is Nollywood?
Like Hollywood and Bollywood, Nollywood is Nigeria’s organisation regulating film productions. In the 1960s, pioneering filmmakers like Ola Balogun, and Eddie Ugboma created the first Nollywood films. The Nigerian film industry has done exceptionally well in relationships and collaboration with some of the biggest global names. In a world where almost every industry is male-dominated, Nigerian actresses have ruled this industry for decades.
25 Most Beautiful Actress in Kannywood and Nollywood 2023:
Check out the top 20 Nigerian actresses on our list who have made it big in the Nollywood industry and have a massive social media presence.
(Top 20 Beautiful Nollywood Actress)
1. Mercy Johnson:
With 13.4M Instagram followers, this Nollywood actress is so attractive that you want to see her in every scene in a movie. Born in Nigeria’s Kogi State and long worked in the Nollywood film industry, she has received recognitions like the best actress in a leading role and 2018 Actress of the year for works like 30 Days In Atlanta, Baby Oku, Weeping Soul, etc. Her eye-catching acting skills are why she makes it to the list of Nollywood queens.
2. Ini Edo:
With 13.1M Instagram followers, Iniobong Edo Ekim is a highly talented Nigeria actress with exquisite beauty features who started her Nollywood career in 2000 with her debut film ‘Thick Madam’ and quickly made headway in 2004 with her role in ‘World Apart’ Ever since, she has featured in more than 100 Nollywood films like: ‘The Bank Manager’, ‘The Bet’, Cold War, etc., which brought her fame, fortune and recognition as United Nations Habitat Youth Envoy in 2014.
3. Regina Daniels:
Regina, a woman with many talents, is a scriptwriter, actress, producer and model who started acting in Nollywood in 2007. Ever since, she has starred in several movies, including Python Girl, The Bat-Man, The Jericho, and Plantain Girl. With hot physical attributes and looks, the Nigerian actress has about 12.7M Instagram followers. She has been nominated for several awards in the Nigerian film industry for her immaculate acting presentation, some of which were Revelation of the Year –female in 2017 and most searched actress in 2021.
4. Mercy Aigbe:
Nollywood actress Mercy Aigbe barely needs an introduction. She is a scriptwriter, actress, producer, model and fashion guru. She started her acting career with the Nigerian Tv soap opera Papa Ajasco and joined the Nigerian film industry in 2006. She is known for her roles in 77 Bullets (2019), Gucci Girls (2012) and Victims (2017), which got her worldwide recognition along with several awards like Yoruba actress of the year and Fashion Entrepreneur of The Year for her unique fashion sense.
5. Genevieve Nnaji:
With 8.5M followers on Instagram, Genevieve Nnaji is among the top 5 highest-paid Nigerian actresses in Nollywood. Since her recognition as Best Actress in the 2005 Africa Movie Academy Award, Genevieve has climbed the ladder of fame and wealth. In 1998, she was introduced into the nourishing Nollywood film industry with the movie Most Wanted, followed by the award-winning film Ijé: The Journey. To date, she has starred in over 200 Nollywood movies.
6. Rita Dominic:
The 2012 Best Actress in a Leading Role winner, Rita Dominic, is one of the most gorgeous and sexiest Nigerian actresses with a goddess-like physique. Rita Dominic has worked in the Nigerian film industry for many years giving blockbusters like A Time to Kill, The therapist, light in the dark, etc. She has amassed one of the largest net worths among Nollywood actresses. Her appeal to the eye helped her build a sizable Instagram following of 7.2M.
7. Adesua Etomi:
The stunning Nigerian actress Adesua Etomi is considered one of the most gorgeous Nollywood celebrities. With almost 5 million followers on Instagram, Etomi is one of the most sought-after Nollywood female actors, having been in several blockbuster films like The Arbitration, The Wedding Party, and Falling, many of which are also available on Netflix. She has secured various accolades and awards, including the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award for Best Actress in a Drama.
8. Nancy Isime:
Young Nigerian actress Nancy Isime began her Nollywood career with the TV series Echoes in 2011. However, her talents are not limited to acting alone. In 2020, she co-hosted The Headies award; along with that, she has featured in many hit Nollywood films like Shanty Town, The set up two and the 2022 Netflix original series Blood Sisters, playing the lead role of Kemi. Her hard work and dedication towards her work also led her to be awarded awards like Most Promising Actress and Best Supporting Actress in 2018.
