Stella Damasus (born April 24, 1978) is a Nigerian actress and singer. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2009. She won the Award for Best Actress at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards in 2007. In 2012, she won the award for Best Actress for the movie Two Brides and a Baby at the Golden Icons Academy Awards in Houston, Texas.
Early life Stella Damasus was born in Benin City, Edo State, in the South-South region of Nigeria. She has four sisters. She grew up in Benin City, where she completed most of her primary education.
Personal life Damasus married her first husband, Jaiye Aboderin, in 1999 when she was 21. The couple had two daughters before Jaiye died suddenly in 2004. Damasus remarried in 2007, this time to Emeka Nzeribe. The marriage lasted for seven months before they mutually agreed to divorce. In 2011, she became associated with multiple award-winning Nollywood producer and director Daniel Ademinokan; this eventually led to a separation in 2020 and a subsequent divorce. Their relationship sparked a lot of controversy because both parties never publicly admitted to being dating, engaged, or even married until 2014.
Career Damasus started her career as a singer in Lagos, where she worked as a studio session singer at the famous Klink Studios owned by filmmaker Kingsley Ogoro. There she honed her skills as a singer and went on to do vocals for top radio and TV jingles in Nigeria at that time.
Damasus is a Theatre arts graduate of the University of Lagos, Nigeria. She first appeared in the Nigerian film Abused in 1992. Her claim to fame, however, was her second movie, Breaking Point, produced by Emem Isong and directed by Francis Agu, where she shot into superstardom across Nigeria. She was nominated for the African Movie Academy Award in 2006 for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" for her performance in the movie Behind Closed Doors. In 2008, she was also nominated for the African Movie Academy Award for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" in the movie Widow and in 2009 in the movie State of the Heart. She has gone on to star in more than 70 movies. Damasus is the co-founder of I2radio and hosts two podcast shows: Undiluted with Stella Damasus and When Women Praise.
Filmography YearTitleRoleStarring1995RattlesnakeAmaraFrancis Duru, Nkem Owoh, Sunny McDon, Ebele Uzochukwu Anne Njemanze 1999 Face of a Liar Zulu Adigwe, Rita Dominic, Bibiana Ohio 2001 Rumours Segun Arinze, Zulu Adigwe, Kunle Coker, Uche Jombo 2002 Submission Patience Ozokwor, Zack Orji, Clem Ohameze, Jennifer Eliogu 2003 Real Love Ramsey Nouah Jnr, Chioma Chukwuka, Olu Jacobs 2003 Passions Emeka Ike, Richard Mofe Damijo, Genevieve Nnaji, Florence Onuma 2003 My Time 1&2 Bob Manuel Udokwu, Patience Ozokwor, Mary Ann Apollo, Ofia Afuluagu Mbaka 2003 When God says YesRose Richard Mofe Damijo, Clem Ohameze, Ngozi Ezeonu, Pete Edochie 2003 Never say goodbyeNwando Fabian Adibe, David Ihesie, Ramsey Nouah Jnr 2003 Market seller 1&2 Lilian Bach, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Kanayo O Kanayo 2003 The Intruder 1&2 Enebeli Elebuwa, Rita Dominic, Jim Iyke, RMD 2003 Emotional PainTiti Eucharia Anunuobi, Richard Mofe Damijo, Frank Dallas 2003 Dangerous Desire Fred Amata, Bimbo Akintola, Dayo Adewunmi 2003 Bad Boys Ramsey Nouah Jnr, Clem Ohameze, Amaechi Muonagor 2003 After the Fight Eucharia Anunuobi Ekwu, Kanayo O Kanayo 2004 Queen 1&2 Robert Peters, Richard Mofe Damijo, Nkiru Sylvanus 2004 Missing Angel 1,2&3Dolly Desmond Elliot, Empress Njamah, Nobert Young, Tuvi James 2004 Kings Pride Richard Mofe Damijo, Fred Aresoma, Peter Bruno 2004 Engagement Night 1&2 Richard Mofe Damijo, Darlene Benson-Cobham 2004 Above Love Desmond Elliot, Bukky Wright, Enebeli Elebuwa2004 Betrayed by Love Emeka Ike 2004 Red Hot Liz Benson, Zack Orji, Segun Arinze 2004 Burning Desire 1&2 Richard Mofe Damijo, Enebeli Elebuwa, Ernest Asuzu 2004 Cinderella Desmond Elliot, Grace Amah, Segun Arinze 2004 Dangerous Twins 1, 2 & 3 Ramsey Nouah Jnr, Bimbo Akintola, Lanre Balogun, Sola Sobowale 2005 Wheel of Change Fred Amata, Rita Dominic, Mbong Odungide 2005 The Seed 1&2 Emeka Enyiocha, Chidi Mokeme, Ashley Nwosu 2005 Desperate and Dangerous Chidi Mokeme, Steph-Nora Okereke 2005 Real Love 2&3 Ramsey Nouah Jnr, Caroline Ekanem, Olu Jacobs 2005 Games Women Play 1&2Emma Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Desmond Elliot, Bob Manuel Udokwu, Zack Orji 2005 The BridesmaidTega Richard Mofe Damijo, Kate Henshaw Nuttal, Chioma Chukwuka 2005 Behind Closed Doors 1&2 Desmond Elliot, Richard Mofe Damijo, Patience Ozokwor 2005 Widow Yemi Solade, Peter Bruno 2006 Standing AloneLilian Richard Mofe Damijo, Tony Umez, Jennifer Eliogu 2008 Yankee GirlsTessy Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Rita Dominic 2008 Yankee Girls 2Tessy Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Rita Dominic 2008 Four sistersHarmonyPete Edochie, Uche Ogbodo, Obi Okoli, Adaora Ukoh 2008 Halimat2010Bent ArrowsNgoziZainab Ademola, Ibrahim Adam2011Two brides and a babyAmawith Kalu Ikeagwu2014To Rise AgainLydiawith Segun Arinze, Chuks China, Peter Bunor2014When Is It EnoughShort (as actor, co-producer and co-writer with Daniel Ademinokan)2016Affairs of the HeartVivienneAlso starring Beverly Naya, Divine Shaw, Stephanie Stephen, Glenn Turner, Joel Rogers, Monica Swaida and Cyceru Ash.2018BetweenChelsea Hollis Travis Grenier, Tatiana Lia Zapperdino, Isabel De La Cruz2021GoneNgozi Sam Dede, Gabriel Afolayan, Bimbo Manuel, Bimbo Ademoye AkwụnaEbereNnamdi Kanaga, Tim Meadows2022StayMrs. BJoseph Benjamin, Nini Amerlise, Theo Bray2022AkwunaEbereNnamdi Kanaga, Sara Rashelle, Kelechi Eke2023The ScarZaraJoseph Benjamin, Mercy Macjoe, Collins John Emefiele, Ella Emefiele2025To Kill a MonkeyNosaWilliam Benson, Bimbo Akintola, Bucci Franklin
See also List of Nigerian actors
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