For most of us that have kept up-to-date with Gollywood’s transition from DVD placements through to cinemas openings, we are familiar with the level of talent an actor must possess before snatching a powerhouse figure. From single roles (actress) played on film sets through to multiple tasks (actress, producer and executive producer) on locations that have her Desamour Company owning worldwide rights to the entire production of the picture, Yvonne Okoro has gracefully become a major starlet in African cinemas.
Last seen in theatres playing a successful actress caught up in the web of love of a married man in ‘Fix Us’, Yvonne’s existing portfolio in the film space goes all round in real-life character representations on the big screen.
During her prime days as a young actress ready to take on the world, Okoro was among the few noticeable actresses that made supporting roles a delight to watch for post-discussions. On the set of Abdul Salam Mumuni’s ‘Agony of Christ’ in 2008, her reduced role as princess of the land pointed out the calibre of persons off the screen that play safe in the midst life-threatening situations. For her role as Ciara in ‘Beyonce: The President’s Daughter’ Okoro was the evident template for ladies that had to go through the stress of dealing with people of high authority that take things by force, regardless its value.
Booked and busy, the early years of the past decade (2010-2020), fetched Okoro a great wealth of recognitions during award seasons in Africa. Her starred in films made her a strong contender at big ticket award shows. Four years in a row at the Ghana Movie Awards (2010 – 2013), Yvonne was a major mention in the best actress category. At the Africa Movie Academy Awards, her mesmerizing performance in ‘Pool Party’, ‘Single Six’ and ‘Contract’ gathered her a best supporting actress and best actress nomination from 2011 – 2013 respectively.
The highlight of her buzzing career came in 2014 when her first executive produced film ‘Contract’ won Best Movie Africa at the second Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards. In 2017, when there was a shortage of Ghanaian films gaining momentum at celebrated award shows in Africa, Yvonne arrived at the AMVCAs again with a stellar record of 6 nominations for her second produced film ‘Ghana Must Go’ including best director for Frank Rajah Arase.
Aside the nominations and red carpet glam that accompanied the moment, maturity and consideration in terms of role choices were written all over her film releases financed by film studios aside hers. In an interview with Phamous TV in 2012, Yvonne disclosed she had become picky with scripts that came her way. She was more of quality rather than quantity. Her box office numbers from that time (2012) to date records not up to thirty films despite her popularity, but certainly affords her a Masterclass figure on screen.
Widely considered one of the best actresses of her time, Yvonne has stolen the hearts of many with her enchanting roles on the big screen. In honour of her 36th birthday today, we look back at some of her finest moments on screen.
‘Beyonce: The President’s Daughter’ (2006)
‘4 Play’ (2010)
‘Adams Apples’ (2011)
‘Why Marry ?’ (2011)
‘Contract’ (2012)
‘Rebecca’ (2016)
‘Like Cotton Twins’ (2016)
‘Ghana Must Go’ (2016)
‘A Husband for Daddy’ (2019)
