50 & Iconic: Celebrating Rita Dominic

Multiple award-winning actress and producer, Rita Uchenna Nkem Dominic Anosike, clocked 50 yesterday, and tributes have poured in from across the globe to celebrate her towering achievements and graceful evolution in Nigeria’s film industry.

Dominic, widely regarded as one of the most influential and stylish figures in Nollywood, marked her golden jubilee with a private thanksgiving event attended by close family, industry friends, and notable dignitaries in Lagos. She is expected to host a larger celebration later in the week.

Rita’s five-decade journey is as inspiring as it is groundbreaking. Starting her career in the late 1990s when Nollywood was still in its formative stages, she rose to become a household name through critically acclaimed performances and a tireless commitment to quality storytelling. Her name has come to symbolize excellence, poise, and resilience in an industry known for constant change.

Rita Dominic Anosike

From her early roles in classic home videos like Children of Terror and A Time to Kill, to producing big-budget feature films like The Meeting, 76, and La Femme Anjola, Dominic has continued to push boundaries.

Today, as she celebrates a life well-lived and a career still thriving, colleagues, fans, and emerging talents are applauding her legacy and contributions to African cinema.

From Mbaise to Nollywood: The Making of a Star

Born on July 13, 1975, in the historic town of Mbaise, Imo State, Rita Dominic is the youngest of four children in a prominent medical family. Her father was a renowned medical doctor, while her mother was a nursing officer. Raised in a household that valued education and integrity, Dominic developed an early interest in the performing arts.

She attended Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene, and later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt in 1999. Her professional acting debut came soon after, and she never looked back.

In 2004, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, cementing her place among Nollywood’s elite.

Rita Dominic Anosike

Over the next two decades, Dominic featured in over 150 films and became a staple of the industry. She stood out for her ability to seamlessly switch between roles — whether playing a vulnerable housewife, a rebellious daughter, or a political strategist — her performances were always authentic, drawing praise from critics and fans alike.

In 2013, she partnered with director Mildred Okwo to establish The Audrey Silva Company, which has produced a string of commercially successful and critically acclaimed films. Her production work earned her respect not just as a performer but as a storyteller and businesswoman.

Rita Dominic Anosike And The Miss Nigeria Pageantry

Rita Dominic Anosike, stepped into a pivotal leadership role in the evolution of the Miss Nigeria pageant, bringing her creative force and long-standing advocacy for women’s empowerment to the forefront of the historic competition.

Through her award-winning production company, The Audrey Silva Company (TASC), co-founded with filmmaker Mildred Okwo, Dominic took over the leadership and organization of the Miss Nigeria pageant. The collaboration signals a fresh chapter for the iconic brand, marrying film industry expertise with a renewed focus on purpose-driven pageantry.

Rita Dominic Anosike

In December 2024, Dominic was officially appointed as the Chairman of the Miss Nigeria Board for the 45th edition of the pageant. Under her leadership, the event was not only rebranded but reimagined as a platform that prioritizes more than beauty, placing emphasis on intellectual excellence, community development, and female empowerment.

According to insiders familiar with the board’s direction, Dominic is steering the Miss Nigeria platform toward becoming a meaningful pipeline for discovering and nurturing young Nigerian women who demonstrate a strong sense of purpose, leadership qualities, and social impact potential.

Her appointment was widely praised across media and entertainment circles, with many seeing it as a natural fit given her track record of promoting strong, multidimensional female characters on screen and her advocacy off it.

A Decorated Career and a New Chapter in Love

With more than two decades in film, Rita Dominic’s shelf is full of awards, both local and international. These include the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), Best of Nollywood Awards, and recognitions from film festivals in Toronto, Durban, and Cairo.

Her international exposure, particularly through platforms like the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and the Cannes Film Festival, elevated Nollywood’s global visibility. She has served as a mentor for younger actors and a vocal advocate for better standards in Nigerian film production.

Outside her career, 2022 marked a personal milestone when she married Fidelis Anosike, a media entrepreneur and publisher of the Daily Times. The wedding, held at the stately North Yorkshire manor in the United Kingdom, drew national attention and trended on social media for weeks.

Speaking to press earlier this year, Dominic described the union as “worth the wait,” and called for more women to pursue happiness on their own timeline. The couple have since become one of Nigeria’s admired media power couples.

Rita at 50: Setting the Stage for the Next Generation

As she steps into her 50s, Rita Dominic shows no sign of slowing down. She is currently working on a docuseries exploring Nollywood’s transformation from VHS tapes to global streaming platforms, set for release in 2026.

Dominic is also focused on mentoring female filmmakers and building an inclusive film community through grants and workshops. She continues to use her platform to speak on issues including gender equity in media, mental health awareness, and professionalism in film.

In an Instagram post marking her milestone, she wrote: “Fifty and fulfilled. Grateful for the journey, the lessons, the joy, the mistakes, and the people. Here’s to the next act.”

Industry leaders like Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Joke Silva, and Richard Mofe-Damijo have all sent their birthday wishes, hailing Dominic as a “queen with class” and “a true custodian of the craft.”

For Nollywood’s new generation of actors, Rita Dominic is more than a star; she’s a blueprint.

Happy 50th Birthday, Rita Dominic Anosike.