5 Popular American Actresses Who Are From Nigeria (Photos)

1. Uzo Aduba

This 39-year-old talented American-born actress is of Igbo descent.She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. She came to limelight after her portrayal of Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black, a movie that earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2014, an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2015, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series in 2014 and 2015.She is a graduate of Boston University. She has recently been cast in "Americanah," an upcoming drama miniseries based on the novel of the same name by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, in which she is to play the role of Aunty Uju.

Below are few of her filmography:

American Pastoral (2016).

Showing Roots (2016 ).

Miss Virginia (2019).

"Mrs. America" (2020)

2. Yvonne Anuli Orji

Yvonne Anuli Orji is one of those popular faces in American movies.She became famous after co-staring in the acclaimed HBO series "Insecure," portraying "Molly Carter."She is originally from Nigeria and was born in Port Harcourt.She took to acting after completing her master's degree in public health at George Washington University.She is currently 37 years old.

Below are few of her filmography:

Insecure (2016-present)

Jane the Virgin (2017)

Night School (2018)

3. Adepero Oduye

This popular American actress of Nigerian ancestry is notable for her outstanding leading role in a 2011 American drama film Pariah, supporting roles in Steve McQueen ’s 2013 historical drama 12 Years a Slave , winner of the 2014 Academy Award for Best Picture, a 2015 American biographical comedy-drama film, The Big Short, a 2018 heist thriller film, Widows.Aside acting, she is also a singer, director and writer.She was born in Brooklyn, New York. She studied at Cornell University, New York.

She has starred in several American movies.Below are few of her filmography.

Pariah (2011)

12 Years a Slave (2013)

Geostorm (2017)

Widows (2019)

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2020)

4. Annie Ilonzeh

Annie Ilonzeh has appeared in many American movies.She is popular for her role as Maya Ward on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital , and after then appeared in the short-lived ABC reboot of Charlie's Angels; Arrow , Drop Dead Diva and Empire; All Eyez on Me; 'Til Death Do Us Part; Chicago Fire.This 37-year-old actress is biracial- her father is a Nigerian of Igbo descent and her mother white.She was born in Grapevine, Texas, United States.

Below are few of her filmography:

Charlie's Angels (2011)

Drop Dead Diva (2013)

Chicago P.D. (2018)

5. Megalyn Echikunwoke

Megalyn Echikunwoke was born in Spokane, Washington on May 28, 1983, to Onigwe Echikunwoke, an Igbo Nigerian father, and Anita Laurie, an American of European descent.She has starred in several films and television series. Her theatrical discovery came during her performance for an arts academy years back.She starred as Nicole Palmer, daughter of David Palmer , on the Fox series 24 from 2001 to 2002, and then guest roles on ER and Buffy the Vampire Slayer; the sitcom That '70s Show from 2004 to 2005; series The 4400 which ran from 2006 to 2007; 90210 and House of Lies.She started in many other hollywood movies after then.