Hollywood is the most diverse film industry in the world. It houses talents from around the world and it is no surprise that Nigerians are counted among the successful in the American film industry. Nigerians are the most adaptable people in the world. They can be found in every industry in every country of the world. It’s however not surprising that in Hollywood the most diverse movie industry in the world, there are Nigerians. This list comprises ten Hollywood celebrities who are Nigerians. On this list, there are people either born in Nigeria or have one or both parents as Nigerians. Read till the end and you will be shocked at some of the celebrities you would see.
1. Forest Whitaker
It might come as a surprise to see this Hollywood Celebrity is a Nigerian. Forest is an American actor and director. Although he hails from the Igbo tribe of Nigeria, particularly the Nwkerre people. Forest was awarded the honorary title of Nwannedinambe di Nwkerre in 2009. Forest Whitaker is famous for his role in the blockbuster superhero movie “Black Panther” and also for his role as the dictator ruler “Idi Amin” in The Last King of Scotland. Other movies he starred in are Bird Phenomenon, Panic Room, and so on.
2. Cynthia Erivo
Her full name is Cynthia Onyedinmanasu Chinasaokwu Erivo. She was born in Stockwell England on 8 January 1987 to Nigerian parents. She is a British-Nigerian actress, musician, and composer. She is well-known for playing the principal role in the biopic Harriet. As a result, was nominated for several awards.
Cynthia has received several accolades, including a Daytime Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, and a Tony Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
3. David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo OBE
For a fan of Hollywood movies, David is one of the common Hollywood Celebrities. He was born in England to Nigerian parents on April 1, 1976. His father is from Oyo State while his mother is from Edo State.
David has starred in several Hollywood movies like Gringo 2018, The Planet of the Apes 2011, and Lincoln 2012 and he garnered accolades for his role as Louis Gaines in The Butler (2013).
4. Chiwetel Ejiofor
Yet another popular Hollywood Celebrity you probably didn’t know was Nigerian is Chiwetel who was born in England to Nigerian parents of Igbo Origin. He has starred in several movies like Twelve Years a Slave, a movie adaptation of Chimamanda’s Half of a Yellow Sun, Deadly Travel, and Secret In Their Eyes.
5. Danny Glover
Danny Glover is a popular american actor, director, activist that originates from the Igbo tribe of Nigeria.
He’s popular for starring in tons of Hollywood movies, like Almost Christmas, The Colour Purple, Fatal Weapon (1,2,3,4), and a host of others.
6. Nonso Anozie
Nonso is popularly known for his accurate portrayal of Xaro Xhoan Daxos in the blockbuster HBO tv series Game of Thrones. He is an English actor born to Nigerian Parents on May 28, 1978.
Nonso has also starred in the Dracula series.
7. Uzo Aduba
Uzoamaka Nwaneka Aduba traces her origin to the Igbo people of Nigeria. Born to Nigerian parents in Boston, Massachusetts in the USA. Uzo is popular for her role in the tv series Orange is the new black.
8. Adewale Akinnuoye Agbaje
This talented Hollywood actor as his name suggests is of Yoruba origin in Nigeria. Adewale was born in Washington DC to Nigerian parents. Renowned for his role in the tv series Oz, Lost, and Game of Thrones.
Adewale also starred in the following films The Bourne Identity, Pompei, The Mummy Returns, and so on. He is fluent in English, Yoruba, Swahili, and Italian.
9. Babatunde Adetomiwa Stafford
This English actor was born in the UK to a Nigerian Father and a Ghanian Mother. He is popular for his role of Sir Elyan in the popular tv series Merlin.
In addition to this, he has starred in movies like Slaves, Passengers, Law and Order, and so on.
10. John Adedayo B. Adegboyega
was born to Nigerian parents on 17 March 1992 in Peckham England. He is known professionally as John Boyega.
He portrayed Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy films The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker. Boyega’s also credited for starring In Live, the historical drama film Detroit (2017), the science fiction film Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018), four episodes of the television series 24: Live Another Day, and the drama Imperial Dreams (2014). He received the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2016.
I bet you didn’t know some of those celebrities are from our very own naija. There are definitely many others out there, we just decided to write about our top ten. Tell us some other celebrities you know in the comment section.
