1. Hugo Weaving
Hugo Wallace Weaving was born on April 4, 1960 in Nigeria. His mom was a tour guide and teacher, and dad – a seismologist. He spent his child years travelling between Nigeria, Great Britain and Australia. Hugo has had a steadily successful career in the film, television, and theater industries. More recently, roles in films such as The Matrix trilogy as Agent Smith and The Lord of the Rings trilogy as Lord Elrond have considerably raised his international profile. His famous and irreplaceable role in The Matrix movies have made him one of the greatest sci-fi villains of the twenty-first century.
2. Hakeem Kae-Kazim
The actor was born in Lagos on October 1, 1962, but his parents emigrated to study in the United Kingdom when Hakeem was one year. Then he moved South Africa at the age of 25.
Hakeem has a great list of Hollywood movies he starred in: Pirates of the Caribbean III, Lost, Cane with Jimmy Smits, Law & Order: SVU with Mariska Hargitay, The Triangle with Sam Neill, The Librarian with Gabrielle Anwar, X-Men: Wolverine with Hugh Jackman, The 4th Kind alongside Milla Jovovich and Darfur with Billy Zane. Hakeem is often recognized for his recurring role as Colonel Dubaku. Hakeem’s latest films are Half of a Yellow Sun and A Chance of Rain.
3. Badejo
He was born in Lagos on August 23, 1953. Bolaji Badejo is famous for his role in the movie “Alien”. The most interesting moment is that he was discovered in a bar by a member of the film crew. That person felt that he would be ideal to play the title creature as director Ridley Scott wanted to create a monster that looked as if no human could be behind the mask. Even though he had no experience as an actor, Badejo’s thin and tall (2 meters high) body made him ideal for the part. Unfortunately, the man died in 1992 because of sickle cell anemia.
4. Sade
She was born in Ibadan on January 16, 1959, as Helen Folasade Adu. Her father, Bisi Adu, is a Nigerian, and her mother, Anne Hayes, is British. She is the lead singer of soul group named after her, Sade. She sold close to 40 million albums worldwide, has had six multi-platinum albums released in 20 years and has received 4 Grammy Awards including 1985′s Best New Artist. VH1 ranked her #66 on 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll.
5. Nikki Amuka-Bird
Amuka-Bird was born in Nigeria on February 27, 1976, but grew up in the UK and in Antigua. Now she is English actress of the stage, television and film. Her film credits include The Omen (2006), Cargo, Almost Heaven and prominent screen adaptation of Alexander McCall Smith’s novel The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. On television, Amuka-Bird has appeared in Spooks, The Line of Beauty, The Last Enemy, Robin Hood, Torchwood, and a recurring role in the reimagined BBC apocalyptic Survivors series.
