Ayo Adesanya is a Nigerian actress, director, and producer. Ayo Adesanya features in both Yoruba and English-language films.
Adesanya is a beautiful, creative and sophisticated woman, her mannerisms have opened doors for her in the industry. Her undiluted passion has made her stand out among her peers.
The award-winning actress is on social media where her fans can reach out to her, her official Instagram handle is @ayoadesanya and for Twitter, it’s @ayoadesanya11 where she has millions of followers on both platforms.
EARLY LIFE
Growing Up
Ayo Adesanya was born on 11 August 1969, she hails from Ijagun, Ijebu in Ogun State southwestern geopolitical part of Nigeria. She was born to the family of late Pa Adesanya and to a mother, who is a businesswoman, she was born and bred in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Education
Ayo Adesanya attended Baptist Nursery and Primary school in Ibadan and St Anne’s School Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, where she finished both her primary and secondary school education and obtained both her First School Leaving Certificate and West African Senior School Certificate. She later continued to the University of Ibadan where she earned herself a bachelor’s degree in Mass communication.
How Adesanya’s Career Started
Adesanya’s passion for acting started while she was in university. As a student, she spent much of her free time going to see exhibitions and acts conducted by students of the Theatre Arts Department. The actress fondly recalled how the likes of the actor and the former Konkere music exponent Tunji Sotimirin and the people behind the famous ‘Lafomania’ comedy club fascinated her with their acts. Afterward, she yearned for a chance to act. But that chance didn’t come until sometime in the late nineties, a few years after she graduated from the University of Ibadan. A golden opportunity where she secured a cameo role in Opa Williams’ award-winning film ‘Onome’ gave her the break she longed for.
Adesanya first appeared on Tunji Bamishigbin’s soap opera titled Palace. She later joined the Yoruba-language film industry, where she has featured in award-winning movies and directed several films. She also appears in the English language spoken movies.
IMPORTANT LIFE EVENTS
Career Breakthroughs
Ayo Adesanya has acted in more than 300 Nollywood movies and television series in the course of her career, she has become one of Nollywood veteran actresses. She has managed to become a household brand and signed several endorsement deals. Adesanya is no longer that young lady that was given a minor role in her first movie, and she has stayed relevant in the movie industry over the past 20 years.
Filmography
The award-winning actress has featured in several movies and some of her work are listed below;
- Remember Your Mother (2000)
- Dancer 2 ( 2001)
- Tears in My Heart 2 (2006)
- Dancer- 2001
- Palace
- Onome
- Tears in My Heart- 2006
- Agbokolori- 2018
- Kosedurowo- 2018
- Last Party
- Ebu Ika
- Captive
- Out of Bounds
- Most Wanted
- Fire Dancer
- Dangerous Babe
- Otelemuye- 2005
- Osuka- 2006
- Irebami-2020
- Erupe- 2016
- Iya omoge- 2019
- Oruka etan- 2018
- Oko meji- 2019
- Oyun elege- 2018
- Oloju Meji
- Olamide Wo
- Iwa Buruku
- Monisola Ologe
- Omugwo
- Jeremy
- Desperate Poor Man
- Tears in My Heart, etc.
Personal Life
Ayo Adesanya was previously married to Goriola Hassan, the present King of Uba land of the Imobi kingdom in Ogun state. The couple divorced due to a misunderstanding. Ayo Adesanya has a son with her ex-husband, Niyi Iremitide who is also her only child. Adesanya has recently made it clear that she is open to remarrying if love comes her way again.
AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS
Her work in the Nigerian movie industry over the past two decades has earned her awards and recognition in the industry, some of her awards include; City People Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress of the Year (Yoruba), City People Movie Special Recognition Award, Best Supporting Actress at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, and Best Actress in Drama at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
INTERESTING FACT
Net Worth
Adesanya has worked hard for decades and has managed to earn herself a spot among the rich and influential people in Nigeria, her net worth is estimated to be $500,000.