Osas Ighodaro
Nigerian-American actress
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Osariemen Martha Elizabeth Ighodaro, better known as Osas Ighodaro, is a Nigerian-American actress, television host and philanthropist. She won the 2010 Miss Black USA Pageant and founded the Joyful Joy Foundation, a fundraising organization for malaria.[1] Ighodaro 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.
- Actress
- television host
Osas Ighodaro | |
|---|---|
Ighodaro at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in Lagos (2014) | |
| Born | Osariemen Martha Elizabeth Ighodaro New York, United States |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | See below |
| Website | Official website |
Early life and background
Ighodaro was born 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
Ighodaro 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.
Ighodaro co-hosted The Headies 2022, The Headies 2023, 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards and the family show Maltina Dance All.
Osas Ighodaro won Best Actress in a Drama at the 2022 and 2023 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for her performances in *Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story* and *Man of God*, respectively, highlighting her continued critical success in Nollywood.[5]
Personal life
Ighodaro was married to Gbenro Ajibade in June 2015 and had their first child in 2016.[6] They divorced shortly after.[7]
Filmography
Film
| 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 | [8] |
| 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 | Drama | |
| Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story | Amara | ||
| Ratnik | Sarah Bello | ||
| 2021 | Namaste Wahala | Preemo | [9] |
| Mamba's Diamond | Eloho | Action | |
| Keeping Promise | Teni | Drama | |
| Bad Comments | Hilda | Comedy | |
| The Ghost and the Tout Too | Amoke | Comedy / Fantasy | |
| Who Lived at Number 6 | Dimma | Drama | |
| 2022 | Man of God | Teju | [10][11] |
| Knee Down | Ese | [12] | |
| Single Not Searching | Kai | [13][14] | |
| Conversations in Transit | Adeola | [15] | |
| 2023 | Love, Lust and Other Things | Lydia Danjuma | [16][17] |
| 3 Cold Dishes | Esosa | [18][19][20][21] | |
| 2024 | When Love Strikes | Tinuke | [22] |
| Olufemi | Kareemat | ||
| Someone Like You | Ciarra | Drama | |
| Breakthrough | Ada | ||
| Safari | Nkiru |
Television
| 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[23] | Zuri | Main cast
9 episodes | |
| 2021 | King of Boys: The Return of the King | Sade Bello | Recurring cast |
Theatre
| 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
| Year | Event | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Miss Black USA Pageant | Miss Black USA 2010 | Won | [24] | |
| 2014 | ELOY Awards | Actress of the Year - TV | Tinsel | Won | [25] |
| 2015 | Green October La Mode Magazine Awards | Humanitarian Award | Joyful Joy Foundation | Won | [26] |
| ELOY Awards | Brand Ambassador of the Year | Polo Avenue; Konga.com | Won | [27] | |
| Actress of the Year - Film | The Department | Nominated | |||
| 2016 | Golden Movie Awards | Golden Supporting Actress | ''Gbomo Gbomo Express | Nominated | [28] |
| 2016 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Supporting Actress of The Year | Won | [29] | ||
| 2021 | Best of Nollywood Awards | Best Actress in a Lead Role | Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story | Nominated | [30] |
| 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] |