Nollywood took a major hit in its revenue and plans to such a crippling effect due to the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, but that somehow didn’t stop some of our star actresses to shine brightly and give us some evergreen classics.
This article brings to you 10 of the biggest actresses of 2020 in Nollywood.
Due to the COVID-19, induced lockdown and the closure of cinemas across the country for months, the initial release date of a lot of films was shifted, suspended of suspended.
But thanks to the deal Nollywood struck with some movie streaming platforms {VOD} like Netflix, Showmax were all on hand to save the year, bring us film lovers some of our favourite acts, beautiful stories and cinematic magic amidst the troubles of 2020.
Interestingly, 2020 saw the rise of quite a number of none superstar actors. 2020 the spotlights of these hugely talented Nollywood fast-rising actors came with noteworthy performances in some of the top feature films and series of the year.
In no particular order, here is a list of the top fast-rising actresses of 2020, and are set for big things come 2021;
1. Bisola Aiyeola
2020 has been an all-win year for actress Bisola Aiyeola. From her lead role in Kayode Kasum’s romantic drama, ‘This Lady Called Life’ to debut as a producer as she co-produced the movie ‘Sugarush‘ and went to single-handedly producing the movie ‘Introducing The Kujus’. Bisola Aiyeola was definitely one of the biggest actresses of Nollywood in 2020
2. Sharon Ooja 
Kenneth Gyang’s ‘Oloture’ tops the list of the major productions released this year. With the backing it received from Netflix, the film hit impressive numbers. Its leading lady, Sharon Ooja pushed for a performance which keen followers of her progress over the years will agree is quite out of the norm. It is still arguably one of her biggest features to date.
3. Anthonieta Kalunta
The leading lady in Nigeria’s Oscar 2021 submission, ‘The Milkmaid’ is Anthonieta Kalunta. Interestingly, the Desmond Ovbiagele film is Kalunta’s debut outing as an actor.
4. Ini-Dima Okojie
The last couple of years, leading into 2020 have both being huge in Ini-Dima’s growth as one of the biggest stars of 2020. From her roles in “SGIT”, to Kpali and finally, to her role on Chinaza Onuzo’s movie ‘Who’s the Boss’, in a support lead role along with the veteran like Funke Akindele-Bello, Ini held her own heads high.
5. Idia Aisien
Media personality and Nollywood newcomer Idia, took the stage by storm as she stars in a leading role on her debut movie “Nneka the Pretty Serpent”, as she plays the titular Nneka, embracing her legend as a femme fatale who as a child witnessed the murder of her parents by unknown intruders, haunted by nightmares until her world collides with an underwater being who shapeshifts between a snake and human. Idia Aisien did well to deliver such a surreal remake of one of Nollywood’s evergreen classics. The movie also hasn’t done badly too in the cinemas.
6. Jemima Osunde
Jemima Osunde since her break role in Shuga, she has grown steadily in the industry and in 2020 she finally announced herself holding it down that she’s here to stay for a long time. Her biggest film of 2020 has got to be ‘This Lady Called Life’.
You just can’t help but fall in love with Jemima with her ease of mastery delivery of her roles. 2020 just maybe she didn’t do much but her popularity and her stock grew immensely and that can’t be taken away that’s why she made this list as one of the biggest actresses of Nollywood in 2020.
7. Bukunmi Oluwashina
Well, I don’t think anybody at all that watches Yoruba Nollywood in the country and outside of it at the moment would say they don’t know one it biggest act, Bukunmi Oluwashina from her roles on ‘Coming from Insanity’ to featuring on Toyin Abrahams’ ‘Fate of Alakada’ to her role on Kunle Afolayan’s Citation and finally to ‘Dear Affy’.
She’s just a joy to watch with a subtle ability to deliver her roles. This lady here is here to stay for a long time.
8. Jumoke Odetola
This is yet another of the Yoruba Nollywood genre, and she’s definitely owning her place. The beautiful actress who is popularly known as Mrs Gargantua showed in 2020 that she’s definitely not slowing down anytime soon you’ve just got accept that she’s here to stay with fantastic roles in movies like ‘Ija Ebi’, ‘Oganjo’ and many more.
9. Bimbo Ademoye
This beautiful curvy Nollywood female comic act, is another star of 2020, that has owned her roles and her place in the industry it’s very rare to see a female act come into the industry as comic kept her act. It all comes to her naturally to be stupidly funny and such a hilarious joy to watch. Bimbo has now grown into more serious roles but still somehow finds a way to retain her hilarious acts as seen in her movies of 2020, like ‘Slayqueen‘, ‘The Confessor‘, in ‘Introducing the Kujus’ and finally ‘Dear Affy’.
10. Nancy Isime
Nancy has definitely made that huge transition from one of the countries best TV host and personality to a proper Nollywood star and just can’t help but fall in love with her acts, characters and roles. Her biggest movie yet, which has proven to be such a masterpiece comes in the Kayode Kasum directed movie Kambili: The Whole 30 Yards.
This list was put together in no specific order, it was just a blend of Nollywood’s fastest-rising and biggest actresses of 2020.
Photo Credit: Getty
