In a film industry brimming with charisma and competition, few performances this year have struck a chord quite like Sunshine Rosman’s haunting turn in To Kill a Monkey. Directed by Kemi Adetiba, the psychological thriller offered a sharp, stylized look at corruption and conscience. But beneath the bold camera work and layered plotting, it was Rosman’s quiet intensity that lingered.
Rosman plays Amanda Sparkles, a conflicted character trapped between personal loyalty and ethical collapse. She isn’t the loudest presence in the film, but her restraint gives the story weight. She listens, calculates, reacts. Every glance feels deliberate. Every silence feels loaded.
This role marks a turning point in Rosman’s journey—from commercial-friendly supporting roles to complex, emotionally charged leads. While she’s been building her career steadily, To Kill a Monkeyreveals a depth not previously given room to unfold on screen. Amanda Sparkles is a role that could easily have been overlooked in the wrong hands. With Rosman, the character becomes a moral anchor in a story built on deception.
Precision Over Performance
What makes Rosman stand out isn’t theatrics. It’s control. She approaches scenes with the kind of discipline often reserved for seasoned character actors. Whether facing off against William Chinoyenem’s volatile Efe or navigating the tension-laced silence of Adetiba’s long takes, Rosman never overreaches. She trusts the material and lets the moment speak.
Her ability to carry emotional complexity without dialogue without needing to explain, is what turns her from a promising talent into a serious contender for long-term impact in Nollywood.
The Rise of a Serious Actor
In a time when popularity often overshadows craft, Rosman represents something different. She’s not trying to dominate headlines. She’s trying to build a body of work. And that difference shows. Her choices speak of long-game thinking—of roles selected for their depth, not just visibility.
Directors have taken note. So have viewers. So have critics, many of whom have cited her performance as one of the year’s most emotionally grounded in a major Nigerian release.
What’s Next for Rosman?
If there’s a roadmap to lasting relevance in Nollywood, Rosman seems to be following it with quiet precision. A few more roles and she won’t just be the breakout of this year—she’ll be a fixture.
What’s certain is this: Sunshine Rosman isn’t arriving. She’s already here. And the industry is finally catching up.
In a crowded field, she’s choosing silence over spectacle, depth over drama—and that may be her greatest strength yet.
