Stella Damasus Is Still One of Nollywood’s Most Relevant Voices. From Classic Roles to Netflix’s To Kill a Monkey, She’s Proof That Longevity and Purpose Still Matter
There are actresses. And then there’s Stella Damasus. With over two decades in the industry and a reputation built on precision, depth, and emotional clarity, Stella isn’t just a household name—she’s a working legacy. And if anyone thought her time in the spotlight had passed, her recent appearance in Kemi Adetiba’s Netflix thriller To Kill a Monkey makes it clear: Stella Damasus is not done. She’s just getting started again.
The Return to Screen: Playing Nosa in To Kill a Monkey
In To Kill a Monkey, Damasus steps into the role of Nosa, the emotionally conflicted wife of Efe, played by breakout star William Chinoyenem. Her character is not there for sentiment or filler—she brings tension, texture, and truth to a story built on secrets and psychological strain.
Damasus plays Nosa with steady control, portraying a woman caught between love and suspicion. In a cast full of volatile characters, Nosa is the one who grounds the narrative she’s the pause before the storm, the face of quiet resistance. Watching Stella work in this role is a reminder of what it means to act without excess, to hold back when others push forward. And in that restraint, she commands the screen.
Built for More Than Just Stardom
Stella Damasus didn’t build her career on controversy or gimmicks. She built it on craft. From early titles like Breaking Point to heavier dramas such as Widow and Behind Closed Doors, she has consistently chosen stories with weight. Even when she stepped back from acting to focus on advocacy and mentorship, she never left the conversation. She simply chose a different lane.
Unlike many of her peers, Damasus has never chased clout. Her work speaks for itself and always has.
Why She Still Matters
In an industry often driven by speed, Damasus represents stillness. While others chase viral fame, she stands for lasting relevance. She’s been outspoken about Nollywood’s internal issues—gatekeeping, poor storytelling habits, lack of emotional realism and she’s done it from a place of earned authority.
Her voice is clear: Nollywood must evolve not just visually, but structurally and emotionally. And that evolution must include making space for mature roles, honest dialogue, and complex women like Nosa.
More Than Just an Actress
Outside of film, Damasus is a mentor, a teacher, and a public thinker. She’s led creative workshops, championed safe spaces for young actors, and used her platform to speak on gender dynamics and industry standards.
Even her personal transparency about her divorce, career transitions, and the pressure of public scrutiny has resonated. She doesn’t pretend. She shares.
And that honesty has become part of her brand: not polished perfection, but lived-through professionalism.
The Takeaway
Stella Damasus didn’t “come back” with To Kill a Monkey. She never truly left. What she’s done is remind Nollywood and a global audience, what durability looks like. She remains one of the few actresses who can carry weight without shouting, command space without demanding it.
As To Kill a Monkey gains international traction, younger viewers are meeting Stella for the first time. And older fans are remembering exactly why she mattered in the first place.
In 2025, Stella Damasus isn’t trending. She’s lasting. And that, in this business, is the bigger win.
Written by: Adesina Kasali
