Xtra Terrestrial: Regina Askia

Regina Askia is the ex-beauty queen who brought glitz and glamour to Nollywood from the mid-90s to the early 2000s before she left the scene. Although not widely regarded for her acting ability, her outfits and accent (which critics referred to as ‘phoney’) ensured that fans looked forward to seeing her grace the screen.

Like most celebrities, she had her fair share of bad press and was embroiled in a number of controversies, which made headlines, especially her marriage to Charles Orie, an Igbo businessman, which lasted only a few months.

Speaking about some of the scandals that have trailed her on her web site recently, she said, “For the longest time, I was an unending source of controversy. The Nigerian paparazzi and I never quite got along.”

Regina started out as a model (Kessingsheen Hair Care, Visine Eye Drops, and most recently, 2000-N-Six Cleansing range alongside her daughter Stephanie in 2007) and a beauty queen (Miss Unilag 1988 and Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 1989) before she launched her acting career.

Super star

The leggy beauty got her big break on the 1993 soap opera Fortunes, where she played the sassy, nasty, gold-digging Tokunbo Johnson. The role earned the young actress critical accl aim, shooting her to super stardom.

Shortly afterwards, as the home video industry began it’s growth spurt, a home video sequel to the soap opera titled Dark Goddess was released, although it failed to replicate the series’ success.

However, the movie scripts still came pouring in and she soon found herself starring in quite a number of films including Full Moon, Veno and The President’s Daughter.

Her stand out role remains the 1997 movie Most Wanted which was fashioned after the Hollywood heist movie, Set It Off. In the movie she played Cleopatra, leader of an all female armed robbery gang, alongside Ayo Adesanya and Ibinabo Fiberesima.

Reminiscing about her days in Nollywood she said, “I got a mixed bag of reviews especially as I was the rave as a beauty queen at the same time. My works flew off the shelves, the audience asked for more, the paparazzi had a field day and the critics launched mercilessly.

"I liked to think it made them feel good about themselves.”

Back to earth

The University of Lagos Biology graduate whose roles have included television producer, presenter, model and actress relocated to the United States where she is now based with her African-American husband, Rudolph Williams, abandoning the limelight for family life.

Although there’s a new crop of actresses who have since filled the gap since her exit, she will still be remembered as the original Nollywood screen siren.

Information on her web site, Reginaaskiawilliams.com reveals that she is still involved in the entertainment industry combining different roles in marketing, public relations, television production and some acting as well.

Most recently, she’s taken on the role of medical assistant at the College of Staten Island, New York, as well as MaryKay Beauty Consultant. She is living proof that there is indeed life after Nollywood.

Additional information: REGINAASKIAWILLIAMS.COM