There are a plethora of stunningly gorgeous and talented black women in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Notable names such as Ini Edo possess not only physical beauty but also immense fame, acting skills, and achievements. Ini Edo has become a renowned Nollywood celebrity due to her outstanding physical beauty, commendable acting abilities, affable character and undeniable success.
Consequently, she is regularly named among the Most Beautiful Nollywood Actresses, one of the finest actresses from Nollywood and one of the wealthiest celebrities in the industry. Ini Edo is widely celebrated for her acting roles in romantic, sorrowful, and action movies in Nigeria’s Nollywood film industry.
Full Name: Iniobong Edo Ekim
Stage Name: Ini Edo
Date of Birth: 23 April 1982.
Years active: 2000 – present.
Nationality: Nigerian
Relationship Status: Divorce (Philip Ehiagwina (2008–2014))
Residence: Lagos
Occupation: Actor
Twitter: @iniedo
Iniobong Edo Ekim (born 23 April 1982) is a Nigerian actress. Ini Edo began her film career in 2000, and has featured in more than 100 movies since her debut. In 2013, Ini Edo was a judge for the Miss Black Africa UK Pageant. In 2014, Miss Ini Edo was appointed by the United Nations as a United Nations Habitat Youth Envoy.
Early Life and Education.
Ini Edo is an Ibibio from Akwa Ibom state in the south-south region of the country. She was raised in a strict household by her parents, her father was a church elder and her mother was an educator. Ini grew up with three siblings – two girls and one boy. She attended Cornelia Connely College in Uyo, Nigeria.
She graduated from the University of Uyo where she got a Diploma in Theatre Arts. She also completed her bachelor’s degree program at the University of Calabar where she studied English. In 2014 she got a scholarship to study law at the National Open University of Nigeria.
Career.
Her acting career started in 2000 with her debut in Thick Madam. Ini Edo was discovered by a producer at the audition she attended. Her breakthrough came in 2004 when she acted in World Apart. She has appeared in over 100 films. She earned a “Best Lead Actress” nomination at the 11th Africa Movie Academy Awards for her performance in the movie “While you slept”
Ini Edo, however, in 2017, made it clear that only hardwork, delight and dedication can get one to the top in the Nollywood industry as there are many distractions. But she encouraged that with determination, one would get there.
Personal life and Marriage
In 2008, Ini Edo married Philip Ehiagwina an American-based business man. The marriage ended in September 2014 after six years. Ini Edo had her first child, a girl through surrogacy in the year 2021.
Endorsement.
- Ini Edo was Glo brand ambassador for ten years from 2006 to 2016.
- In 2010 she was named to be the brand ambassador of Noble Hair.
- Ini Edo is brand ambassador of Slim Tea Nigeria.
- In 2019 she was signed as an ambassador for the @MrTaxi_NG brand.
Political appointment
Ini Edo was appointed as the Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on culture and tourism by Udom Gabriel Emmanuel in 2016.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Event | Prize | Recipient | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 2009 Best of Nollywood Awards | Best Actress Leading Role (Yoruba) | Won | ||
| 2011 | Zulu African Film Academy Awards | Best Actress Indigenous | Edika Nigeria | Won | |
| 2012 | 2012 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards | Best Actress In Leading role | In a cupboard | Nominated | |
| Female Viewers Choice | Herself | Nominated | |||
| Honorarium Appreciation Award | Won | ||||
| 2013 | 2013 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards | Female Viewers Choice | Won | ||
| Cross River Movie Award | Best Act Female(English) | Behind The Melody | Won | ||
| Nafca | Best supporting Actress | Weekend Getaway | Won | ||
| 2014 | 2014 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards | Best Actress Leading Role | Nkasi The Village Fighter | Nominated | |
| Best Comedic act | Nominated | ||||
