Happy
New Year guys and welcome to a warm and fulfilling 2014.
2013
witnessed loads of changes and differences in the Nigerian movie industry, for
one, Xplorenollywood came into your lives (yay!!!), Nollywood celebrated 20
years, new directors and directions for the industry came into play, actors and
actresses decided to take risks which paid off for some and the industry witness
the surge of iROKOtv, MTN dobox and all those other sites that enables viewers
in the Diaspora watch our movies and home grown talent.
So, as
we usher in 2014, Xplore would like to present to you, 14 hottest upcoming
actors and actresses to look out for in the year:
14. Bobby
Obodo
Born
and raised in Warri, Delta state, Bobby had his first acting experience in 2011
from the Royal Arts Production ‘Weekend Getaway (basically, he was handed
the role). Although it wasn’t the first movie Xplore had
reviewed of his that made him top this list, he was cast in ‘Misplaced’ and seemed pretty down-to-earth and at peace
with his character. With the ever demanding times and roles, Bobby needs
classes in acting and etiquette. Being an activist, doesn’t necessarily say I
can act, so he does need to horn those skills. Using a set of cutleries seems
daunting, from the roles we have reviewed, and if he is to play an affluent role,
it doesn’t make any sense that he can’t eat properly with cutleries. Hopefully,
for the year 2014, Bobby will be able to give us more than a ton bod, an accent
and tattoos.
13. Daniel Lloyd
The Bayelsan
born graduate of Enugu State University of Science and Technology and former
Manager to music crooner Timaya, came into the Nigerian movie scene in 2006. After
attending an audition four times, he was giving the lead role character for
J.U.D.E a movie shot in India, but hey, that hasn’t been seen or reviewed. Daniel’s
makes the cut because of his roles in Rukky Sander’s ‘Love Lorn’ and ‘In Her
Shoes’ (movies that have been reviewed) roles
he handled okay. Daniel shows great potential asides been a pretty boy and
having 35 movies to his credit, but Xplore and the public in general in 2014
are looking forward to seeing him in more challenging roles that bring out his inner
talent.
IK
Ogbonna (actually spelt Ikay, LOL!!!) caught Xplore’s attention as a music
presenter on MITV, at that time, he needed to horn his skills in presenting to
become better. Fast forward a couple of years, a stint with Amstel Malta Box
Office in 2005, a modeling gig with Glo Networks and other brands, a course in
New York Film School and viola, he is allegedly one of the fastest raising
Nollywood actors at the moment. He caught our attention yet again in ‘Love
Lorn’ a Rukky Sanders Production as well as ‘A Wish’ and we must say it wasn’t
too shabby. Ikay shows great promise knowing fully well that only looks don’t
work in the industry. He needs to put his back into the game, work on
delivering to his roles and also, hire a voice coach to help with his
stammering(Samuel L Jackson and Tom Cruise did it, I bet you
can).
The all-round
entertainer born in the eighties started his entertainment journey in 2000 as a
model. He was a musical artist with the defunct boy band G-Xploits and ventured
into acting in 2006, when he entered for the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO2)
show and made it to top ten. He honed his innate acting skills under the
tutelage of Nigeria's finest veteran, Sam Dede and hasn’t looked back ever
since. Okey caught Xplore’s attention in ‘Lekki Wives’ where he played
Lovette’s boyfriend and it was an impressive performance. He’s been in other
productions and we dear say, he’s going places if he keeps this up.
This 35
year old British born Nigerian made her debut into the Nigerian film industry in
2006 in Obi Emeonye’s ‘Ebony’ starring alongside Judi Shekoni and Jim Iyke.
However, her acting career began with a London based acting group called ‘The
association of multinational performing Artists,’ where she featured in a
number of stage plays and in house productions. Although she has 10 films or more to her
credit, we didn’t notice Uru until we watch movies like ‘Last Flight to Abuja’
and reviewed ‘Weekend Getaway.’ On this list, however, she’s the only one with
foreign acting skills/training, has been featured on CNN’s ‘Inside Africa,’ has
her own website and a production company (only her bah?) Just shows, she’s in
the industry for the long hull. Xplore feels, Uru is basically untapped and
even though she hasn’t said, it, she hasn’t had that script that is worth her
salt and would challenge her. Here’s hoping that 2014 will be a promising year
for her as she lights up our screens.
Yvonne
Nelson, the 28 year old Ghanaian actress, model, film producer and entrepreneur
who was more in lyrics of songs than actual films, (we kid)
drew our attention with her production of movie ‘The
Single and Married.’ That movie marked the beginning of XplorenolIywood and we
do appreciate her. She’s stared in other movies, both Ghanaian and Nigerian
after that but there’s something lacking in her delivery to her roles and we doubt
if she’s challenging herself much. While she believes she’s great in her own right
(everyone thinks that dear), we believe,
that Yvonne has talent that if harnessed properly, she will deliver (more training), no
holds barred. She’s the second person on my list with a production company as
well so she isn’t taking prisoners.
