Ivie Okujaye: Biography, Age, Movies, Family & Career

Ivie Okujaye is popularly known as little Genevieve because of her resemblance with the Nollywood icon, Genevieve Nnaji. She is a fast-rising movie producer, scriptwriter, dancer, singer and activist.

In this post, we take a look at the life of the multitalented Ivie Okujaye.

Early life

Ivie Okujaye was born 16 May 1987. She was born in Benin City to a Delta State father and an Edo State mother. Ivie is the last of 5 children. She spent the first 10 years of her life in Benin before moving to Lagos then Abuja.

Her parents wanted her to study medicine due to the presence of several medical practitioners in her family.

Education

Ivie had her primary education at Our Ladies of Apostle Private School before attending Queen’s College, Yaba in Lagos for her secondary education.

The actress proceeded to the University of Abuja where she studied Economics.

Career

In 2009, Ivie participated and won the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality TV show. Prior to her AMBO experience, she had been performing on stage plays for many years.

Her first Nollywood movie was Alero Symphony. The actress wrote the script for the movie, “The Volunteers”, which was shot in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria and produced by Desmond Elliot.

She produced her first ever movie, ‘Make a Move’ which was released in the cinemas. She also produced the soundtrack for the movie.

‘Make a Move’ is a movie based on healing through the arts. It’s about emancipation; taking a step and finding the audacity to do something that would help your life.

The actress revealed that she is very particular and partial towards the affairs of women and children and according to her if she has any opportunity to help a child or a woman, she would do so.

The movie, ‘Make a move’ served as a platform to bring her passion for the affairs of women and children and her art and craft together.

Although Ivie is also a talented singer, she revealed that she is focused on conquering the movie industry for now.  Also, she revealed that she will chase her music dream in due time as she believes you can never to be too old to chase new dreams. In fact, she revealed that some day, she’ll be dancing to her songs in a club.

Movies

Some of the movies Ivie has starred in are highlighted below.

  • 7 Inch Curve
  • Alero’s Symphony
  • Burning Bridges
  • Dowry
  • Hotel Majestic (2015)
  • How She left my Brother
  • Kamara’s Tree
  • Make a Move
  • The Black Silhouette
  • The Volunteers

Awards

The actress was nominated for the award of Best Actress in a Drama in 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for her role in the movie, ‘The Volunteers.’ She was also nominated for the award of Most Promising Talent at the Best of Nollywood Awards in 2010.

Ivie won the Best Young Actor at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2012 for her role in the movie, Alero Symphony. Also, she won the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Trailblazer Award in 2013.

Marriage

Ivie Okujaye is married to Ezie Egbo. They got married on the 17th of April 2015 and they have been married for 3 years. They have two children together. Ivie had her first daughter in 2016 and her second child in 2018

Prior to getting married, they were friends for over 10 years. The actress revealed that she met her husband long before she came into the entertainment industry. She further disclosed that it was a friendship that has blossomed over the years, and by God’s grace it will continue to grow.

Amstel Malta Box Office

The actress revealed that AMBO opened doors for her and she has worked quite hard to open windows of opportunities, to keep the doors that AMBO created for her open.

Money

The actress revealed that money doesn’t influence her roles as an actress. Ivie further revealed that for her it’s about the story as her passion and craft revolves around the stories and how she can interpret the role and the effect it will have on the general public.

Controversy

Ivie has been able to avoid challenges because she is a boring person.  Although she’s not an introvert, she’d rather sit at home watching cartoons than hang out. This is why you will not see her in certain places to start spreading rumours.

Role models

Ivie admires the like of Kate Henshaw, Majid Michel, O.C Ukeje and Lydia Forson. The actress revealed in an interview that she likes Kate Henshaw for her down -to- earth approach to everything and her smiles. Also, she loves O. C Ukeje’s discipline. The popular actor, Majid Michel is also someone she admires for his intensity as an actor. Lydia Forson is a very honest actress in the sense that she interprets whatever character she’s given the way it is.

Little Genevieve

Despite being nicknamed Little Genevieve, the actress revealed that she is yet to meet her in person. But she admires her for her success in the industry.

Hobbies

She enjoys watching cartoons and always finds time to go swimming because she believes health and fitness are important to her.

Fashion

The actress revealed that for her fashion is not about following the trend but about being comfortable in her outfits. In fact, if she sees a beautiful shoe and it is uncomfortable she won’t wear it except she has to wear it for the purpose of playing a role.

Challenges

The actress revealed in an interview that stereo casting is a slight challenge for her and the industry tends to give the same types of roles to actors and actresses because of how they look and what they enjoy doing. In her case, she’s athletic, so she tends to get roles that have to do with that.

Although she revealed that stereo casting helps you make money, but it reduces your artistic abilities because you tend to forget how to do other things.

Ivie also revealed that piracy, lacking of funding are the major problems in Nollywood.

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