5 most bankable Nollywood actresses

We all know how rich our top actresses are getting by the day. This list is compiled by Encomiun magazine and from available facts and gists as a blogger we kind of agree with it. There is always  stiff rivalry when you talk about Nollywood actresses especially between Genevieve nnaji and Omotola Jalade in all major categories but once again this list draws conclusion from information that is available to the public. Our actress make their millions from endorsements and merchandising. While some are cornering big deals , others have also diversified to expand their streams of income...  Checkout the five bankable actresses in Nollywood according to ENCOMIUM

GENEVIEVE NNAJI

Genevieve Nnaji, 36, started her acting career as a child in the popular TV soap opera, Ripples at age 8. At 19, she did her first major movie, Most Wanted, after which she did several others.

In 2004, she was chosen as the Face of Lux toilet soap, a very lucrative endorsement deal. She also launched her own clothing line in 2008 named St. Genevieve. In May 2010, she was appointed the official face of make-up designing in Nigeria. Ms. Nnaji got a deal also as the face of a US and South African brand, Cintron energy drink for N50 million. In June 2012, she was unveiled as the brand ambassador of Range Rover Envogue by Coscharis Motors, and it was reported that they paid her $100,000.

In 2014, hard work is still paying off for the screen goddess as she joined her other colleagues as Etisalat announced her as the brand ambassador for Easy Flex, which was reportedly worth N100 million. She was also signed by Polo, an endorsement worth N50 million. She recently starred in Half of a Yellow Sun, produced by Africa’s prolific book writer, Chimammanda Adichie.Lets not also forget she just got a very lucrative deal with Amstel Malta for an undisclosed fee.

OMOTOLA JALADE-EKEINDE

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde is definitely a household name and she is known not just in Nigeria but other parts of the world. Omosexy, as she’s fondly called, began her acting career in 1995 with the movie, Venom of Justice.

She did her first major role in the movie, Mortal Inheritance and she has over 300 movies on her scorecard, including award-winning movie, Ije, which made her N30 million richer and Last Flight to Abuja in which she made N24 million.

In 2013, Omotola was honoured as one of the most influential people in the world by Time magazine alongside Michelle Obama, Beyonce and Kate Middleton.

On February 7, 2014, Omosexy turned 36. She also signed a multi-million naira deal with Ghandour Cosmetics, a company based in Ghana. She will be the Face of BO-16, a hair relaxer and hair care range for the Ghanaian company.

FUNKE AKINDELE

Pretty and likeable actress Funke Akindele shot to limelight with her popular movie, Jenifa, and Return of Jenifa 1 and 2. In Return of Jenifa, she ranked in over N35 million.

2013 was indeed a year of blessing in the life of Funke as she enjoyed some major endorsements as the ambassador for Vitaform, where she reportedly got N20 million. She also had endorsement deals with Qlichy.com, Jobberman.com, Globacom, Klin Detergent and Lagos Inland Revenue Service.

Funke Akindele has also featured in scores of movies including A Wish, Jet Fighter, White Hunters, Sherikoko, Married but Living Single, The Hero, Oga On Top and so many others.

Recently, over 28 students graduated from her film academy, Scene One School of Drama, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.

KATE HENSHAW

Kate Henshaw launched herself into Nollywood in 1993 with the hit movie, When the Sun Sets. She won the Africa Movie Academy Award in 2009, for the Best Actress in a Leading Role in the movie, Stronger Than Pain. The ebony actress is the ambassador of Onga seasoning and Face of Blessing Perfumes. She is also an ambassador of Samsung mobile alongside music star and label owner, Banky W.

Kate Henshaw was once one of the ambassadors for telecommunications giant, Globacom. In 2013, she released her autobiography, The Life of an Actress and it was reported she got N5 million from Rivers State government. Kate Henshaw was also among the judges of Nigeria’s Got Talent and sources claimed she was paid N43 million, including seating allowance. She is a single mother of one daughter, Ella. Kate was born on July 19, 1971.

MERCY JOHNSON

Mercy Johnson is presently one of the busiest actresses in Nollywood. The curvy thespian is the toast of many producers. Mercy is a big media brand though with no major endorsement deal yet.

The Kogi born movie role interpreter, pockets between N1.5 million and N2 million per script. While Mercy was pregnant, many movie producers struggled for her baby bum to appear on their movie jacket and they wrote scripts to align with her pregnancy.

Among Mercy’s movies are Baby Oku in America, Obioma, The Slave Girl, Heart of a Fighter, Mud of Hardship, Daniella, Endless Agony, Immaculate Heart, Painful Souls, Weeping Kingdom, and many others.

