Actress Yvonne Jegede has taken a trip down memory lane, recalling a heartwarming encounter with her senior colleague, Genevieve Nnaji, that left a lasting impression on her.
In an Instagram post, Yvonne shared a throwback video from a film they worked on together in 2007. She revealed that Genevieve’s kindness and warmth on set made her develop a deep admiration for the Nollywood veteran.
The actress revealed that shortly after filming, she left Nigeria to pursue a degree in International Relations at a university in Cyprus, taking a five‑year break from Nollywood.
She eventually returned and has since made a name for herself in films like 3 Is Company, Okafor’s Law, and My Best Friend’s Wedding.
She wrote:
“This matter long ooo, see what someone sent to me. 2007, from this movie set, I left straight to the airport and left Nollywood for five years to go study. I even almost missed my flight. Truthfully, this movie is why I always adore Genevieve. She was too kind and sweet to me on this project, very warm and pleasant. If you know the name of this movie, please indicate because me sef don’t remember.”
Genevieve Nnaji, who began acting as a teenager in the 1990s, has long been celebrated by younger colleagues for her professionalism and supportive nature. Her most recent known screen appearance was in the critically acclaimed Lionheart (2019), which she also directed and co‑produced.
In the same vein, Yvonne Jegede recently walked down memory lane in a candid chat on the Nollywood on Radio podcast.
The actress and mother of one opened up about how she landed a role in 2Baba’s legendary “African Queen” music video. While it’s a moment many fans still associate with her early rise to stardom, Yvonne shared how she nearly turned the whole thing down.
At the time, Yvonne was laser-focused on building her acting career and wasn’t exactly thrilled about being in a music video.
To make things even more interesting, she said she had no idea what “African Queen” was or that it was about to become a massive hit.
It wasn’t until a friend hyped the song that she reconsidered. She then called the director back that night, got the shoot details, sorted her hair, and by the next morning, she was on set. It was also the first time she laid eyes on 2Baba in person.
Although the video ended up boosting her visibility, Yvonne said she was never interested in becoming a full-time video vixen