| Best Actress-Viewers Choice | Nominated | ||||
| 2015 | 2015 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards | Best Actress | While you slept | Nominated | |
| Female Viewers Choice | Nominated | ||||
| 2015 Ghana Movie Awards | Best Actress – Africa Collaboration | Won | |||
| 11th Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Actress Leading Role | Nominated | |||
| 2016 | 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards | Best Actress in a Comedy | Desperate housegirls | Nominated | |
| 2016 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Actress – TV Series | Nominated | |||
| 2018 | ZAFAA Global Awards | Best Actress | While you slept | Won | |
| 2021 | Net Honours | Most Popular Actress | Nominated | ||
| Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | The Citation | Nominated |
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Thick Madam | ||
| 2004 | World Apart | Ulinma | With Kenneth Okonkwo, Liz Benson and Hilda Dokubo |
| Eye of the Gods | With Olu Jacobs, Stephanie Linus, Muna Obiekwe | ||
| Beautiful Faces | With Stephanie Linus | ||
| 2005 | Ultimate Crisis | With Rita Dominic and Olu Jacobs | |
| The Begotten | With Rita Dominic | ||
| Only Love | Udoka | With Rita Dominic and Olu Jacobs | |
| Last Game | With Rita Dominic | ||
| Desperate Billionaire | With Rita Dominic and Kanayo O. Kanayo | ||
| Lonely Hearts | With Stephanie Linus | ||
| 2006 | Girls Cot | With Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, Uche Jombo | |
| Secret Fantasy | With Uche Jombo | ||
| Price of Fame | With Uche Jombo and Mike Ezuruonye | ||
| Married to the Enemy | with Mercy Johnson, Desmond Elliot | ||
| Games Men Play | with Chioma Chukwuka,Jimy Ike, Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, Dakore Akande, Kalu Ikeagwu,Chinedu Ikedze | ||
| 2007 | Sleek Ladies | With Rita Dominic | |
| Most Wanted Bachelor | With Uche Jombo and Mike Ezuruonye | ||
| 2009 | Love Games | With Uche Jombo and Mike Ezuruonye | |
| Reloaded (2009 film) | Tayo | With Ramsey Nouah, Stephanie Linus, Rita Dominic Nse Ike Eptim and Desmond Elliot | |
| Live To Remember | With Mercy Johnson | ||
| 2014 | Caro The Iron Bender | Caro | |
| Royal Gift’ | |||
| Blind Kingdom’ | |||
| Native Son | |||
| Ghetto Queen | With Funke Akindele | ||
| Power of Beauty | |||
| Political Control | |||
| Ass on Fire | |||
| Breath Again | |||
| 2017 | The Patient | Nurse | Featuring Seun Akindele and directed by Sobe Charles Umeh |
| 2019 | Chief Daddy | Ekanem | Featuring Richard Mofe Damijo and directed by Niyi Akinmolayan |
| 2020 | Citation (film) | Gloria | |
| 2023 | Shanty Town | Inem | With Chidi Mokeme, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Nancy Isime, Mercy Eke, Richard Mofe Damijo, and directed by Dimeji Ajibola. |
- Fatal Seduction
- The Greatest Sacrifice
- My Heart Your Home
- No Where to Run
- Stolen Tomorrow
- Sacrifice for Love
- Silence of the Gods
- Supremacy
- Too Late to Claim
- Total Control
- Traumatised
- War Game
- 11:45… Too Late
- The Bank Manager
- The Bet
- Cold War
- Crying Angel
- Desperate Need
- Emotional Blackmail
- I Want My Money
- Last Picnic
- Living in Tears
- Living Without You
- Men Do Cry
- My Precious Son
- One God One Nation
- Weekend getaway
- Pretty Angels
- Red Light
- Royal Package
- Security Risk
- Songs of Sorrow
- Stronghold
- Tears for Nancy
- Unforeseen
- Eyes of Love
- Faces of Beauty
- Indecent Girl
- Indulgence
- I Swear
- Legacy
- Love Crime
- Love & Marriage
- Negative Influence
- Not Yours!
- The One I Trust
- Sisters On Fire
- Royalty Apart
- Never Let Go
- End of Do or Die Affair
- Darkness of Sorrows
- Final Sorrow
- Behind The Melody
- Memories of The Heart
- Royal Gift
- Dangerous
- Save The Last Dance
- Battle For Bride
- Caged Lovers
- In The Cupboard
- Hunted Love
- Anointed Queen
- A Dance For The Prince
- Bride’s War
- Tears In The Palace
- Slip of Fate
- At All Cost
- Mad Sex
- The Princess of My Life
- Inale (2010)
- I’ll Take My Chances (2011)
- Nkasi The Village Fighter
- Nkasi The Sprot Girl
- The Return of Nkasi
- Soul of a Maiden
- “Blood is Money”
- Citation (film)(2020)