Jemima Osunde (born 30 April 1996) is a Nigerian actress, model, and presenter. She gained exposure after playing Leila in the television series '' Shuga''. Osunde was nominated for

Best Actress in a Leading Role Best or The Best may refer to: People * Best (surname), people with the surname Best * Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer Companies and organizations * Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain * Best Lock Corporatio ...

at the

15th Africa Movie Academy Awards The 2019 Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremony was held on Sunday 27 October 2019 at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos, Nigeria. The ceremony recognized and honored excellence among directors, actors, and writers in the film industry. The awards ...

for her performance in '' The Delivery Boy'' (2018).

Early life

Jemima Osunde is an

Edo State Edo State, Edo, officially known as Edo State, is a States of Nigeria, state in the South South, South-South Geopolitical zones of Nigeria, geopolitical zone of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As of 2024, the state was ranked as the List of Ni ...

native. She grew up with her mother, father, and elder brothers. She is the last child and only daughter of her parents. She studied

physiotherapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is a healthcare profession, as well as the care provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through patient education, physical intervention, disease preventio ...

at the

University of Lagos The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is a Public university, public research university located in Lagos, Nigeria, which was founded in 1962. UNILAG is one of the education in Nigeria#First generation universities, first generation universities in ...

. Osunde appeared in the film ''Jungle Jewel'' after being encouraged by her uncle to pursue acting in 2014.

Career

Osunde's first big break was her role as Laila in ''

MTV Shuga ''Shuga'', also known as ''MTV Shuga'', is a television drama that first aired in November 2009 on MTV Base as part of an initiative dubbed "MTV Staying Alive Ignite!". Its first two seasons were commissioned by MTV Networks Africa in associati ...

'', appearing in the fourth series. When the show moved to South Africa for its fifth series, Osunde was written out for a year. She returned for the sixth series when it return to Nigeria. In 2018, she starred alongside

Linda Ejiofor Linda Ejiofor (born Linda Ihuoma Ejiofor; 17 July 1986) is a Nigerian actress and model from Abia state, located in the southeastern region of Nigeria. She is known for her role as Bimpe Adekoya in M-Net's TV series ''Tinsel''. She was nominate ...

in the second series of

NdaniTV Ndani TV is a web-based channel owned by Guaranty Trust Bank, GTBank. History Ndani TV was established in 2012 by GTBank to offer both entertainment and informative content in order to attract a youthful customer base. It was the first onli ...

's ''Rumour Has It''. Osunde was back for the seventh series of MTV Shuga's ''Alone Together'' which went out nightly featuring "lockdown" conversations between the main characters during lockdown from

coronavirus Coronaviruses are a group of related RNA viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans and birds, they cause respiratory tract infections that can range from mild to lethal. Mild illnesses in humans include some cases of the comm ...

. All of the filmings were done by the actors who include Lerato Walaza,

Sthandiwe Kgoroge Sthandiwe Kgoroge (born Sithandiwe Msomi; 4 February 1972) is a South African actor who appeared in ''Generations'', series 5 and 7 of '' MTV Shuga'', the mini-series '' MTV Shuga Alone Together'', and the first series of '' Yizo Yizo''. Life Kg ...

, Uzoamaka Aniunoh,

Mamarumo Marokane Mamarumo Marokane (15 August, 1996) is a South African actor and presenter. She known for her appearances in ''Shadow'' and MTV Shuga. Early life Marokane was born in tafelkop Limpopo province. She studied at CityVarsity School of Media and ...

, and

Mohau Cele Mohau Mokoatle (née Cele) (born 28 September 1991) is a South African actress and singer. She played Bongi in ''MTV Shuga including the 2020'' mini-series titled MTV Shuga Alone Together. Life Cele was raised in Soweto but born in Matatiele ...

. In 2020, she was cast in '' Quam's Money'', a sequel to the 2018 film ''

New Money ; ), new rich, or new money (in contrast to old money; ) is a social class of the rich whose wealth has been acquired within their own generation, rather than by familial inheritance. These people previously had belonged to a lower social clas ...

''. The follow-up story follows what happens when a security guard (Quam) suddenly becomes a multi-millionaire. In October 2023, she co-launched her beauty brand "Sanaa Beauty" which was founded with

Adesua Etomi Tolulope Adesua Etomi-Wellington (born 22 February 1988) commonly known as Adesua Etomi is a Nigerians, Nigerian actress and entrepreneur. She debuted her film career with ''Knocking on Heaven's Door (2014 film), Knocking On Heaven's Door'' ( ...

Education

She attended Air Force Primary School, went on to Holy Child college for her secondary school education, and had her tertiary education at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. In 2019, Osunde graduated from the

with a degree in physiotherapy. Osunde joined the mandatory

National Youth Service Corps The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a mandatory, post-tertiary scheme set up by the Nigerian government during the military regime of Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, to "reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian ...

orientation program and uploaded a picture of herself participating in the program.

Filmography

playing MTV Shuga's Leila during the lockdown in 2020 *''Jungle Jewel (2013)'' *'' Esohe (2017) as Esohe'' *''Stellar'' (2016) as Chinemerem *'' My Wife & I'' (2017) Ireti Akinyele *'' Isoken'' (2017) as Osato *''

'' (2018) as Toun Odumosu *'' Lionheart'' (2018) as Onyinye *'' The Delivery Boy'' (2018) as Nkem *'' Quam's Money'' (2020) as Toun Odumosu *'' This Lady Called Life'' (2020) as Toke * ''Detour'' (2021) as Tari *Akoni (2021) as Aretta *''The Reset (2022) as Rita'' *''Water and Garri'' (2024) as Stephany * ''Hijack '93'' (2024) as Temitope

Television

*'' Shuga (2015-2019) as Leila'' *''Ojays'' (2015) *''Inspector K'' (2018) *

The Johnsons ''The Johnsons'' or '' De Johnsons '' is a 1992 in film, 1992 Netherlands, Dutch horror film thriller directed by Rudolf van den Berg. It also known under the title ''Xangadix''. The film was nominated for a ''Fantasy Film Award'' at the ''Porto ...

(2015) *'' This Is It'' (2016–2017) *''Rumour Has It'' (2018) as Ranti *'' Papa Benji'' (2020) * ''All of Us (2024 series)'' as Diane

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Osunde, Jemima Living people Actresses from Edo State Nigerian television actresses Nigerian film actresses University of Lagos alumni 21st-century Nigerian actresses 1996 births Nigerian female models Nigerian television presenters Nigerian physiotherapists