
Early Life
Uzoamaka Aniunoh was born on August 25, 1990, in Lagos, Nigeria. Her early life was marked by a strong emphasis on education and the arts, with her parents providing unwavering support. Born into a family that valued creative expression, Uzoamaka's innate talent and passion for acting were nurtured from a young age.
Her family relocated to the United States during her childhood, exposing her to diverse cultural experiences that would later influence her acting career. Uzoamaka attended high school in the US before proceeding to study at the prestigious New York Film Academy, laying the groundwork for her professional acting career.
Growing up, Uzoamaka drew inspiration from renowned Nigerian actresses like Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, and Joke Silva. These screen icons motivated her to pursue her dreams in the entertainment industry.
From Writing to Acting
Aniunoh's creative journey began as a published fiction writer. Her work has been featured in various literary platforms, including Brittle Paper, which published her stories "Tea Glass: An African Story" and "Mama Junior and Rush Green." An excerpt from her work "Balcony" was edited and published by renowned Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Aniunoh's transition to acting began in 2017 when she attended open auditions for MTV Shuga and landed the role of Cynthia. She went on to star in the series from 2018 to 2019 and reprised her role in the 2020 special edition mini-series "MTV Shuga Alone Together." This breakthrough role marked the beginning of her successful acting career, showcasing her talent and versatility as a performer.
As Aniunoh's acting career progressed, she took on more challenging roles, collaborating with prominent directors and actors in the Nigerian film industry.
Wins, Directing...
Aniunoh's acting career has been marked by notable successes. She received the Kim Renders Memorial Award for Outstanding Performance from the Reelout Film Festival in 2021 for her role in the LGBT love story "Ife."
In 2022, Aniunoh starred in the Nigerian thriller "Diiche," Showmax's first Nigerian original limited series, which received seven nominations at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards. Her performance in the 2024 thriller "The Weekend" earned her a Best Actress nomination at the 20th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
In addition to her acting accomplishments, Aniunoh has also ventured into directing. She made her directorial debut in 2023 with the short film "Love Language," which she also wrote and starred in.

Early Life
Uzoamaka Aniunoh was born on August 25, 1990, in Lagos, Nigeria. Her early life was marked by a strong emphasis on education and the arts, with her parents providing unwavering support. Born into a family that valued creative expression, Uzoamaka's innate talent and passion for acting were nurtured from a young age.
Her family relocated to the United States during her childhood, exposing her to diverse cultural experiences that would later influence her acting career. Uzoamaka attended high school in the US before proceeding to study at the prestigious New York Film Academy, laying the groundwork for her professional acting career.
Growing up, Uzoamaka drew inspiration from renowned Nigerian actresses like Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, and Joke Silva. These screen icons motivated her to pursue her dreams in the entertainment industry. Her formative years were characterized by dedication, perseverance, and a burning passion for storytelling, shaping her unique perspective and paving the way for her rise to prominence in the Nigerian film industry.
From Writing to Acting
Aniunoh's creative journey began as a published fiction writer. Her work has been featured in various literary platforms, including Brittle Paper, which published her stories "Tea Glass: An African Story" and "Mama Junior and Rush Green." An excerpt from her work "Balcony" was edited and published by renowned Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Aniunoh's transition to acting began in 2017 when she attended open auditions for MTV Shuga and landed the role of Cynthia. She went on to star in the series from 2018 to 2019 and reprised her role in the 2020 special edition mini-series "MTV Shuga Alone Together." This breakthrough role marked the beginning of her successful acting career, showcasing her talent and versatility as a performer.
As Aniunoh's acting career progressed, she took on more challenging roles, collaborating with prominent directors and actors in the Nigerian film industry. Her performances have been met with critical acclaim, earning her numerous award nominations and recognition within the industry.
Wins, Directing...
Aniunoh's acting career has been marked by notable successes. She received the Kim Renders Memorial Award for Outstanding Performance from the Reelout Film Festival in 2021 for her role in the LGBT love story "Ife."