Mercy Johnson was born on August 28, 1984 and she is married to an Edo prince, Prince Okojie and their union is blessed with a daughter, Purity.

Source:  ENCOMIUM

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Top 10 Richest Nollywood Actresses

1)KATE HENSHAW-NUTTALL-67 MILLION NAIRA

By 2006, she had earned N10 million and the following year, she reached N12 million.

The warm and beautiful star is also a model, a former Glo Ambassador, and face of Onga (brand from Promasidor) and has since earned a whopping N20 million between 2008 and 2010

2)GENEVIEVE NNAJI-64 MILLION NAIRA.

By 2009, she raised the bar and she was paid $25,000 in the blockbuster international hit movie ‘IJE’ produced by Chineze Anyaene.

A model and also a singer, she became the Face of Lux in 2004 and was subsequently involved with Pronto beverage and Omo detergent.

Between 2004 and 2006, she earned a whopping N31.3 million. N14.7 million came from her two-year deal with Lux ($100,000). With no great interest in real estate, she decided to dive into the fashion industry.

She launched her clothing line St. Genevieve in 2008 which is presently being managed by fashion icon Zizi Cardow and is reportedly worth N20 million. There is no doubt that she would have been topping this list with a great margin if she eventually got the Glo deal

She became the first to be contacted by Globacom, but she demanded N50 million while globacom wanted to sign her on for N30 million. She’s reported to have tried later to salvage the deal, but she had already lost it.

3)INI EDO 60 MILLION NAIRA.

She has five buildings to her credit and another one to be completed by the end of the year. Most of the buildings are being rented to tenants.

By 2007, she had earned N15.7 million from movies and her businesses. She has just produced her latest flick ‘Memories Of The Heart’ which will be premiered in the United States.

She is part of the Glo pride pack and is also part of the project to move Nollywood to another level. She is fully involved with Nollywood USA.

4)RITA DOMINIC58 MILLION NAIRA.

In 2004, she won the City Peoples Award as the Most Outstanding Actress. The face of Nokia and the Glo ambassador is also a business woman.

Rita has done well both as an actress and a model. Her assets include landed properties and two homes estimated to be worth over N40 million. 

Between 2008 and 2009, she earned N16million (most of it part of the money coming from Nokia and Glo.) She is about to launch a book and produce her own films.

5)MERCY JOHNSON OKOJIE55 MILLION NAIRA.

By 2008, Mercy Johnson had appeared in fifteen movies and earned N11.4 million from movies alone. The following year, she earned N13 million and she featured in the Emen Isong hit movie ‘Guilty Pleasures’. 

She is also an investor in properties and she is about to complete two houses at the moment. She also owns about six landed properties in Lagos.

6)OMOTALA JALADE EKEINDE 53 MILLION NAIRA.

In 2007, she grossed N9 million. Omotola takes it easy with her life and also has great passion for cars. She drives more expensive cars than any actress in Nollywood and her garage is estimated to be worth N20 million.

The mother, model and musician has recently stepped up her game in the music industry. Her first album ‘Gba’ was her first introduction to the music industry but her sophomore album ‘Me, Myself & Eyes’ has defined her as truly talented. The production and promotion of her album cost her a whopping N13 million.

7)PATIENCE OZOKWO 51 MILLION NAIRA.

The Enugu star is nicknamed ‘Mama G’ in Nollywood. She is the oldest on the list and is notable for her tough roles in movies.

 ‘Mama G’, who is also a musician, has been consistent in the industry and her roles have been raw energy

She is very diverse in her investments but also has several landed properties. She also started business very early.

8)UCHE JUMBO 49.5 MILLION NAIRA.

In 2008, she pocketed N10 million for her slick performances in several movies. The Glo ambassador and model, who earned more than N11 million in 2009, seems unstoppable at the moment.

The year 2011/2012 could see her top this list, since some of her movies are not yet released and the ones being shown in cinemas are still enjoying sold-out status across the continent.

9)MONALISA CHINDA 50 MILLION NAIRA.

Between 2004 and 2008, Monalisa Chinda earned about N25 million. 

The actress and producer is about to release her movie which is already in its final stages. 

She also owns landed properties in choice locations in both Rivers State and Lagos.

10)CHIOMA CHUKWUKA 46 MILLION NAIRA.

The absolutely scandal-free actress in Nollywood has featured in about 70 movies and has raked in millions for herself and family.

She earned N8 million from movies in 2007. In 2008, she also earned a whopping N9 million. She owns two houses and various properties in Lagos and her home state.

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