Nigeria is famous for having a thriving entertainment industry that gives rise to some of the top actors on the continent. We have numerous Reality TV Stars who have become actors.
A fresh crop of talent has recently emerged from reality TV shows and entered the acting industry.
These celebrities have demonstrated that reality TV can serve as a successful acting career’s springboard and not merely a platform for popularity.
In this article, we look at 10 reality TV stars from Nigeria that have transitioned to acting and are currently making waves in the business.
- Mercy Eke
Mercy Eke became the first woman to win the BBNaija reality TV show as she won season 4 of Big Brother Naija in October 2019.
After winning the show, she got so popular that she started featuring in short comedy skits and even made her acting debut in the Nollywood film, Fate of Alakada.
She also featured in numerous Nollywood movies which include Shanty Town where she played the role, ‘Jackie’.
Aside from being an actress, she is also a video vixen featured in four music videos which include Baby Mama (2017), Nawo Nawo Song (2017), Ije Ego (2019), and Take It (2020).
Mercy Eke owns a company named M&M Luxury which sells quality clothing materials, ready-made clothes, and foot wears.
- Tobi Bakre
A lot of Nigerians got to know Tobi Bakre who is an actor, model, host, and photographer after he finished up as a finalist in the BBNaija shows in 2018.
The fame he acquired from the show helped him to secure lead roles in Nollywood movies and big endorsements with Jumia, Unilever, and Armstel Malta.
Before he joined the BBNaija show, he worked as an investment banker in the banking industry. He has a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance with a second-class honors upper division from the University of Lagos.
After he left the show, Tobi Bakre joined the movie industry, and he is currently making big waves in the industry.
His features in gangster movies including Brotherhood, and Gangs of Lagos where he played Obalola proved that he is a good martial artist.
- Gideon Okeke
Gideon Okeke is one of the Nigerian Reality TV stars who have become an actor. When he participated in the inaugural season of Big Brother Nigeria in 2006, Gideon Okeke first caught the attention of the general public. When he joined the cast of the M-Net daytime drama Tinsel as Phillip Ade Williams, the conceited son of a media magnate, he began his acting career.
Gideon Okeke joined Nollywood in 2010 as he featured in a drama film titled Relentless where he played the lead role alongside Jimmy Jean-Louis and Nneka Egbuna.
He has been featured in many blockbusters movies and TV series including A Place In The Stars, 93 Days, Loving Rona, and others.
- Bisola Aiyeola
Nollywood actress, Bisola Aiyeola is one of the Reality TV Stars who have become an actor. In 2018, she became the first runner-up of Big Brother Naija.
From actress to movie producer, Bisola Aiyeola made her debut as a producer in introducing the Kujus. She has been featured in numerous Nollywood movies including The Bling Lagosians, Sugar Rush (2019), Breaded Life (2021), A Simple Lie (2022), Palava (2022), and others.
Her success in acting earned her Trail Blaze Awards in the 2018 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards and Best Actress In A Supporting Role (Sugar Rush Movie) at 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards.
- Erica Nlewedim
Erica Nlewedim is an actress, model, and businesswoman from Nigeria. She gained notoriety when she took part in the show’s 2020 Big Brother Naija Lockdown Edition.
As an actress, she has starred in several Nollywood movies which include Bitter Rain, Hire A Woman, Devil In Agbada, and others.
As an entrepreneur, she owns a real estate company, Star Luxury Residence and Beauty, Cosmetic company named Star Girl Beauty which sells a variety of Skincare products.
- Venita Akpofure
Venita Akpofure became popular after the show participated in the fourth season of Big Brother Naija in 2019.
Venita is a British-Nigerian actress and video vixen featured in numerous movies such as My Village People (2021), Kambili: The Whole 30 Yards (2020), While You Slept (2015), and Gold Digging (2013).
As a video vixen, she featured in 2Face Idibia’s ‘Ihe Ne Me’, Psquare’s ‘Alingo’, ‘Finish Work’ by Naeto C, and other music videos.
- Gifty Powers
Gifty Powers who is a Nigerian actress, social media influencer, and brand ambassador came to the limelight after appearing as a contestant in the second edition of Big Brother Nigeria.
She made her debut in the Nollywood movie industry in a movie titled Nwa Nsukka which was produced by Mr. China.
- CeeC
CeeC whose real name is Cynthia Nwadiora participated in the Big Brother Naija Double Wahala Edition in 2018 and finished the show as the second runner-up.
After the show, CeeC made her Nollywood debut in a new TV series titled ‘Fake Liars’ alongside other Nollywood actors, including Hafiz Oyetoro, Caroline Danjuma, Broda Shaggi, and Nkem Owoh.
- Bambam
Oluwabamike Olawunmi (Bambam) became so popular after she joined the Big Brother Naija show as a housemate in 2018.
Before she joined the show, she has featured in some Nollywood movies such as ‘Inspector K’, and ‘Backup Wife’. After the show, she was featured in another movie titled ‘Foreigner’s God’.
- Teddy A
Teddy A who is the husband of reality TV star, Oluwabamike Olawunmi (Bambam) also participated in the 2018 Big Brother Naija show.
After the show, he made his acting Nollywood debut in the movie titled ‘Foreigner’s God’. He has also been featured in other numerous blockbusters movies including Before Valentines, The Gift, and Others.
