See The Top 5 Overused Actors In Nollywood (Photos)

Since its inception in the nineties, we have seen many stars come and go in Nollywood. However, there are some, who to our joy and sometimes our dismay have been consistent on our screens. Efeturi Doghudje shares a list of Nollywood stars who she feels deserve a long break away from any set.
Against all odds, I have been reviewing Nollywood movies for the last two years and have been inundated with not only downright horrible productions but also some that gave me goose bumps. The latter types give me hope at the fact that Nigerians can do a good job once we put our minds to it and with right amount of resources.
I have also seen loads of performances from actors that prove that they do not deserve to be in their chosen profession. Some come highly overrated while there are those who display the skill but unfortunately have not gotten that big break they truly deserve.
With Nigerian and Ghanaian films being produced at the rate of a dime a dozen, it is not surprising that some actors whether deserving or not are used more often than they should. Before some of these actors have had a chance to say ‘jacko,’ they have been cast in another role that may or may not be similar to a role they have just played; who am I kidding, most times roles are similar.
Anyway, what this does to audiences, whether producers or movie marketers realize it or not, is make us tune out.
After watching at best 300-500 movies and reviewing almost 250 of them, there is this exhaustion I feel at seeing the same faces over and over again with little or no changes in role characterization.
So here is my list, from bottom to top, of the most over-used actors in Nollywood/Ghollywood based on how frequently they have interpreted the same roles in different movies:

5. Bukky Wright & Fathia Balogun

Bukky Wright and Fathia Balogun

The duo of Bukky Wright & Fathia Balogun are very popular in the Yoruba Movie industry. In fact they can be termed Queens of the Yoruba movies. They have been in the game for 20 years plus and have also gone ahead to produce some of these movies. Starring in well over 250 films, Wright & Balogun have shared the screen with actors both in English and Yoruba genres.
4. Alexx Ekubo

Alexx Ekubo

Born Alex Ekubo-Okwaraeke; he is both an actor and a model who was also the first runner up at the 2010 Mr. Nigeria contest. He won the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award at the 2013 Best of Nollywood Awards for his role in the Weekend Getaway and since then, there has been no holding back. Once a darling of the Royal Arts Academy, Alex has played muse to the many movies from the stable of the Academy, so much so, I can’t tell the difference in his roles in ‘Lagos Cougar’, Champagne and 2nd Honeymoon.
3. Uche Jombo

Uche Jombo

Before her maternity leave, Uche was a triple dose – actress, producer and writer. Jombo ventured into the Nigerian movie industry in 1999 and has over sixty movies to her credit. As a screenwriter, she has written and co-written several movies which she has also starred in, making her one of the known faces we cannot get away from. While we wait anxiously for your return, can you cut the silver screen some slack and be picky when it comes to the roles?

2. Patience Ozokwor

Patience Ozokwor

After her first movie in 1998, Patience has not looked back, starring in over 300 movies. She has played the role of mother, good and bad to almost every prominent actor in Nollywood, earning her a spot on this countdown.
1. Majid Michel

Majid is no stranger to both Nigerian and Ghanaian movies, so much that it’s being totally exhausting watching him. At a point, he was also a poster child for the Royal Arts Academy and seemed to be the go to person for most of the Nigerian movies produced in 2014. Michel became a Nigerian household name as a result of the contract Frank Rajah Arase signed introducing him into mainstream Nollywood film industry. He is a winner of the 2012 Best Actor in a Leading role at the African Movie Academy Awards after being nominated three times.
Have you experienced this exhaustion I speak about? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Efeturi Doghudje

Efeturi Doghudje is a film critic, with a major focus on Nollywood. She blogs at xplorenollywood.com.
Source: Naij

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