Stephanie Okereke Linus
Nigerian actress
Stephanie Okereke Linus (born as Stephanie Onyekachi Okereke ;[ 1] 2 October 1982)[ 2] [ 3] is a Nigerian actress,[ 4] film director and model . She has received several awards and nominations for her work as an actress , including the 2003 Reel Award for Best Actress, the 2006 Afro Hollywood Award for Best Actress, and three nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2005, 2009 and 2010.[ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] She was also the runner up for the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria beauty pageant of 2002.[ 9] In 2011, she was honoured by the Nigerian government with a national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic , MFR.[ 10]
Early life
Stephanie Okereke was born in Ngor Okpala , Imo State . She is the sixth child of Mary and Chima Okereke's eight children. She completed her primary & secondary education in Delta State . She studied at the University of Calabar in Cross River State , where she graduated with a degree in English and Literary Studies .[ 11]
Career
While she was still a teenager in the year 1997, she starred in two Nollywood movies; Compromise 2 and Waterloo .[ 12] During the 2002 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria beauty pageant, Okereke reached 3rd place.[ 9] A year later in 2003, Okereke won two awards, out of the eight nominations she received, at the 2003 Reel Awards for 'Best Actress - English' and 'Best Actress of the year 2003'.
After graduating from the New York Film Academy in 2007, Okereke released the movie Through the Glass [ 13] [ 14] in which she served as director, scriptwriter, producer and actress.[ 9] [ 15] The film received an Africa Movie Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay in 2009.[ 8] In 2014, she released another movie, Dry and again served as a director, scriptwriter, producer and actress which won many awards including 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards and 2016 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards best movie overall movie with the prize of a brand new car. Okereke has starred in over 90 movies.[ 16]
In March 2021, as part of her campaign against gender-based violence on the female folk, the actress released two short movies (which she produced) titled The Student and Bad Police .
Personal life
In April 2005, on her way to the Africa Movie Academy Awards held in Yenagoa , Bayelsa State , Nigeria . Okereke was involved in a serious car accident that left her with burns all over and a broken leg.[ 17]
In April 2012, Okereke married Linus Idahosa in Paris, France at a private wedding ceremony that was attended by members of her family and scores of Nollywood actresses and actors.[ 18] [ 19] [ 20] Their first son Maxwell Enosata Linus was born in October 2015. They welcomed their second son in May 2022, seven years after their first son.
Awards and nominations
Year
Event
Prize
Recipient
Result
2003
What a Year Awards
Best Actress
Herself
Won
2003
Reel Awards
Best Actress - English
Herself
Won
Best Actress of the year
Herself
Won
2004
Afro-Dublin Awards
Outstanding Actress
Herself
Won
2004
Film Makers of Nigeria
Award For Excellence
herself
Won
2005
1st Africa Movie Academy Awards ,
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Herself
Nominated
2006
Afro Hollywood Award
Best Actress
herself
Won
2009
5th Africa Movie Academy Awards
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Reloaded
Nominated[ 7] [ 8] [ 9]
Best Screenplay
Through the Glass
Nominated
2010
6th Africa Movie Academy Awards
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Nnenda
Nominated[ 5] [ 6]
2013
Montage Africa Women of Exllence Awards
Achievement in drama and entertainment
Herself
Won[ 21]
2015
2015 Best of Nollywood Awards
Movie With the Best Social Media
Dry
Won
Best Actress Leading Role
Nominated
Best Director
Nominated
Movie of the Year
Nominated[ 22]
Bentonville Film Festival
Best Protagonist
