Veteran Nollywood actress Winifred Ugwu-Iwunze, who rose to fame in the late 1990s with standout roles in films such as Aki na Ukwu, The Last Party and Lost to Lust, as well as the popular television series Heaven’s Gate, has announced her return to acting after years away from the screen.
Ugwu-Iwunze, once regarded as one of the most promising faces of early Nollywood, stepped away from her flourishing acting career at the height of her fame after what she described as a divine call to full-time ministry.
“God asked me to quit and follow Him,” she recalled. “I resisted at first, but circumstances forced me to bow to the pressure. Today, I can say it was the best decision of my life.”
Now a pastor and community advocate, the actress-turned-cleric says she is ready to return to Nollywood with a renewed sense of purpose, focusing on producing films that inspire social change.
“I want to return to Nollywood to produce films that are transformational, inspiring and educational,” she said.
Ugwu-Iwunze revealed that her journey into Nollywood was driven not by passion, but survival. As the first daughter from a humble background, she felt a deep responsibility to support her family.
“Honestly, it was hunger. I wasn’t driven by passion, but by necessity,” she said.
In 1998, she moved from Kaduna to Lagos with little more than determination and information that actors gathered at the now-defunct Winis Hotel in Kilo. On her very first day, she encountered the set of The Last Party, produced by Ikenna Udeogu, starring the late St Obi, Steph Nora-Okere and Genevieve Nnaji.
Despite having no prior acting experience, she was offered the role of a senator’s wife — a moment she described as life-changing.
“I was nervous and starstruck, but I knew it was my chance to shine. The fear eventually gave way to survival instinct.”
Her breakthrough came with the television series Heaven’s Gate, produced by Zik Zulu Okafor, where her weekly screen presence opened doors to more opportunities. Another major turning point was her performance in Lost to Lust, which quickly made her a household name.
“Within two weeks of releasing the promo, I had about 16 scripts on my table,” she said.
Ironically, it was at the peak of her career that she felt compelled to walk away.
Ugwu-Iwunze explained that she struggled deeply with the decision to quit acting, especially as her family was still grappling with poverty. However, she said the call to ministry became impossible to ignore.
“God kept telling me that my assignment was different. I didn’t want to quit acting, but I knew I was being called into a prophetic office that required purification and holiness.”
She eventually left Nollywood, a decision she says coincided with a long-awaited personal breakthrough — the conception of her first child after several years of marriage.
After years in ministry, Ugwu-Iwunze says she received another divine instruction — this time to return to filmmaking. Although her initial attempts through short films on social media were not commercially successful, she remains undeterred.
“This time, I am more intentional. I want to tell stories that will impact lives and society positively.”
She also offered a candid assessment of today’s Nollywood, lamenting predictable storylines and declining emphasis on skill.
“Before now, storylines were unpredictable. Today, even a child can predict how a film will end. We also need proper training centres that focus on skills, not just certificates.”
Ugwu-Iwunze currently pastors Zion Gate Bible Church, with its headquarters in Lagos and a branch in the United Kingdom. Beyond preaching, she is deeply involved in community outreach, including a food bank initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable Nigerians.
“God wanted me to focus on people who are on the floor and see how we can help them stand,” she said.
As she prepares for her return to Nollywood, Ugwu-Iwunze insists her journey has come full circle — this time with faith, experience and purpose guiding her path.
