Osariemen Martha Elizabeth Ighodaro is Osas Ighodaro’s full name. On October 26, Osas Ighodaro was born. She is an actress, producer, television host, and humanitarian of Nigerian descent. She won the Miss Black USA Pageant in 2010 and founded The Joyful Joy Foundation to raise funds and awareness for the Malaria fight. In 2014, she also co-hosted the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. She won Best TV Actress of the Year at the 2014 ELOY Awards for her role as Adanna (Danni) on Tinsel. In 2018, Osas was named the highest-paid Nollywood actress. Osas also won the Best Dressed Female award at the 8th Edition of Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) in 2022.
Early Life and Education
Osas was born in the Bronx, New York, to Nigerian parents from Edo State. Her early years were spent mostly abroad. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and dual minors in Entrepreneurship and Theatre. She went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Acting from Pace University’s Actor’s Studio Drama School.
Career
Among her many projects, Osas is best known for her work in “Rattlesnake,” “Smart Money Woman,” “Fela and the Kalakuta Queens,” “Cadillac Records,” and “Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns”. Her production company, Joy of Art Media & Entertainment, was formed with the goal of creating projects that are both entertaining and have a constructive influence.
Osas was named the ‘Highest Grossing Box Office Actress’ in Nollywood in 2018, and she was among the top highest-grossing actresses in 2020. She was one of the top three national finalists in the American Black Film Festival/NBC Universal Star Project – monologue competition. Osas was named Miss Black America in 2010 and Best TV Actress at the 2014 Exquisite Lady of the Year Awards. She was recently named the 2021 HER Network Awards’ ‘Woman of the Year in Entertainment.’
Osas is an outspoken advocate of the spread of communicable diseases and the founder of the Joyful Joy Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating malaria in Africa, one community at a time.
AMVCA 2022
Osas Ighodaro was named Best Dressed Female in the 2022 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, beating out Nancy Isime, Bimbo Ademoye, Adunni Ade, Belinda Effah, and others who competed in the category. She was also named Best Actress. Osas dedicates both awards to her late mother, who died of a minor illness.
Movies Series
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2022 | Single Not Searching | Kai |
Man of God | Teju | |
Conversations in Transit | Adeola | |
2021 | The Ghost and the Tout too | Amoke |
Namaste Wahala | Preemo | |
Mamba’s Diamond | Eloho | |
Bad Comments | Hilda | |
2020 | Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story | Amara |
Ratnik | Sarah Bello | |
Mama Drama | Mena | |
2019 | Your Excellency | Candy |
Bling Lagosians | Demidun | |
2018 | We Don’t Live Here Anymore | Leslie |
New Money | Angela Nwachukwu | |
Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons | Chidinma | |
King of Boys | Sade Bello | |
2016 | Put a Ring on it | Eki |
Entreat | Margaret | |
A Walk in the Wind | Mary | |
2015 | Where Children Play | Nia |
The Department | Tolu | |
Gbomo Gbomo Express | Cassandra | |
2011 | Restless City | Adinike |
2009 | The Tested | Sheena |
2008 | Cadillac Records | Maid |
Across a Bloodied Ocean | Nafisa | |
2006 | Killa Season (film) | Shinae |
Television Hosts
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2021 | King of Boys: The Return of the King | Sade Bello |
2020 | The Smart Money Woman | Zuri |
Assistant Madams | Chioma | |
2019 | MTV Shuga | Sergeant Alice Iyanu |
2018 | EVE (Africa Magic) | Sylvia |
2013-2015 | Maltina Dance All | Host |
2013 | Parallels – The Webseries | Ruth |
2012-2014 | Tinsel | Adanna |
2012 | 12 Steps to Recovery | Jellybean |
2010 | Meet the Browns | Nurse Mileen |
2006 | Conviction | Girlfriend |
Awards & Nominations
Awards | Events | Year |
---|---|---|
Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) | Best Dressed Female | 2022 |
Woman of the Year in Entertainment | HER Network | 2021 |
TV Actress of the Year | ELOY Awards | 2014 |
Miss Black USA | 2010 | |
Highest-grossing Nollywood Actress | 2018 | |
Brand Ambassador of the Year | ELOY Awards | 2015 |
Best Supporting Actress | Nigerian Entertainment Awards | 2016 |
“Humanitarian Award” | Joyful Joy Foundation (Green October La Mode Magazine Awards 2015) | 2015 |