Won[ 23]
ZAFAA Global Awards
Best Actress
Won
Best Film
Won
Best Producer
Won
Best Director
Won[ 24]
2016
12th Africa Movie Academy Awards
Best Nigerian Film
Won
Best Film
Nominated
Best Director
Nominated
2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards
Best Overall Movie (Africa)
Won
Best Director
Nominated
Best Movie West Africa
Nominated
Pan African Film Festival
Programmers'Award Narrative Feature
Won[ 25]
Nafca
Best Actress In Leading Role
Won[ 26]
Best Overall Movie
Won[ 26]
Best Director
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Nominated
Best Drama Film
Nominated
DALA awards
Face of Nollywood (Female)
Herself
Won[ 27]
2017
Truth Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Boonville Redemption
Won
Filmography
Year
Film
Role
Notes
1997
Compromise 2
Waterloo
2002
Pretender
with Patience Ozokwor and Tony Umez
Blind Justice
with Tony Umez
2003
Aristos
Star
Emotional Crack
Crystal
with Ramsey Nouah , Dakore Egbuson and Patience Ozokwor
Genesis of Love
Private Sin
with Genevieve Nnaji , Richard Mofe-Damijo and Patience Ozokwor
Queen Sheba
The Cross of Love
Lynda
with Patience Ozokwor
Together as One
2004
Beautiful Faces
with Ini Edo
Critical Decision
with Genevieve Nnaji , Richard Mofe-Damijo & Mike Ezuruonye
Deep Loss
with Desmond Elliot
Diamond Lady: The Business Woman
Dream Lover
Benita
Eye of the Gods
Princess Ekemma
with Ini Edo
In the Name of Love
with Desmond Elliot
Last Girl Standing
Thilda
Magic Moment
Stephine Okereke
with Desmond Elliot
Mama-G in America
with Patience Ozokwor
Miss Nigeria
Ruby
More Than a Woman
Tricia
My Mother My Marriage
Official Romance
with Zack Orji
Promise & Fail
with Desmond Elliot
Promise Me Forever
Bukky
with Genevieve Nnaji
Right Man for Me
with Tony Umez
Sensational Spy
Sandra
Strength of a Woman
with Emeka Ike
To Love Again
Virgins Night Out
Working Class Lady
with Rita Dominic
2005
A Time to Die
with Olu Jacobs, Emeka Enyiocha
Days of Bondage
Lucia
with Clarion Chukwu, Muna Obiekwe
Guys on the Line
with Rita Dominic
Lonely Hearts
with Ini Edo
Ola... the Morning Sun
with Pete Edochie
Omalinze
Adaugo
with Onyeka Onwenu
Price of Ignorance
with Pete Edochie
Princess of Wealth
with saint Obi
Royal Battle
with Laide Bakare, Amaechi Muonagor, Saint Obi
Street Fame
with Nnamdi Eze, Tony Goodman, Saint Obi
Windfall
with Pete Eneh, Emeka Ike
Woman on Top
with Uche Elendu, Andy Chukwu, Ifeoma Anyiam
2006
Behind the Plot
with Desmond Elliot
Daytime Lovers
Binta
with Tony Umez
Efficacy
with Desmond Elliot
Shut In
Sitanda
directed by Izu Ojukwu , this film received 9 nominations and won 5 awards at the 3rd Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2007, including Best Picture & Best Nigerian Film .[ 28]
The Law Students
The Preacher
Upside Down
with Patience Ozokwor and Tony Umez
2007
A Time to Love
Hope
with Desmond Elliot
Governor's Wife
with Ramsey Nouah
2008
Mission to Nowhere
Hidden Treasure
Nadine
with Ramsey Nouah , Nadia Buari & Olu Jacobs
Through the Glass
Ada
with Garrett McKechnie, Christy Williams, Pascal Atuma
2009
Nnenda
this film, directed Izu Ojukwu , received 3 nominations at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2010, including the nomination for Heart of Africa [ 29]
Reloaded
Weyinmi
with Ramsey Nouah , Desmond Elliot , Rita Dominic & Nse Ikpe Etim
2014
Dry
Dr Zara
with Liz Benson
2015
Make Me Fabulous [ 30] [ 31]
2016
Boonville Redemption
Doris
with Pat Boone , Ed Asner , Diane Ladd and Richard Tyson
2019
Miracle in the Valley[ 32]
Doris (as Stephanie Okereke)
References
^ "Stephanie Okereke's full name" . Archived from the original on 28 March 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009 .
^ Onikoyi, Ayo (2 October 2012). "Stephanie Okereke clocks 30 and it's going to be…" . Vanguard . Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 3 October 2012 .
^ "My Wedding Plans in Top Gear, Says Stephanie Okereke" . P.M. News . Lagos, Nigeria. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2012 .
