Nse Ikpe-Etim is an award-winning Nigerian actress, a self-proclaimed foodie, an enthusiastic gamer, a conference speaker, and an advocate for women living with Adenomyosis.
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Nse Ikpe-Etim Biography
Nse Ikpe-Etim was born on the 21st of October, 1974, in Lagos State, as the first child of her parents’ six children. She attended Awa Nursery School and Command Primary School Kaduna, respectively.
After she completed her primary education, her parents enrolled her at St Louis College, Jos, where she schooled for a while before moving on to the Federal Government College in Jos and later on, Ilorin.
She went to different schools because her father, who worked with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was often transferred to different parts of the country. Nse Etim got her first degree in Theater Arts from the University of Calabar.
Nse Ikpe-Etim got married to Clifford Sule, her childhood friend on the 14th, of February 2013. Currently, she lives with her husband in London, United Kingdom, and visits Nigeria for film engagements.
Nse Ikpe-Etim Career
Nse Etim started acting on stage while in the university at the early age of 18. She first appeared on TV when she featured in the family soap, Inheritance. Before she went full-time into the Nigerian movie industry, she worked in the banking industry as well as with radio and television stations.
Nse Etim finally joined the industry full-time in 2007, and came to the limelight in 2008, with Emem Isong’s Reloaded, where she shared the same set with Nollywood stars like Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic, Ini Edo, and Desmond Elliot.
Thus far, she has been a screen favourite with a huge fan base, using her movie roles to make positive impacts. She was inspired to go into acting by Sophia Loren, an Italian actress, and singer.
Filmography
- Emotional Crack (As an Associate Producer) – 2003
- Venom of Justice 2 – 2003
- Reloaded – 2008
- Bursting Out – 2010
- Inale – 2010
- Guilty Pleasures – 2011
- Memories of My Heart – 2011
- Kiss and Tell – 2011
- Spellbound – 2011
- Phone Swap – 2012
- Mr. and Mrs. – 2012
- The Meeting – 2012
- Journey to Self – 2012
- Black November – 2012
- Broken – 2013
- Blue Flames – 2013
- Hustlers – 2013
- Devil in the Detail – 2014
- The Green Eyed – 2014
- Tunnel – 2014
- In Between – 2014
- The Visit – 2015
- Heaven’s Hell – 2015
- Fifty – 2015
- Stalker – 2016
- A Trip to Jamaica – 2016
- Silvertown – 2016
- Devil in the Detail – 2016
- Tess – 2016
- American Driver – 2017
- Surrogate – 2017
- Three Tramps and the Law – 2017
- August Meeting (Stage Play) – 2018
- A Hotel Called Memory – 2018
- Small Chops – 2020
- A Song From The Dark – To be released in 2020
Nse Ikpe-Etim Awards And Nominations
2009 – 2013
- 5th Africa Movie Academy Awards nominee for Best Actress in a Leading role – 2009
- Best of Nollywood Awards nominee for the Revelation of the Year (female) – 2009
- Nigeria Entertainment Awards named her the Best Actress Film/Short Story – 2010
- Best of Nollywood Awards nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role – 2010
- Won Best Actress in a Lead role at the Best of Nollywood Awards – 2011
- Nigeria Entertainment Awards nominee for Best Lead Actress – 2012
- 8th Africa Movie Academy Awards nominee for Best Actress in a lead role – 2012
- ZAFAA Awards nominee for Best Actress in a supporting role – 2012
- The Eloy Awards nominee for Actress of the Year – 2012
- Nollywood Movies Awards named her the Best Actress in a Supporting role – 2012
- Best lead Actress in an English Movie at the Best of Nollywood Awards (BON) – 2012
- Nominee for Best Actress in a supporting role at the Best of Nollywood Awards (BON) – 2012
- Nominated for Best kiss in a film at the Best of Nollywood Awards (BON) – 2012
- Nominee at the 17th Africa Film Awards (Afro-Hollywood Awards) for the Best Actress in a supporting role – 2012
- Nollywood Movies Awards nominee for the Best Actress in a Leading role – 2013
- City People Entertainment Awards nominee for Best Actress of the Year – 2013
- Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards nominee for Best Actress – 2013
- Ghana Movie Awards nominee for the Best African Collaboration – 2013
- Nigeria Entertainment Awards nominee for Best Supporting Actress in a film – 2013
2014 – 2016
- Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards for the Best Actress in a Drama – 2014
- Nigeria Entertainment Awards nominee for Best Actress in a Lead Role – 2014
- Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards nominee for the Best Actress in a Lead Role – 2014
- Nominated at the Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards for Viewer’s Choice female – 2014
- Best of Nollywood Awards (BON) for the Best Actress in a Leading role (English) – 2015
- Nominated for the Best Kiss in a Movie at the Best of Nollywood Awards (BON) – 2015
- Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards for Best Actress – 2015
- Best On-screen duo at the Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards – 2015
- Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards nominee for Best Actress TV Series/Drama – 2016
- Nigeria Entertainment Awards nominee for Lead Actress in a Film – 2016
- 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role – 2016
Nse Ikpe-Etim Quotes
“Either you run the day or the day runs you.”
“Life is short. Make every side-eye count.”
“Follow your energy and do what you love all the time; the distinction between work and play dissolves.”
“Let everything happen to you. Beauty and terror. Keep going. Stay fearless.”
“There is danger in letting people misname you. If you’re a fire, do not answer when they call you a spark.”
“You’re old enough to recognize your mistakes but young enough to make some more.”
“Drink water, do your squats, wear your wellies, eat your vegetables, wear your lipstick, and don’t let boys be mean to you.”
“It is not the bruises on the body that hurt; It is the scars on the mind.”
“If we start being honest about our mental health, instead of pretending they don’t exist, then maybe we’ll be the change we desire, and perhaps make the world a better place than we found it.”
“Keep smiling and one day, life will get tired of upsetting you.”
“When I was asked if my cup was half-full or half-empty, my response was – I’m thankful I have a cup.”
“Pay attention to something, and you will begin to see evidence of it everywhere. Focus is everything.”
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it. This is where we live, and it is up to you and me to protect the mother earth who nourishes us.”
“Dear black girl, don’t be afraid to shine. Your hair is beautiful and your skin is divine.”
Entrepreneurial Lessons
Strive To Be The Best In All You Do
As the saying goes, whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. Nse Etim strives to be the best in whatever she does at all times. She practices her script so well until she perfects the character, so she doesn’t make mistakes while acting.
As an entrepreneur, always ensure you put in the best in whatever you find yourself doing. If you have to spend extra time practising, then do it. It’s the output you bring to the table that would speak for you.
Be Bold, Audacious, And Have A Good Support System
Nse Etim’s support system helped her through a tough time in her life. At the end of the day, she was bold enough to snap out of it and make a decision to continue to live to the fullest.
Social media trolls were always coming at her with several harsh words, but her strength, boldness, and audacity helped her through it all.
Nse now understands a child isn’t what makes you a woman, and she has become an advocate for women living with Adenomyosis.
In life, your inner strength matters a lot, because most times, it’s all you need to pull through a challenging situation.
Photo Credit: Instagram.