Stephanie Onyekachi Okereke Linus (known as Stephanie Okereke ) was born on October 2nd, 1982 in Ngor Okpala, Imo State in the southeastern part of Nigeria to Chima and Mary Okereke. She is a famous Nollywood actress, model, film director, producer, and philanthropist.
Stephanie Okereke Linus is 42 years old.
Thehe sixth child in a family of eight children, Stephanie grew up in Delta state where she had her primary and secondary education. She proceeded to the University of Calabar, in Cross River State, where she bagged a degree in English and Literary Studies.
She started her acting career while a student studying English and Literary Studies at the University of Calabar (UNICAL). Her first two Nollywood films were Compromise and Waterloo. She then acted in the blockbuster film, Terror, directed by Teco Benson. She has starred in more than 100 films
She also took modeling seriously and reached 2nd place during the 2002 Most beautiful girl in Nigeria beauty pageant. Her outstanding role interpretation in the movie Emotional Crack earned her eight awards and was screened in 2004 at the African Film Festival in New York. Since her appearance in the movie Emotional Crack, Stephanie has not relented in her efforts to stay relevant. She has starred in over 100 films so far.
She has directed and produced several movies. In 2008, She even received a Humanitarian Award for her movie Beyond the Tears. The movie was a grand piece, speaking firmly against rape and Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF). She took a break from acting in 2008 to study film at the New York Film Academy at Universal Studios, Los Angeles, after which she produced her first Hollywood/Nollywood feature film, Through the Glass, which premiered in October 2008 at the Pacific Design Center in Hollywood, California, and won the Recognition Award from the California State Legislature and the City of Carson for the film.
After the success of her first movie, Stephanie has dedicated time to working on her second film. Titled ‘Dry’ the movie which focuses on VVF – one of Stephanie’s core interests which have seen her meet and dine with first ladies across the country as they all fight towards saving the dignity of women. Over the years, she has been nominated three times at the prestigious AMAA awards.
In 2009, Stephanie joined forces with DEL -YORK International a media and marketing communications company in bringing the prestigious New York Film Academy (NYFA) for a one-month intensive workshop to train and inspire young Nigerian filmmakers in 2010. The same year, she was featured in the CNN documentary – 50 years of Nigerian Independence and performed alongside Meryl Streep at an exclusive stage reading of the play ‘SEVEN’ at the Hudson Theatre in New York as part of the Women in the World Conference, opened by US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. For Stephanie, however, what drives these immense accomplishments has been a burning desire to empower and represent women in the best light possible, a personal brand Ambassador for Nigeria; this vision inspires and drives her in all of her work as an actress, film director, entrepreneur, activist, model and style icon. Not done yet, she is spreading her tentacles, engaging in new fields that exhibit her versatility and prowess.
On a special invitation from the Queen of England, Stephanie was one of the distinguished guests who attended the 2015 Queens Young Leaders Award in Buckingham Palace where 60 young people across Commonwealth Nations were being honoured. As an avid supporter of the campaign, Stephanie met with England’s Queen Elizabeth II and other dignitaries at the Palace.
Beyond her work as an actress, she is passionate about women’s rights and strongly advocates against early child marriage. Through her foundation “Extended Hands”, she has done extensive work in the field of Vesico Vaginal Fistula. This has earned her the Miriam Makeba Award for Excellence in 2007, and the Beyond the Tears Humanitarian Award for her work against rape and VVF. Stephanie is also passionate about raising her voice against electoral violence. In March 2016, she spoke alongside other world leaders like the First Female U.S. Secretary Of State, Madeleine K Albright and the Canadian First Lady, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau at the #NotTheCost Conference in New York in her capacity as the the NDI’s Celebrity Ambassador for the ‘STOP Violence Against Women In Elections’ campaign. She was awarded Nigeria’s fourth highest award, Member of the Order of the Federal Republic.
Stephanie’s resilience and determination have proven that she will always remain one step ahead and she is arguably one of the most respected actresses in Nollywood. Her desire to evolve is what inspires and drives her in all of her work as an actress and entrepreneur. With a string of local and international awards and a burgeoning portfolio of philanthropy and activism, Stephanie is irrepressible and at the top of her game.
In April 2005, on her way to the African Movie Academy Awards held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Okereke was involved in a serious car accident that left her with burns all over and a broken leg.
In April 2012 Okereke got married to Linus Idahosa in Paris, France, at a private wedding ceremony that was attended by members of her family and scores of Nollywood actresses and actors. Their first son Maxwell Enosata Linus was born in October 2015.
Stepahie has received numerous awards, some of which include:
Her net worth is not available.
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