^ Okporu, Rachel (30 October 2021). "Actress Stephanie Okereke and her husband, Linus Idahosa, celebrate their son as he clocks 'age 6' " . Kemi Filani News . Retrieved 15 March 2022 .
^ a b "And the 2010 AMAA nominees are" . Jemati.com. Retrieved 14 April 2010 .
^ a b "The Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) 2010 Nominations" . thefuturenigeria.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2010 .
^ a b "Stephanie Okereke: Awards & Nominations" . IMDb . Retrieved 6 October 2009 .
^ a b c "AMAA 2009: List of Nominees and Winners" . Africa Movie Academy Awards . Archived from the original on 5 April 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2010 .
^ a b c d "Official bio" . Archived from the original on 6 September 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009 .
^ "BN Bytes: Genevieve Nnaji, Stephanie Okereke, Amaka Igwe, Aliko Dangote & Jim Ovia receive National Honours – Photos from the Ceremony" . bellanaija.com. Retrieved 24 September 2014 .
^ "Okereke at NigeriaMovies.com" . Retrieved 6 October 2009 .
^ "Stephanie Okereke: Nigerian screen queen" . Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009 .
^ "Through the Glass: Review" . IMDb . Retrieved 6 October 2009 .
^ "Through the Glass: Official Site" . Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009 .
^ "New York Film Academy Film School: Film School Student Stephanie Okereke in The News" . Retrieved 6 October 2009 .
^ "Filmography" . IMDb . Retrieved 6 October 2009 .
^ "Interview with Stephanie Okereke" . Retrieved 6 October 2009 .
^ "Stephanie Okereke And Linus Idahosa Wed in Paris" . Leadership . Abuja, Nigeria: Leadership Newspaper Group. 21 April 2012. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012 .
^ Njoku, Ben (21 April 2012). "Genevieve, RMD, Others Storm Paris for Steph Okereke's Wedding Today" . AllAfrica.com . Retrieved 22 April 2012 .
^ "AllAfrica.com: Why Stephanie Okereke ended her marriage" . Retrieved 6 October 2009 .
^ "Stephanie Okereke Linus Wins Montage Africa Women of Excellence Awards (Photos) - NaijaGistsBlog Nigeria, Nollywood, Celebrity ,News, Entertainment, Gist, Gossip, Inspiration, Africa" . naijagists.com . 27 June 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2017 .
^ Lawal, Fu'ad. "Best of Nollywood Awards 2015: See full list of winners" . pulse.ng . Retrieved 29 July 2017 .
^ "Stephanie Linus Wins Best Protagonist Award at the Bentonville Film Festival Arkansas, USA" . www.stelladimokokorkus.com . Retrieved 29 July 2017 .
^ Izuzu, Chidumga. " "Dry": Stephanie Linus" movie gets 8 ZAFAA Global Awards 2015 nominations" . pulse.ng . Retrieved 29 July 2017 .
^ "Stephanie Linus' 'Dry' wins award at the Pan African Film Festival - Nigerian Entertainment Today - Nigeria's Top Website for News, Gossip, Comedy, Videos, Blogs, Events, Weddings, Nollywood, Celebs, Scoop and Games" . thenet.ng . 24 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017 .
^ a b Izuzu, Chidumga. "NAFCA 2016: Stephanie Linus, "Dry" win big" . pulse.ng . Retrieved 29 July 2017 .
^ "Nollywood stars dazzle at Daylight Annual Leadership Awards - Vanguard News" . vanguardngr.com . 28 May 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2017 .
^ "AMAA 2007: List of Nominees and Winners" . Africa Movie Academy Awards . Archived from the original on 12 October 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2010 .
^ "The 2010 Africa Movie Academy Awards: Winners, Re-Cap, Dresses" . New York, NY, USA: MTV Networks a division of Viacom International Inc . Retrieved 17 October 2010 .
^ "It's Episode 1 of Stephanie Linus' Reality Show "Make Me Fabulous" " . Bellanaija . Bellanaija.com. Retrieved 25 May 2015 .
^ "Watch 1st episode of Stephanie Linus' reality TV series" . Pulse Nigeria . Chidumga Izuzu. Retrieved 25 May 2015 .
^ "Stephanie Linus | Actress, Producer, Director" . IMDb . Retrieved 18 June 2024 .
External links