11 Internationally known Nigerian females you never knew were part Nigerian

SOPHIE OKONEDO

Sophie is a British actress born to a Nigerian father, Henry Okonedo and a Jewish mother, Joan nee Allman. Popularly known for her role in top movies such as After Earth, Hotel Rwanda. She also acted in the TV series ‘Doctor Who’. In 1991, she made her acting debut in the British drama, Young Soul Rebels. The award winning actress who keeps soaring high in her career was nominated for an Oscar. In 2010, she was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for her services to drama. Sophie, a graduate of Cambridge University is also a single mother of one.

ASHLEY MADEKWE

An English actress born to a Nigerian father and British mother. Ashley is popularly known for her role in the ABC drama series ‘Revenge’. She is married to English actor, Iddo Goldberg.

UZOMAKA NWANEKA ADUBA

Hollywood actress, Uzo Aduba is born to Nigerian parents. She is popular for her role in the hit series ‘Orange Is the New Black’. In August 2014, Uzo Aduba won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in Los Angeles.

SHIRLEY BASSEY

She is a Welsh singer born to Nigerian father, Henry Bassey and English mother, Eliza Jane Start. Born on January 8, 1937. Shirley Bassey is well known for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever. She is also one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during her time who was awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1999 by Queen Elizabeth II.

HOPE OLAIDE WILSON

Hope Olaide Wilson is of the Nigerian Yoruba tribe descent. She moved to the United States in 1996, and has featured in Tyler Perry’s movies ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself’, ‘After the Dark and Faith & Dreams’ amongst others. Hope speaks English, French, and Yoruba fluently and has won the 2009 Diversity Awards Female ‘Nova’ Award Recipient for promising talent.

ADEPERO ODUYE

This beautiful Nigerian-American actress has featured in movies like 12 Years A Slave, Alike in Pariah (2011) TV series, Law & Order amongst others. She has several awards to her name including a nomination for Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.

TOKS OLAGUNDOYE

Born in Lagos to a Norwegian mother and a Nigerian father, Toks Olagundoye is known for her role as Jackie Joyner-Kersee in the TV sitcom ‘The Neighbors’.

SADE ADU

The 58 year old American R&B singer, and Grammy award winner, Helen Folasade Adu was born on January 16, 1959 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. When Sade was 11 years old, she moved to Holland-on-Sea, Essex, to live with her mother, then she later moved to London and studied fashion design at Saint Martin’s School of Art before she started singing. She is best known for her hit song ‘Sweetest Taboo.’

TRACY IFEACHOR

Tracy is a British-Nigerian television and theatre actress best known for playing in the “Aya Al-Rashid” in “CW TV series ‘Originals‘.

CARMEN ELIZABETH EJOGO

Ejogo was born in 1973 in London and began her career as a teenager. With a Nigerian Father and Scottish mother, British actress has featured in ‘What’s the Worst That Could Happen?’, ‘The Purge: Anarchy‘, ‘Selma‘and ‘Fantastic; Beast and where to find them”. She has received several awards, including a nomination for Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.

CAROLINE CHIKEZIE

Caroline was born in England to Nigerian parents but was sent to boarding school in Nigeria at a point in her life. She chose acting to taking over her father’s hospital in Nigeria. So far, the actress has featured in ‘Holby City,’ ‘Casualty,’ ‘Babymother,’ ‘ As If ,’ ‘Judas Kiss,’ ‘Free Fall‘, ‘Torchwood’, ‘Cyberwoman“,’ ‘Supernatural,’ and ‘Brothers and Sisters.