Glamsquad reports that Funke Akindele-Bello was named the most popular actress in Nigeria by BET Honours on Sunday, June 20 based on data from a large database of over eight million people.
The award comes exactly a year after the 43-year-old mother of two was named the most popular Nigerian actress by the same award organization using the same criteria.
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The Jenifa actress surpassed Genevieve Nnaji, Ini Edo, Sharon Ooja, and Venita Akpofure to become Nigeria’s most popular actress.
Funke Akindele’s popularity has steadily increased over the last two decades, thanks to a variety of characters that have endeared her to many of her fans.
Funke Akindele-Bello has had tremendous success as an actress, filmmaker, and film-preneur over the last decade as an actor, writer, producer, and entrepreneur.
Omo Ghetto The Saga, the sequel to one of her popular franchises, topped Nigeria’s box office for seven weeks in 2020 and became the highest-grossing Nollywood movie of all time in its fifth week, grossing?636.1 million in total.
This accomplishment follows her big break in acting, which came with her appearances in the popular comedy-drama Jenifa in 2008 and Return Of Jenifa in 2010. With her spin-off series, Jenifa’s Diary, Aiyetoro, Industreet, and Jenifa on Lockdown, Akindele-Bello continues to thrive on the Nollywood scene, leveraging new media and network TV stations.
“Na God, hard work and my fans bring this popularity!” Akindele-Bello said in response to the honors. Chai! I’m fortunate. Thank you very much, Thenetng. Oya #jenifans, let’s keep going o!”
Funke Akindele-Bello is one of the few Nigerian celebrities who has a long list of brands for which she serves as an ambassador. Many brands, from fast-moving consumer goods to telco and real estate, want a taste of Akindele-magic Bello’s wand.
With over 13 million social media followers, the multi-award-winning actress is also one of Nigeria’s highest-paid influencers.
From her early days in the late 1990s to the present, this fantastic filmmaker and actress has grown to become one of Nollywood’s emerging powerhouses in the Nigerian film industry, with numerous accomplishments to her name.
Funke Akindele’s characters include Bisi in ‘I Need to Know, Lefty in Omo Ghetto, Jenifa in Jenifa, Return of Jenifa, and Jenifa’s Diary, and Vivian Aberuagba in My Siblings & I. She is married to entertainer Rasheed Bello aka JJC Skillz.
Funke Akindele wins yet another award
Bisi is a character.
I Need to Know About Production
Year: 1997 – 2002
Funke Akindele, then 19, played Bisi, a curious and nosy young girl, in ‘I Need to Know,’ a Nigerian family-oriented television series that aired on the NTA network for four years. Her portrayal of the character won her many fans, and her face became synonymous with the show. Akindele-role Bello’s distinguished her as an emerging star, and she went on to prove her worth in Nollywood by pitching her tent with the Odunfa caucus, from which she rose to become a film producer after beginning her career as an actress.
Jenifa is the protagonist.
Jenifa’s Diary, Jenifa’s Production
2008, 2011, and so on.
Funke Akindele successfully rooted her feet in the world of film between 2002, when the I Need to Know series ended, and 2008, when she produced a couple under her Scene One productions. Funke Akindele-fortunes Bello’s changed for the better in 2008, when she was cast as the lead actress in Jenifa, a Nigerian comedy-drama film. Akindele’s character rose to prominence, earning the film four nominations at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2008. Two years after the film’s success, Akindele-Bello released a sequel to the Jenifa franchise in 2011. Jenifa was born, and Akindele-fan Bello’s base grew exponentially. The character evolved into Jenifa’s Diary, which is now one of Nigerian television’s most popular family shows.
Lefty is a character.
Omo Ghetto Productions
Year: 2010
After making a name for herself in Nollywood, primarily through Yoruba-speaking films, and producing the hit comedy-drama Jenifa, Funke struck gold again in 2010 with the production of Omo Ghetto, a Nigerian crime comedy-drama film. Akindele-Bello collaborated with Eniola Badmus and Bimbo Thomas, who had previously appeared in Jenifa, to play the lead characters in the film, which was directed by Abiodun Olarenwaju. Lefty became yet another film character who won her fans and critics over during her 24-year career. Akindele-Bello decided to revisit Lefty’s story with a sequel to Omo Ghetto in 2020. The sequel went on to become the highest-grossing Nollywood movie of all time in its fifth week, grossing?636.1 million cumulatively over a 12-week run in the cinema.
Vivian Aberuagba is the protagonist.
My siblings and I are in charge of production.
Year: 2019 to the present
With the success of Akindele-Scene Bello’s One productions, which has evolved into a production powerhouse as well as a streaming platform, she became the toast of fans while turning others green with envy. This Ikorodu, Lagos state native decided to collaborate with Multichoice’s Africa Magic to create a family-oriented series. My Siblings & I, the result of the collaboration, premiered in 2019 and became an instant hit. Akindele-Bello quickly distinguished herself as Vivian Aberuagba, the wife of one of the Aberuagba’s sons. Her character in the instant hit TV series endeared many to Funke Akindele-personality, Bello’s earning her the title of Nigeria’s most popular actress for two years in a row.