23rd February, 2016
Funsho Arogundade
On Tuesday 1 March, Nigerian actors Tobechi Nneji, Uriel Oputa and Ifeanyi Dike will make dramatic appearance as the upcoming BET Reality Series, ‘Top Actor Africa’ kicks off On BET DSTV Channel 129.
The trio will be flying the Nigerian flag as well as hoping to make the nation proud during the dramatic series.
They will join nine other hopefuls from South, East and West Africa, who were shortlisted after gruelling auditions held in Johannesburg, Durban, Lagos and Nairobi.
Others in the race are South Africans Shamilla Miller and Simhle Belinda Plaatjies from Cape Town; Farrell Drew from Durban and Marilyn Sekgapane, Jesse Suntele, Hendrik Lombard and Sabelo Sibeko, all from Johannesburg.
Also representing East Africa are Lorreine Wangui Gakuo and Alex Khayo from Kenya.
Top Actor Africa will be testing the actors to the limits in nine gruelling acting challenges, taking them through every acting genre from Improv to Comedy, Theatre, Soapie, Commercial, Romance, Horror, Drama and Action.
They will have the unique opportunity to work with industry insiders from the local industry and Hollywood including celebrity actors, casting agents, directors, producers, managers and writers as they fight to stay in the competition and keep their acting dreams alive.
The contestants will be competing for the chance to win the title of “Top Actor Africa”.
At stake is a career-launching prize package that includes US$10,000 in cash, a one-year contract with international representation and access to Hollywood auditions
Speaking on the emergence of the final contestants, Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, VIMM, congratulated all the contestants who have made the final cut in Top Actor Africa.
“We are thrilled to have developed this powerful and proven platform for discovering and empowering African acting talent, and we look forward to seeing the drama unfold in season 2,” Okosi remarked.
Uriel Oputa, one of the Nigerian contestants, was so excited making the final cut.
“Finding out I made it to Top Actor Africa was pure excitement, it has come at a real good time for me and my spirit is lifted, sincerely I’m truly overjoyed. I believe I’m going to just shine in the house,” she said.
The 2015 contest was won by South African drama student Altovise Lawrence, who now hosts entertainment news show, BET Buzz.
She also recently shot her first Hollywood movie, “The Other Side” in the USA opposite Roger Guenvuer Smith, Brad James and Erica Hubbard. The film is due for theatre release later in the year.
Top Actor Africa will be hosted by South African movie star Zikhona Sodlaka (“Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” & “Generations”)