Keira
caught our attention as Peace the born again, bible quoting wife who didn’t pay
attention to her husband’s sexual needs, in ‘Lekki Wives.’ It was an enjoyable
performance and we longed to see her in other productions. That wish came
through when we watched and reviewed her performance in Uche Jumbo’s production
of ‘Lies Men Tell’ and then it became clearer, she needed some help. She has
been likened to Mercy Johnson in recent times, but we doubt if they play in the
same space. We would like to see Keira in different roles asides being noisy
and challenge herself to do better in 2014.
Fine boy, Dike… Came
into limelight through his association with Uti Nwachukwu, after his BBA win.
As we prepare this list, getting information about Alex on the web is hard.
Anyhoo, he caught our attention when we watched and reviewed ‘Love Lorn’. He
was husband to Tonto Dike and their chemistry was wowed!!! It wasn’t an Oscar
performance, but we watched him with keen interested and picked up a copy of
‘In the Cupboard’ a movie I wasn’t so enthusiastic about. He brought comic
relief to Royal Arts Production of ‘Weekend Getaway,’ as Dike and it seems like
he has found a home in Nigerian film industry, but we must add this, 2014, Mr.
Okubo must be a year of doing things differently. Set up a website/blog, having
some media/publicity activities and get your information out there dude and by
all means, think outside the box.
The
Medical Doctor turned actress was born in Lagos. She started acting in primary
and secondary school and went on to study medicine at the University of Lagos.
She began her professional acting career in 2011 in the television series
‘Behind the Smile’ but caught our attention in ‘Lekki Wives’ playing the role
of Lovette. She was ruthless, bitchy and funny at the same time, and her character
was totally enjoyable. I also watched ‘Married but Living Single’ a movie that
came out before Lekki Wives and it became clearer where her character as
Lovette came from. Kiki shows great promise and we like how she’s been
selective with her roles and appearances. We hope to see her some more this
year in much more challenging roles.
Former
Mr. Nigeria and 3rd Runner up Mr. World, Kenneth Okolie grab Xplore’s
attention when he played a lover boy in Uche Jumbo’s production ‘Mrs.
Somebody,’ a movie that was a cliché for me but Kenneth and Belinda made a cute
couple. He resurfaced again in ‘Desperate Housegirls’ and ‘Lonely Hearts’. So
let us interject, Kenneth has shown himself as the new Nollywood lover man,
ranking tops with the likes of Jim and Ramsey… But like we mentioned at the
beginning of this list, we need characters that are dynamic in the Nollywood
mix, so for 2014, we wish to see you in roles other than that of lover man!!!
Belinda,
has a facial expressions that make us sigh!!! Born in Calabar, Cross Rivers
State, Belinda joined the industry between 2005 and 2006. After participating
in the television reality show ‘Next Movie Star’ she thought she had arrived
but, she had another thing coming. Her story changed when she teamed up with
award winning producer Emem Isong and her Writer sister Uduak Ogumanam. She featured in their movies and got nominated
and won for her role in ‘Kokomma.’ We watched and reviewed Belinda in ‘Lonely
Hearts’ and we have seen her in little roles in other movies and all we can say
is Xplore needs to watch and review ‘Kokomma’ to appreciate her acting skills.
She however has the whole of 2014 to put her best foot forward and truly dance
with the stars.
Born
August 2, 1982, Uti won season 5 of the BBA reality show. Now Uti has tried it
all, he was in the ‘The Next Movie Star’, ‘Gulder Ultimate Search’ he’s a model
and finally he put in for BBA reality show. Xplore believes Uti is
multi-talented, his ability to pull off various accents is a gift and we enjoy
him on ‘Jara’. His acting though!!! Uti can’t go through a role without
screaming and that isn’t a talent. Although he’s attained an award or two for his
acting, he still needs to better himself and shoot for the stars in 2014.
Challenging himself with roles that are actually tasking and daring.
Tamara
Eteimo the University of Port Harcourt graduate of theatre arts won ‘The Next
Movie’ star reality show and there has been no turning back. With her
aspirations set on acting alongside Denzel, Xplore caught her on ‘Desperate
Housegirls’ and there was something about her acting drew us to her. Asides a
good command of English, she carried herself in an appreciative manner and
delivered to her role beautifully. Here’s hoping 2014 will be totally awesome
for her as we look forward to more roles with her in them.
Wow! We are at number 1… Born, July 15, 1981, O.C has been a force to reckon with in Nollywood dishing out one outstanding performance after another. He began his career in acting from the University of Lagos, participated in the Amstel Malta Box Office, won and the world is his oyster. Unlike most of his predecessors who won the reality show, OC has been the most successful and most talked about. OC caught our attention in ‘Two Brides and a Baby’ but hey! I fell asleep before the movie ended but his reviews and awards don’t lie and well, he’s likable. So big-ups to you OC, as we plan to watch and review more of your movies in 2014.
So there you have it, if you favorite upcoming act isn’t here, please feel free to drop your names in the comments section.
Note: The list is based on the following parameters, which include movies Xplore have reviewed; acting style, number of movies stared in as well as opportunities to horn ones acting skills.
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