Once in a while, a Nigerian TV series airs that has everyone hooked to their television screens. For that to happen, you need captivating talent. Nollywood actors who play their roles so well that we sometimes forget to separate them from their on-screen personalities.
When Tinsel came in 2008, we had no idea it would give us a bevvy of people who showed their skills and stole the hearts of many. As the series gears up for its 3000th episode on January 21, 2020, we take a look at 10 amazing talents whose Nollywood career took off from the soap opera.
- Damilola Adegbite:
Although she was first seen on Super Story, Adegbite got her big fame when she played Telema Duke on ‘Tinsel‘. Afterwards, she starred in several movies such as ‘Flower Girl’, ‘Isoken’, ‘Banana Island Ghost’, ‘Coming From Insanity’ and more. She won Best Actress in a TV Series at the 2011 Nigeria Entertainment Awards thanks to her acting role in Tinsel.
- Gbenro Ajibade:
Ajibade is a model and presenter whose acting career hit off as a Nollywood Stars with his leading role in the popular soap, Tinsel. Since then, he has appeared in movies such as Gbomo Gbomo Express, 10 Days in Sun City, Hip Hop Holiday, Cold Calm and more. In 2020, he won Honourable Mention for Best Lead Actor at the American Golden Picture International Film Festival.
- Linda Ihuoma Ejiofor:
Ejiofor made her debut as one of the Nollywood Stars with her role as Bimpe Adekoya on Tinsel. After that step, she made several appearances on TV shows such as NdaniTV’s Rumour Has It and Flat 3B. She has also acted in movies like The Meeting, Out of Luck, Kpali and more. She won Best Supporting Actress at the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
- Ibrahim Suleiman:
Suleiman wasn’t always an actor. He was a dancer for 11 years before he ventured into Nollywood. He was part of the crew, ‘Soul Quest’, who won the first Malta Guinness Street Dance National Championship in 2008. He had also appeared in several TV commercials for different brands like MTN, GT Bank amongst others.
Tinsel was his first acting job and it shot him into the limelight. He recently played the host of the Africa Magic reality TV Series Love Come Back. He’s also a graphic designer and an architect. A real Jack of all trades.
- Osas Ighodaro:
Osas is a Nigerian-American model, host and actor. Ighodaro wasn’t new to acting as she had starred in the American series Meet The Browns and Conviction. But she got her breakout role in Nollywood on Tinsel playing the role of Adanna, which also earned her an Actress of the Year – TV award at ELOY Awards 2014.
She has gone on to star in several movies such as Gbomo Gbomo Express, New Money, King of Boys, Your Excellency and many more. Her most recent movie appearance is her role as Amara in Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story. Osas is also a brand ambassador to several brands.
- Joseph Benjamin:
Benjamin is an actor, voiceover artist, model and singer who launched into Nollywood fame for his role in Tinsel. Although he appeared on TV shows like Edge of Paradise and Super Story, it was Tinsel that shone the light as one of the Nollywood stars.
He has since starred in movies such as Kiss And Tell, Tango With Me, Mr and Mrs, Married But Living Single, Murder and Prime Suites and more. He co-hosted MTN’s Project Fame and has won several awards including ‘African Actor of the Year’ at 2012 African Film Awards, Best Lead Actor at 2012 Best of Nollywood Awards and Best Actor in a Lead Role at the 2012 Nollywood Movies Award.
- Blossom Chukwujekwu:
No one can deny Blossom’s passion for acting and the world took notice on Tinsel when he played Dr Akinlolu Hart. After he appeared on Tinsel, Chukwujekwu appeared on several TV shows such as Shuga, My Mum and I, CATWALQ, About To Wed and more.
He has also played pivotal roles in movies like Flower Girl, Knocking On Heaven’s Door, A Place Called Happy, Okafor’s Law and most recently Oloture. In 2015, he won Best Supporting Actor at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
- Femi Jacobs:
Before we met him as the gentle husband to a prim and proper woman in The Visit, Jacobs showed us how good of an actor he was during his time on TV series Tinsel as Eddie Edoma.
After Tinsel, he went on to star in movies like The Meeting, Journey To Self, The Blindspot, Just Married and more. In 2015, he won Best Actor in a Comedy at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for his role in The Meeting and has received several nominations in similar categories.
- Iyke Okechukwu:
Okechukwu started in Nollywood in 2002, appearing on the kiddies show called Funtime. After that, he also made appearances on the soap ‘Wetin Dey’ which endeared some Nigerians to his slightly younger-looking face.
But it was Tinsel that sealed the deal when he embodied the role of Chuks, who many Nigerians related to because of his earnest drive to make a good life for himself and his family. It was on Tinsel that he also met his spouse who, coincidentally, also played his love interest on the show.
- Matilda Obaseki-Mozia:
Although Obaseki began her career in 2007, even appearing in the TV series ‘US’, she is one of the Nollywood stars who gained widespread popularity while playing the lead role in Tinsel. Sometimes, it’s difficult to see her as anyone but Angela Dede. Her portrayal of the character is part of what keeps people coming back for more. Since “Tinsel,” Obaseki has featured in ‘A Place in the Stars’, ‘Hurt Within’ and ‘Children Of Mud’.
The 3000th episode of the popular soap opera, Tinsel, airs on January 21, 2021, at 7:30 pm (WAT) on Africa Magic Showcase (DStv channel 151).