In 2022, Aniunoh starred in the Nigerian thriller "Diiche," Showmax's first Nigerian original limited series, which received seven nominations at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards. Her performance in the 2024 thriller "The Weekend" earned her a Best Actress nomination at the 20th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards. These nominations and awards demonstrate her growth as an actress and her ability to excel in a variety of roles.
In addition to her acting accomplishments, Aniunoh has also ventured into directing. She made her directorial debut in 2023 with the short film "Love Language," which she also wrote and starred in. As Aniunoh continues to grow and evolve as a creative professional, her future projects are eagerly anticipated by fans and industry insiders alike.

UZOAMAKA’S WORDS AND THOUGHTS.
Read all BlogsAt first, uzoamaka’s interests were in telling simple stories that mirror her world. with an intent to explore acting in the future.
Her love for nollywood has led to her boasting...
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After earlier literary recognition from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and The Missing Slate, Uzoamaka published two works in Brittle Paper, after reaching out to Niyi Akinmolayan for some advice, she started to attend several open calls for auditions launched her acting career by landing the role of Cynthia in MTV Shuga, which she would play from 2018 to 2020.
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Uzoamaka made her television debut with a role in Ndanni TV’s Rumor Has It and as Cynthia in MTV Shuga, establishing her presence in the series where she would continue to play the nerdy character through 2020.
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Uzoamaka delivered a lead performance in the short film "Stuck" alongside Seun Ajayi and Lala Akindoju, followed by her role in Africa Magic's hit period drama "Riona," which became one of Nigeria's top 5 TV series that season.
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She took on groundbreaking roles, starring in the LGBT love story "Ife" and reprising her role as Cynthia in "MTV Shuga Alone Together," a special edition mini-series that brought together cast members from across Africa to highlight continental experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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In 2021, Uzoamaka earned the Kim Renders Memorial Award for Outstanding Performance in "Ìfé" and was recognized as a Box Office Breakthrough actress by Filmone Nigeria for "Ponzi." She starred in Kunle Afolayan's Netflix film "A Naija Christmas" and was featured in both TheNet Nigeria's promising actresses list and YNaija's New Establishment category.
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Uzoamaka was honored by Showmax as one of 30 iconic women contributing to Nollywood during Women's History Month in March, alongside industry giants like Genevieve Nnaji and Kate Henshaw. Her year culminated in a prestigious selection for Berlinale Talents 2023, positioning her among promising filmmakers in this renowned development program.
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Uzoamaka solidified her status in African cinema through her role in "Mami Wata," which garnered international recognition including the Sundance World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Cinematography and Best Film at PAFF. Her performance earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Africa Movie Academy Awards. She also marked her directorial debut with "Love Language," a short film she wrote and starred in about an intertribal love story.
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With notable performances in multiple films, Her role in "The Weekend" earned her a Best Actress nomination at the 20th Africa Movie Academy Awards, while she delivered a moving portrayal of an Igbo-Hausa widow in the Amazon Prime feature "With Difficulty Comes Ease." Her appearance in "Phoenix Fury" added to her successful year, with the film winning Best Film and Best Director at AFRIFF 2024.
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After earlier literary recognition from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and The Missing Slate, Uzoamaka published two works in Brittle Paper, after reaching out to Niyi Akinmolayan for some advice, she started to attend several open calls for auditions launched her acting career by landing the role of Cynthia in MTV Shuga, which she would play from 2018 to 2020.
-
Uzoamaka made her television debut with a role in Ndanni TV’s Rumor Has It and as Cynthia in MTV Shuga, establishing her presence in the series where she would continue to play the nerdy character through 2020.
-
Uzoamaka delivered a lead performance in the short film "Stuck" alongside Seun Ajayi and Lala Akindoju, followed by her role in Africa Magic's hit period drama "Riona," which became one of Nigeria's top 5 TV series that season.
