Liz Benson, the ever adorable Nollywood veteran: A Profile

The 54-year-old was born on the 5th of April, 1966. She attended Sylvania State College in the United States of America, bagging a degree in Dramatic Arts.

The veteran actress started acting at the tender age of 5 but did not make a breakthrough until much later when she featured in Fortunes, a TV soap opera in 1993.

Every Nigerian child who grew up in the 1990s should recollect ‘Diamond Ring (1998)’ where Liz played the iconic character of an angry dead lady who tormented the persons desecrating her tomb.

Her role in 1994’s controversial movie, Glamour Girls, shot her into the limelight, turning her into one of the most sought after actresses in early Nollywood. By 1996, she had wormed her way into the heart of movie lovers in Nigeria. However, during this time, a period which is considered the height of her career, Liz suddenly quit acting after the death of her first husband, Samuel Etim.

In 1996, Liz paused her acting career and focused on spreading evangelism with her second husband Bishop Ameye who she got married to in a private ceremony sometime in 2009. She and her husband established a religious assemble ‘Freedom Family Assembly’ where they preach the Gospel. She, however, returned to the screens in 1998 when she starred in Witches.

She has featured in a lot Yoruba and English films from (1995) True Confession, (1998) Witches, (2002) Èèkù-idà and Èèkù-idà 2, (2004) Red Hot, (2007) Toko Taya, (2014) Dry, (2017) Children of Mud and so many others.

With such hard work and zeal towards her career, Liz has won several awards over the years. She won (2006) Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, Best Actress in a Leading Role at the City People’s Entertainment Awards, Most promising Actress in Nigeria and Best Actress in Nigeria (English) at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.