This is a list of notable Nigerian actors. An actor is a person who portrays a character in a performance (also actress; see below). The actor performs “in the flesh” in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is ὑποκριτής (hupokritḗs), literally “one who answers”. The actor’s interpretation of a role—the art of acting—pertains to the role played, whether based on a real person or fictional character. This can also be considered an “actor’s role,” which was called this due to scrolls being used in the theaters. Interpretation occurs even when the actor is “playing themselves”, as in some forms of experimental performance art.
Formerly, in ancient Greece and Rome, the medieval world, and the time of William Shakespeare, only men could become actors, and women’s roles were generally played by men or boys. While Ancient Rome did allow female stage performers, only a small minority of them were given speaking parts. The commedia dell’arte of Italy, however, allowed professional women to perform early on: Lucrezia Di Siena, whose name is on a contract of actors from 10 October 1564, has been referred to as the first Italian actress known by name, with Vincenza Armani and Barbara Flaminia as the first primadonnas and the first well-documented actresses in Italy (and in Europe). After the English Restoration of 1660, women began to appear onstage in England. In modern times, particularly in pantomime and some operas, women occasionally play the roles of boys or young men.
Acting is an activity in which a story is told by means of its enactment by an actor or actress who adopts a character—in theatre, television, film, radio, or any other medium that makes use of the mimetic mode.
Acting involves a broad range of skills, including a well-developed imagination, emotional facility, physical expressivity, vocal projection, clarity of speech, and the ability to interpret drama. Acting also demands an ability to employ dialects, accents, improvisation, observation and emulation, mime, and stage combat. Many actors train at length in specialist programs or colleges to develop these skills. The vast majority of professional actors have undergone extensive training. Actors and actresses will often have many instructors and teachers for a full range of training involving singing, scene-work, audition techniques, and acting for camera.
Most early sources in the West that examine the art of acting (Greek: ὑπόκρισις, hypokrisis) discuss it as part of rhetoric
List of Nigerian actors
- Ramsey Nouah
- Richard Mofe Damijo
- Osita Iheme
- O. C. Ukeje
- Jim Iyke
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
- Bovi
- Olu Jacobs
- Tope Tedela
- Mike Bamiloye
- Pete Edochie
- Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Saint Obi
- John Boyega
- Femi Branch
- Wasiu Alabi Pasuma
- Femi Adebayo
- Francis Odega
- Odunlade Adekola
- Muyiwa Ademola
- Yemi Ajibade
- Jimoh Aliu
- Fred Amata
- Chet Anekwe
- Okey Bakassi
- Saheed Balogun
- Joseph Benjamin
- Yul Edochie
- Alex Ekubo
- Deyemi Okanlawon
- Ken Erics
- Mike Ezuruonye
- Sola Fosudo
- Chinedu Ikedieze
- Hakeem Kae-Kazim
- Jide Kosoko
- Ayo Makun
- Chuma Mmeka
- Zack Orji
- Ali Nuhu
- Dele Odule
- Dede One Day
- Clem Ohameze
- John Okafor
- Dayo Okeniyi
- Babatunde Omidina
- Emeka Ossai
- Nkem Owoh
- David Oyelowo
- Afeez Oyetoro
- Kola Oyewo
- Adebayo Salami
- Sunday Omobolanle
- Yemi Shodimu
- Ime Bishop Umoh
- Nonso Diobi
- Charles Inojie
List of Nigerian Actresses
- Liz Da-Silva
- Genevieve Nnaji
- Omotola Jalade Ekeinde
- Sola Sobowale
- Funke Akindele
- Joke Silva
- Rita Dominic
- Mercy Johnson
- Ini Edo
- Nse Ikpe Etim
- Yvonne Jegede
- Lilian Esoro
- Adesua Etomi
- Bimbo Ademoye
- Efe Irele
- Mary Lazarus
- Uzo Aduba
- Tonto Dikeh
- Liz Benson
- Kehinde Bankole
- Fathia Balogun
- Tomi Odunsi
- Stephanie Okereke
- Nafisa Abdullahi
- Adunni Ade
- Ayo Adesanya
- Taiwo Ajai Lycett
- Nikki Amuka-Bird
- Rosaline Meurer
- Regina Askia
- Monalisa Chinda
- Chioma Chukwuka
- Abiodun Duro-Ladipo
- Megalyn Echikunwoke
- Adesua Etomi-Wellington
- Carmen Ejogo
- Tamara Eteimo
- Hadiza Gabon
- Regina Daniels
- Rahama Sadau
- Muma Gee
- Shan George
- Kate Henshaw
- Chika Ike
- Carol King
- Bisi Komolafe
- Annie Macaulay–Idibia
- Lola Margaret
- Iyabo Ojo
- Sophie Okonedo
- Chioma Okoye
- Oge Okoye
- Moji Olaiya
- Kiki Omeili
- Racheal Oniga
- Bimbo Oshin
- Patience Ozokwor
- Helen Paul
- Idowu Philips
- Toni Tones
- Mary Uranta
- Bukky Wright
- Folake Olowofoyeku
- Sharon Ooja
- Ngozi Ezeonu
- Beverly Naya
- Beverly Osu
- Abimbola Craig
- Ruth Kadiri
- Weruche Opia
- Yvonne Orji
- Toyin Abraham
- Mercy Aigbe