9. Chacha Eke Faani:
Known for her crying roles in movies, Faani is a Nigerian actress from Ebonyi State. She joined the Nollywood film industry during the Miss Nollywood Talent Hunt Show in 2009 but only rose to fame when she featured in the 2012 drama The End is Near, followed by Tears for Breast Milk (2013), Dangerous Assassin (2015) and Money and Blood (2022). Her exploit in the Nigerian film industry has earned her numerous awards, including Best Actress of the Year
10. Omoni Oboli:
Talk of being ageless and beautiful, Nigerian actress Omoni Oboli has ticked the two boxes effortlessly. She is one of the most popular Nollywood actresses who kicked off her professional acting career in 1996 with “Bitter Encounter” and then went on to play the lead character in “Destined to Die”, “Not My Will” and “Another Campus Tale”. She was among the first Nollywood female actors to win the Best Actress in two international festivals in the same year. She is one of the most followed Nollywood celebrities, with 3.7 million Instagram followers.
11. Bisola Aiyeola:
Bisola Aiyeola is a multi-talented, famous Nigerian actress and music star. She has been awarded various times, including Best Supporting Actress in 2022 and Trail Blaze Award in 2019. In addition, she has been featured in over 150 Nollywood films, including Breaded Life (2021) and Sugar Rush (2019), winning the hearts of millions of people for her acting skills and beauty features.
12. Adunni Ade:
Adunni Ade is a beautiful and gifted actress from Nigeria. Her beauty and professionalism have landed her a respectable role in Nollywood. She starred in the famous TV series Jenifa’s diary, where she engaged the audience with her stunning charm and beauty. Another TV series that boosted her fame was Son of the Caliphate 2. In 2017 She received her first award as the best Nollywood actress, followed by the Stella award from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.
13. Lilian Esoro:
In 2005 a star made her debut in Nollywood and soon became one of the most popular names in the Nigerian film Industry. Her name is Lilian Esoro. Her work in movies like Secret Room (2013) and Couple of Days (2016) led her to fame and fortune. In addition, the young Nigerian actress was nominated for Best Actress in A Comedy Series role in Clinic Matters. In 2018, she was awarded Best African Actress at the African Film Awards in London.
14. Bimbo Ademoye:
One of the most loved screen goddesses amongst Nollywood celebrities, Bimbo Ademoye, has currently been rated the hottest face in the Nigerian film industry. She is also one of the trending faces on NETFLIX with movies like Sugar Rush, Anikulapo and Breaded Life, amongst others. She was nominated at the 2020 AMVCA awards for Best Actress in a comedy series and won the 2020 Best Of Nollywood Awards for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
15. Beverly Naya:
Beverly Naya is an award-winning Nigerian actress, model, producer, scriptwriter, and entrepreneur. She is one of the few Nollywood female actresses who aren’t afraid to show off her brown skin in every possible way and has featured in blockbuster films like Tinsel, Guilty Pleasures, Home in exile, Death Waters, etc., which led her to win the Most Promising Talent at the Best of Nollywood Awards and the 2016 Best Actress at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival.
16. Osas Ighodaro:
The multiple award-winning Nigerian actresses, Ighodaro, is one of the most celebrated actresses in the Nigerian film industry. She joined the Nollywood film industry in 2005 and has been featured in movies like New Money, King Of Boys, and Merrymen, We Don’t Live Here Anymore, among others and won several awards, including ‘Best Actress in a Drama and the Best Dressed at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards 2022. In addition, Osas has crowned Miss Black USA and was the first Nigerian American to do so.
17. Sharon Ooja:
Sharon Ooja is a Nigerian actress who rose to fame after her role as “Shalewa” in the web series Skinny Girl in Transit. Among the most beautiful Nollywood actresses who are blessed with stunning body structures, Sharon has so far appeared in several movies like From Lagos with love, Mom’s of War, Lara, etc., and has won various accolades, including the city people Movie Award for the promising actress in 2018. With a million Instagram followers, Ooja is one of the Nollywood queens.
