Nigerian screen queen

In the Beginning

Nollywood actress, Stephanie Okereke landed her first acting roles in the 1997 movies Compromise and Waterloo. Over the years, the Imo State-born actress has grown to become one of Nigeria's foremost actresses, having featured in over a hundred movies.

She got her big break in 2003 in the movie Emotional Crack, which earned her two awards (out of eight nominations) at the Reel Awards for the Best Actress, English and Actress of The Year. The following year, Emotional Crack premiered at the African Film Festival in the United States.

This opened the door to many opportunities for the actress. As a result, Hollywood came calling in 2005 and the beautiful actress auditioned for a role in The Good Shepherd, which featured Robert DeNiro, but an unfortunate car accident on her way to the AMAA awards in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State hindered her chances of appearing in the film.

Ups & Downs

The actress, who is also a model, was the second runner-up in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria contest in 2002, which was won by Chineye Akinlade nee Ochuba. Despite the fame, the English and Literary Studies graduate of the University of Calabar has had her own fair share of problems and scandal.

In 2007, the leggy actress called it quits with her husband of two years, Chikelue Iloenyosi, a former player with the Nigerian national football team, who nursed her after her 2005 accident. Okereke was able to bounce back after the incident and she landed a role in the MNET sponsored series, Snitch, shot in South Africa in 2006. She played a Nigerian undercover agent in the series.

Taking Control

Having trained at the New York Film Academy, the talented actress cut her teeth as a director, scriptwriter and producer last year with the movie Through the Glass. The movie, shot in the US, featured a Nigerian and American cast. During the movie premiere last year, it was a double celebration for the Nollywood star as she also received an Award of Recognition from the California Legislature Assembly and launched her clothing line "The SO Collection."

With several awards in her kitty, Stephanie Okereke is one actress, who is set to leave a lasting impression on Nollywood and beyond.