The 2025 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) has unveiled its highly competitive Best Lead Actress category, featuring powerhouse performances from Nollywood’s leading ladies. The nominees – Chioma Akpotha, Gbugbemi Ejeye, Uche Montana, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Hilda Dokubo, and Bimbo Ademoye – have delivered what critics are calling “career-defining” portrayals that have elevated Nigerian cinema this awards season.
Standout Performances:
- Chioma Akpotha transforms into Queen Amaka in Seven Doors, masterfully depicting an 18th-century Igbo queen torn between love and royal duty in her intertribal marriage to a Yoruba king (Femi Adebayo).
- Bimbo Ademoye reprises her iconic role as Queen Arolake in Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, delivering a haunting portrayal of a woman wielding supernatural powers amid betrayal and revenge.
- Hilda Dokubo stuns as grieving mother-turned-avenger Ebiere in The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3, with her visceral performance of maternal rage already sparking Oscar buzz.
Other notable nominees include Uche Montana’s chilling turn as blackmailer Annie in psychological thriller Thin Line and Uzoamaka Aniunoh’s nuanced performance as resort inheritor Ewura-Ama navigating love and power dynamics.
Industry analysts note this year’s category reflects Nollywood’s growing complexity in female storytelling, with roles moving beyond traditional stereotypes to showcase multidimensional women. The winner will be announced at the star-studded ceremony on April 25th in Lagos, where global streaming platforms are expected to court several nominees for international projects.
Fans have taken to social media to champion their favorites, with #AMVCA2025 trending across African markets. Notably absent from nominations were some expected contenders, sparking debates about the selection process while highlighting the exceptional work of this year’s honorees.
