If you call these category of actors old timers, you may not be wrong. This is because they have all taken the back seat to pave the way for the new crop of actors in the Nollywood industry. Some have dropped their acting career for marriages, while others have diversified into other means of earning a livelihood. The Eagle Online x-rays these set of professionals, who have contributed in no small measure to the movie industry in Nigeria through their acting prowess.
Regina Askia
Regina Askia was one of the most controversial personalities in the Nigeria movie industry in the late 90s. Askia was on top of her career in the industry with several flicks in her kitty before she relocated to the United States of America with her husband. The beautiful and vivacious mother of four is now a trained nurse in the United States of America. The Akwa Ibom State born actress is reported to have quit her marriage but still looking after her kids.
Sandra Achums
Sandra Achums now lives in Germany where she runs her businesses aside picking up occasional showbiz roles. The Dormitilla fame actress ended her acting career in the movie industry when she relocated to Germany in the 90s with her ex-husband.
Achums, recently, was said to be shuttling between Germany and Nigeria in order to re-register her face on Nollywood but she later stopped to attend to other businesses.
Caroline Ekanem Danjuma
Beautiful and endowed Caroline Ekanem Danjuma is married to Musa Danjuma, a young upward mobile guy from the Theophilus Danjuma dynasty. Her hubby ordered her to forget acting if she wants to get married. And she moved on.
Cossy Orjiakor
If there is anyone who redefined the movie landscape with sex roles, Cossy Orjiakor did. And she did it with pride. The fact that she comes from a respectable background also gave it a big boost as fans swarmed around her like bees, wondering what the matter was. Orjiakor’s first role in this direction came in Sunny Mc Don’s Shattered Homes, where she exposed her big breasts, igniting a war of boobs in the industry. Orjiakor has remained undaunted. She has gone ahead to prove that she flaunts it because she has it. But now, she does more of musical videos than flicks. It is not certain if more than a few will remember that she became a pubic face through Nollywood. She recently released her musical video.
Eucharia Anunobi
Controversial actress and mother of one, Eucharia Anunobi, some have argued has been swept off the screen by the emergence of the likes of Tonto Dikeh, Chika Ike and the rest. But before these new generation actresses evolved, Nollywood would never forget what the likes of Anunobi were able to do when it came to sex roles. Her bathroom scene with Zack Orji in Glamour Girls 2 will continue to be a reference point. It, perhaps, shaped Anunobi and brought so much money the was of NEK Videos, the producers of the movie. But Anunobi has more than new competition as reason for her exit from active Nollywood roles. She chose the path of God. She is now an Evangelist. She was inaugurated last year at a pentecostal church in Egbeda area of Lagos State.
Shan George
Shan George is regarded as one of the old faces in the industry who has been forced to the back stage. George came into the Nollywood from a fashion background and later tried her hands on producing shortly after. But it was not a huge success, which was why she went back to the drawing board and re-launched her acting career with Chico Ejiro’s Outcast, a flick where she exposed her essential parts. The role was so significant for the actress and the producers. It reportedly fetched George N250,000, a choice fee at that time. The table has turned against her as she has lost touch in the industry. Late last year, she produced a flick entitled Goodluck Jonathan, all in a bid to re-launch her presence but this yielded nothing and George relocated to her country home, Calabar, to take care of her sick mother.
Saint Obi
Obinna Nwafor, better known as Saint Obi, has been off the screen for many years following his new vocation. Obi reportedly edged himself out deliberately when he discovered most of the producers have resorted to using the new actors rather than the old ones. Obi is said to be enjoying the comfort zone of his wife, Lynda Nwafor, the General Manager, Network Planning, MTN. The Eastern born actor is now a big time contractor, courtesy of his wife.
Ejike Asiegbu
The charismatic ex-President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ejike Asiegbu, is now more into politics than his first love, acting. Asiegbu picked interest in politics after his tenure as the AGN president. Politics is the major reason the baritone voice actor and controversial film maker dumped his movie career.
Hilda Dokubo
Popular Nollywood actress, Hilda Dokubo, has been off the screen for many years because of her political appointment in Rivers State. Dokubo staged a come back a year ago in a movie titled, Stigma. Those who have watched the movie said she has not lost none of her charisma and acting skills.
Chidi Mokeme
This tall and huge actor has dumped acting for better businesses. Mokeme has taken delight in anchoring The Gulder Ultimate Search, a popular reality television show in Nigeria. You can hardly spot him in major films now except the old ones.
Dakore Egbuson Akande
Former face of Amstel, Dakore, is married to Olumide Akande, one of the sons of Harry Akande, a billionaire business mogul. Egbuson was also given a standing order to forget her first love, acting, if she wanted to get married. Dakore and Akande, who tied the nuptial knots last year January after a long courtship, met through a mutual friend. Egbuson was a very good actress during her formative years.
Kate Henshaw
Kate Henshaw, whose marriage to Nuttal, a Briton crashed last year, is also one of the actresses that fall into that category. She has paid her dues in the industry and she is still a very good actress. Henshaw concentrates more on endorsement jobs than any other thing. And she is smiling to the banks as a result of this.
Stella Damasus
Widowed screen goddess, Stella Damasus, has since quit active film making but only selects good scripts that are meaningful. You can hardly see Damasus in new films now because of her other engagements. She is termed as the most controversial actresses in the industry because of her alleged sex exploits with powerful Nigeria men.
Emeka Ike
Controversial actor, Emeka Ike, announced his own retirement when he discovered the industry no longer favours him. Ike has always wanted to control the Actors Guild of Nigeria but loses each time he contests. The Anambra State born actor may never smell the presidency of the guild because of his altitude, some of his colleagues have said.