Photo Credit: Fidelis Anosike/Instagram
Do you remember Clara Ikemba? Of course you do. How could anyone forget that gloriously infuriating woman who made our beloved Mr M’s life a living hell in “The Meeting“? The woman who turned a simple government office visit into an Olympic sport of frustration?
Mr M had it all planned out. Quick flight to Abuja, secure that government contract, dash back to Lagos for his daughter’s graduation ceremony. Simple enough. Except he’d never met Clara Ikemba, the secretary who wielded her small power like she was guarding the gates of heaven itself.
And oh, how we hated her! Rita Dominic made us hate Clara so thoroughly, so completely, that we’d find ourselves shouting at our screens. The way she sat behind that desk like a queen on her throne, chewing gum with the kind of deliberate slowness that made your skin crawl. The broken English that somehow made her seem both pitiful and terrifying. The way she’d size up visitors, calculating exactly how much “appreciation” they’d brought along.
But here’s the thing about Rita’s performance, it wasn’t just the antagonism that got us. It was the details. The makeup that aged her face into hard lines of cynicism, the way she carried herself with the confidence of someone who knew exactly where she stood in the food chain. The handbag clutched like a weapon, the clothes that screamed “I’ve made it, sort of.”
And then, oh, and then, came that moment when the traditional ruler walked in. The transformation was like watching magic happen in real time. Clara, who had been treating everyone like dirt beneath her shoes, suddenly became this reverent, almost worshipful figure. Down on her knees, hands raised in praise, later joining the entourage in their celebratory dance. It was breathtaking to watch Rita slip between these two completely different people within the same character.
For many of our younger siblings and friends discovering Nollywood, this was their introduction to Rita Dominic’s brilliance. They watched in awe as she disappeared completely into Clara, becoming this woman we loved to hate. The performance was so complete, so convincing, that it earned her something unprecedented, the AMVCA Best Actress award in both Drama and Comedy categories in 2015. She remains the only actress to achieve this double victory.
But for those of us who’ve been riding with Rita from the beginning, “The Meeting” was simply another reminder of why we’ve always known she was special. She’s that actress whose name on a movie poster is enough to make you clear your weekend plans. You don’t need to read the plot summary or check the reviews—if Rita’s in it, you know it’s going to be worth your time.
Since Clara made us want to throw things at our screens, Rita has continued to surprise us with her range. She gave us the heartbreaking beauty of a woman caught between worlds in “Iyore,” showed us the quiet strength of a military wife navigating dangerous political waters in “76,” and had us mesmerised as the mysterious singer in “La Femme Anjola.” Most recently, in “Baby Farm,” she’s tackled one of her most challenging roles yet—a successful actress dealing with the private pain of infertility, stripping away all glamour to show us raw, honest vulnerability.
But let’s take a moment to appreciate just how far Rita has come. This incredible journey began with a young girl performing in school plays and children’s television shows back in Imo State, already showing glimpses of the talent that would captivate an entire industry. In 1998, she made her feature film debut in “A Time to Kill,” taking the first step in what would become one of Nollywood’s most remarkable careers. Today, she’s not just the actress we fell in love with, she’s become a powerhouse producer, creating acclaimed films like “The Therapist,” “Light in the Dark,” “Bound,” “The Blindspot,” and “Desecration.” Each production has shown us her creative vision and her commitment to elevating Nigerian cinema.
Today, the queen turns fifty. Fifty! Can you believe it? Here’s a woman who continues to reinvent herself with every role, who still surprises us after all these years, who makes us forget we’re watching Rita Dominic act because she becomes someone else entirely.
As we celebrate this milestone, we’re reminded of five roles that still have us absolutely captivated: the deliciously infuriating Clara in “The Meeting,” the woman caught between worlds in “Iyore,” the resilient military wife in “’76,” the mysterious singer in “La Femme Anjola,” and the vulnerable actress in “Baby Farm.”
Each performance is a masterclass in transformation, a reminder of why Rita Dominic remains one of Nollywood’s most compelling forces. Here’s to fifty years of brilliance, and to many more years of Rita surprising us, challenging us, and reminding us why we fell in love with her talent in the first place.
The Meeting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUYTgbyBXJc
Iyore
’76
La Femme Anjola
Baby Farm