-
She took on groundbreaking roles, starring in the LGBT love story "Ife" and reprising her role as Cynthia in "MTV Shuga Alone Together," a special edition mini-series that brought together cast members from across Africa to highlight continental experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
In 2021, Uzoamaka earned the Kim Renders Memorial Award for Outstanding Performance in "Ìfé" and was recognized as a Box Office Breakthrough actress by Filmone Nigeria for "Ponzi." She starred in Kunle Afolayan's Netflix film "A Naija Christmas" and was featured in both TheNet Nigeria's promising actresses list and YNaija's New Establishment category.
-
Uzoamaka was honored by Showmax as one of 30 iconic women contributing to Nollywood during Women's History Month in March, alongside industry giants like Genevieve Nnaji and Kate Henshaw. Her year culminated in a prestigious selection for Berlinale Talents 2023, positioning her among promising filmmakers in this renowned development program.
-
Uzoamaka solidified her status in African cinema through her role in "Mami Wata," which garnered international recognition including the Sundance World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Cinematography and Best Film at PAFF. Her performance earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Africa Movie Academy Awards. She also marked her directorial debut with "Love Language," a short film she wrote and starred in about an intertribal love story.
-
With notable performances in multiple films, Her role in "The Weekend" earned her a Best Actress nomination at the 20th Africa Movie Academy Awards, while she delivered a moving portrayal of an Igbo-Hausa widow in the Amazon Prime feature "With Difficulty Comes Ease." Her appearance in "Phoenix Fury" added to her successful year, with the film winning Best Film and Best Director at AFRIFF 2024.
UZOAMAKA’s Filmography
‘there are years that ask questions and years that answer’ ~ zora neale hurston.
Year | Title | Role | Director(s) | Platform | |
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2024 | A Quiet Monday | Role: Kamnonu | Director: Dika Ofoma | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2024 | EL&NE | Role: Amaka | Director: Rete Poki | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2024 | Shaping Us | Role: Zee | Director: Kambili Ofili | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2024 | A Night In 2005 | Role: Kelechi | Director: Ted Abudu | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2024 | WDCE | Role: Zainab | Director: Korede Azeez | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2024 | The Weekend | Role: Nkiya | Director: Dabiel Oriahi | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2024 | Phoenix Fury | Role: Ifeatu | Director: Ifeoma Nkiruka | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2024 | Headless | Role: Inspector Jane | Director: Michael Ndiomu | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2024 | Love Notes | Role: Maris | Director: Michael Akinrogunde | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2023 | Domitilla: Sequel | Role: Promise | Director: Zeb Ejiroh | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2023 | Mami Wata | Role: Zinwe | Director: C.J Obasi | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2023 | Love Language | Role: Chioma | Director: Uzoamaka Aniunoh | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2022 | Diiche | Role: Isp. Ijeoma | Director: James Omokwe | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2021 | A Naija Christmas | Role:Cassie | Director:Kunle Afolayan | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2021 | Ponzi | Role:Abeke | Director:Kayode Kasum | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2021 | Behind the Scene | Role:Chioma | Director:Samuel Adeoye | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2020 | Ananze & the Zipman | Role:The Zipman | Director:Gilbert Bassey | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2020 | Ìfé | Role:Ìfé | Director:Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2020 | Riona | Role:Kumene | Director:James Omokwe | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2020 | Shuga [Covid] | Role:Cynthia | Director:Tolu Ajayi, Tope Oshin | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2019 | WH on 3rd Street ? | Role:Cynthia | Director:Emeka Chukwuleta | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2018 | Make it or Break it | Role:Simi | Director:Molebi Ejuetami | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2018 | Stuck | Role:Dara Akpabio | Director:Ozioma Ogbaji | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2018 | Moms At War | Role:Bayo’s Friend | Director:Omoni Oboli | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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2018 | MTV Shuga | Role:Cynthia | Director:Tolu Ajayi, Tope Oshin | Watch on Amazon Prime |
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Hello Darling,
I just published an exclusive new article on my Medium and it’s just for you.
Fictional stories is what i’m used to writing but this came from emotions I didn’t know I had.. A fictional story is what i’m used to writing but this came from emotions I didn’t know I had..
A fictional story is what i’m used to writing but this came from emotions I didn’t know I had..
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