18. Tana Adelana:
Tana Adelana, who comes from a royal family of the Igbo tribe, is a famous Nigerian Igbo actress known for her outstanding performances in several movies like Quick Sand, The Kingdom, Baby Daddy, etc. After that, she got into the Nollywood film industry, where she made her acting debut on the TV series Disclosure.’ The Nigerian actress is a sight for sore eyes and has received numerous awards, including the Grind Award in 2005 and The City People Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress of the Year (English).
19. Jemima Osunde:
Jemima Osunde is a celebrated Nigerian actress, model, and presenter who got her first big break in Nollywood with her role as Laila in MTV Shuga, appearing in the fourth series. Osunde is an advocate of beauty and stardom among beautiful Nigerian actresses, with movies like Esohe, Stella (2016), My Wife & I (2017), Isoken (2017) and television appearances like Shuga and Ojays (2015). Her performance in The Delivery Boy also got her nominated for Best Actress the same year.
20. Damilola Adegbite:
Damilola Adegbite is a well-known name in the entertainment industry in Nigeria. She is not only a model, and television personality but also an entrepreneur too. She entered the Nigerian film industry after her debut in Tinsel, where she played Telema Duke (2008-2012). After Tinsel, she went on to star in numerous successful Nollywood productions, including 6 Days to Christmas, Flower Girl, Banana Island Ghost, and many others. Adegbite is a screen goddess and has received various awards and nominations, including Best Actress in a TV Series, Nigeria Entertainment Awards, 2011.
(Top 5 Hottest Nigerian Models-)
21. Mayowa Nicholas:
With an Instagram following of 428K, Nicholas is one of Nigeria’s top models. Since winning an Elite modelling competition in 2014, this Nigerian supermodel has walked for several top-tier European fashion houses, including Christian Dior, Prada and Miu Miu. She officially made her debut in the 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and is currently ranked as one of the “Top 50” Nigerian models. When asked about the secret to her gorgeous skin, she replied, “I do mostly natural stuff, like oatmeal face masks. And drink lots of water to hydrate my skin.”
22. Sylvia Nduka:
Nduka is a Nigerian supermodel and beauty queen from Anambra, eastern Nigeria. Post her victory as the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 2011, her modelling career gained momentum. Being one of Nigeria’s top models has partnered with several brands in the fashion industry, like Versace, Dior, Prada, L’oreal, etc., appearing in commercials and building a world of fame for herself amongst other Nigerian models.
23. Anna Banner:
Anna Ebiere Banner is one of the exquisite Nigerian models and actresses crowned the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 2013. She also represented Nigeria at the 2013 Miss World pageant, where she was a runner-up. Numerous lifestyle periodicals and fashion magazines, including House of Maliq and This Day style, featured Anna Banner as a Nollywood megastar. However, post that; The Nigerian supermodel also has a fine presence on Instagram, with almost 323K followers.
24. Agbani Darego:
Darego was crowned the ‘Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria’ in 2001, as well as the first black African Nigerian celebrity to achieve the title of Miss World. Shortly after, the Nollywood supermodel secured a three-year agreement with L’Oréal, making her only the second African model to do so, following Vanessa Williams and several Nigerian models. She has also modelled for the companies Christian Dior, Target, Sephora and Macy’s. Darego also has worked with designers such as Tommy Hilfiger, Gianfranco Ferre, and Ralph Lauren.
25. Sandra Okagbue:
This Nollywood supermodel, who has also achieved massive success in her entrepreneurial and acting career, is Sandra Okagbue. Nigeria’s top model won several beauty queen contests, amidst which The Miss Delta Soap Pageant contest helped her to become extremely popular amongst other Nigerian models. She has already been in the modelling industry for more than 20 years and has featured for brands like Airtel, Cadbury, MTN, LG, and GLO.
The Nollywood industry is one of the world’s most celebrated and influential cinema industries, dominated by iconic Nigerian actresses and models. This listicle article helped you gain insights into the famous faces in the Nollywood industry and some of the most famous Nigerian supermodels known for their beauty and talent worldwide. Also, the above information provided in the entire article has not been manufactured or tampered with by the authors of this article in any manner. All the information has been refereed from various notable websites on the internet.