Nollywood actresses we missed? In this post, you will see the top 15 Nollywood actresses we missed in new films and the major reasons why they quit acting.
1. Genevieve Nnaji
You don’t see your favourite star actress, Genevieve Nnaji, in new movies because she has quit acting and now focuses on writing movie scripts, producing, and directing her films.
As a director, Genny successfully directed her movie ‘Lion’s Heart’, which was shot in Enugu. After spending years in front of the camera, this talented single mom and actress has chosen to work behind the scenes, bringing amazing stories to life as a producer, writer, and director. So check out her upcoming movies.
2. Omotola Jalade Ekeinde
In new films, we miss Omotola Jalade, aka Omosexy,because she relocated with her family to the United States of America, where she lives now. This famous actress and proud mom of four also quit acting because many directors can’t afford what it takes to have her on set.
According to Omotola, “It’s a new terrain, but everything will balance out soon.” She has also re-strategised to focus only on movies that are truly worth her time.”
3. Grace Amah
We miss her because she stopped acting after the birth of her son, whom she had out of wedlock. The single mother has recently acted in some new movies. According to her, she revealed that coming back to Nollywood wasn’t easy. But she’s back anyway. Grace Amah was best known for her role in the 2004 Nollywood blockbuster movie titled Last Party.
4. Tonto Dikeh
In August 2022, Tonto Dikehrevealed during an interview with BBC Pidgin that she’s officially quit acting. She mentioned that she had no plans of returning to Nollywood even after the election, as she had just been unveiled as the deputy governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Rivers State.
5. Georgina Onuoha
Georgina quit acting for two reasons. First, because of her marriage to her American-based ex-husband, Dr. Ifeanyi Igwegbe. With whom she shared two lovely daughters before their divorce.
Secondly, because she claimed to suffer from an unnamed illness for 8 years, but the good news is that she is now a PhD holder and a health worker in the United States of America. So don’t expect her in new Nollywood movies.
6. Rita Nzelu
Rita quit acting after her marriage to her ex-husband, Simeon Okoro, and the couple later relocated to London, United Kingdom. Reports revealed that her husband told her to quit acting and focus on the family, but Rita chose acting over her family. This and many other issues, like infidelity and lack of trust, led to a divorce. Rita’s marriage was dissolved in 2018, and her bride price was returned to her family.
This mother of two sons, who became popular for her role in the movie Living in Bondage, met her ex-husband in 2003. He proposed to her just two weeks later, and they held their traditional marriage in 2004.
7. Lilian Bach
So why did she quit acting? Lillian Bachsaid that she intentionally took a break from acting. Speaking further, Lilian explained that she went into the production of her movies, but piracy didn’t allow her to get a profit, so she took a break. But modern producers make movies and stream them on Netflix and Iroko TV, so she can come back and give it a try one more time.
According to her,
I purposely took a break from doing movies. I became a producer, and I wanted to be doing my movies, but piracy wouldn’t allow me. In Nollywood, experience is the best teacher; nobody tells you the truth. You have to go through the experience to find out what others are suffering from. We cannot continue to ignore the fact that piracy has been trying to bring the industry down. That was why I took a break. I couldn’t continue producing movies without recouping my money. It is not a good thing.
Is Lilian Bach married? While some blogs report that she’s not married, others reveal that Lilian married a business mogul, Mr. Alaka, in a private ceremony in 2012. It is unclear whether she has any children.
Lilian Bach becamepopular for her role in the movie titled Money Love, where she acted with Patience Ozokwor.
8. Sandra Achums
Sandra Achums, who was popular in the movies Deadly Affairs and Domitila in 1995 and 1996, respectively, quit acting to answer the call of motherhood, which is important in every woman’s life. The actress also quit because of distance, as she relocated to Nuremberg, Germany, with her husband. Sandra secretly married her husband Tony in 2006, and together, they have5 children, two sons and three daughters
Just so you know, Sandra Achum’s husband is a Germany-based businessman.
9. Victoria Inyama
Nkiruka Victoria Inyama, also known asVicky, stopped acting because she relocated to the United Kingdom in 2004 after her marriage to her lawyer ex-husband, Godwin Okri, in 2003. Nkiru, who is a UK-based psychologist, also quit acting to focus on her psychology career and raising her three kids, two boys and a girl.
Rumours revealed that she endured a bitter marriage and domestic violence for many years until the Domestic Violence Unit in the UK intervened and removed her and her children from the situation.
“Up until 2018, Victoria’s ex-husband, whom she referred to as a ‘psychotic beast’, refused to grant her a divorce, claiming she was still his property. Victoria Inyama was introduced to Nollywood by Sir Alex Usifo. Her first movie was Glamour Boys, produced by Jeta Amata in 1995.
10. Benita Nzeribe
Benita disappears in new Nollywood movies just after her marriage because she shuttles between Nigeria and the United States of America, where her husband is based.
According to her, “ I didn’t disappear. I took leave to do some other business. I can’t go into those things now.”
Benita Nzeribe hails fromAnambra State but grew up alongside her three siblings in Aba, Abia State. Her father is an importer, while her mother is a nurse.
11. Susan Patrick
Susan Patrick, best known as the snake girl in the movie Sakobi, quit acting after her husband died in 2016. She also because of the high level of competition with the new crop of actresses in the Nigerian film industry.
This Akwa Ibom State-born actress was reportedly accused of snatching another woman’s husband, with whom she later welcomed two lovely children. Reports revealed that her husband’s children opposed the marriage, but she married him regardless. Since then, Susan has quit acting and remained inactive on all social media platforms.
12. Chidi Ihezie Okafor
Chidi temporarily quit acting to have more babies because her husband’s family wanted more kids and to pursue other businesses that took up more of her time.
Apart from being an actress, a wife, and a mother, Chidi also owns a beauty salon and spa business. Best known for her role in the movie Billionaire Club, she is fortunate to have a supportive husband who helps her most of the time with the kids and house chores.
Chidi promises to come back and entertain us once she has the time, good pay, and a good script.
13. Regina Askia
Regina Williams Askia, popularly known as Regina Askia, quit acting to focus on her marriage, family, and nursing career.
After her first marriage failed, she remarried Rudolf ‘Big Rudy’ Williams, a software engineer and tech expert. Now a mother of three, Regina is a trained and practising nurse in the United States—a skilled healthcare provider.
During an interview, she clarified that she has not truly quit acting; rather, she doesn’t have enough time. She prioritises her kids, job, school, household duties, and the bed, which includes her husband.
As for a return to the screen, she said, ‘Never say never.’ All she needs is a good script, decent pay, and, most importantly, time, which remains the biggest challenge.
14. Shan George
Shan George took a brief break from acting due to health issues, as she was diagnosed with a spinal condition that required her to travel abroad for proper treatment and care. After her recovery, she ventured into movie production under the name Shandel Productions.
The mother, grandmother, ex-wife, actress, and producer said that she can never quit acting, even in old age, because acting is her first love.
15. Eucharia Anunobi
Popularly known for her role in the movie Glamour Girls, the actress-turned-pastor and evangelist has not quit acting—and has no plans to do so.
She explained that being a pastor doesn’t prevent her from working in the film industry. In fact, she recently returned from a movie set and remains active in the industry. However, she pointed out that many producers delay releasing their films due to concerns about piracy.
So, look out for when those movies will be released, and you will see her. Now you know the top 15 Nollywood actresses we miss in new movies and why they quit acting. So,who among them is your favourite actress? Say it in the comment section.
See the top 20 Famous Nollywood actors that died and the cause of their deaths here