Sunshine Rosman’s Breakout Performance in To Kill a Monkey
In To Kill a Monkey, Kemi Adetiba’s high-stakes psychological thriller, a new cinematic force emerges with quiet intensity and undeniable presence Sunshine Rosman. Best known until now for supporting roles and commercial appearances, Rosman’s performance in this film signals a pivotal shift not just in her career trajectory but in the landscape of contemporary Nigerian acting. Her portrayal of Amanda Sparkles, a character balancing vulnerability with veiled menace, holds the film’s emotional gravity in ways that linger long after the credits roll.
The Role: Amanda Sparkles, the Moral Dilemma Personified
Amanda Sparkles is not a lead in the traditional sense, she is neither the loudest voice in the room nor the most visible agent of chaos. But she is its moral hinge. Cast as a seemingly peripheral figure in a story thick with deceit, power, and psychological warfare, Mira emerges as the conscience of the plot. It’s in this paradox her stillness amidst narrative chaos—that Sunshine Rosman thrives.
Rosman delivers Amanda with a layered restraint that avoids the theatricality common in Nollywood thrillers. Her silences speak; her pauses are intentional. In one particular scene, where Amanda Sparkles confronts the implications of her complicity Rosman does more with a glance and a stifled breath than some actors manage in full monologues. It’s a performance grounded in emotional intelligence rather than spectacle.
Craftsmanship and Physicality
Rosman’s physical choices throughout the film are notably precise. She walks as though carrying weight, and her eyes often search for exits emotional, moral, literal. This subtle physical coding reflects a character who is present yet always preparing to leave. Director Kemi Adetiba allows the camera to linger on Rosman during these moments, offering viewers the chance to read her internal script. It’s in these long, unspoken stretches that Rosman reveals the full scale of Amanda’s torment and ethical uncertainty.
The tension between her loyalty and fear, her agency and entrapment, is something Rosman communicates through tightly controlled gestures. She shifts from soft defiance to silent surrender with eerie grace, keeping the audience unsure whether she will break or break out.
Chemistry and Character Dynamics 
Rosman’s scenes opposite William Chinoyenem (who plays Efe) are particularly charged. The dynamic between them veers from co-conspiratorial to emotionally antagonistic. Rather than falling into romantic tension or sibling-style banter, their chemistry pulls in a third direction power balance.
Rosman’s she often meets Chinoyenem’s intensity with stillness, creating a mirror that reflects and distorts his choices. In doing so, she elevates not only her own character but the performances around her. It is a quiet mastery: she makes her scene partners better by giving them space to burn while she smolders.
Directorial Collaboration
Kemi Adetiba, known for pushing her actors to dig deeper, clearly trusted Rosman to build Amanda Sparkles from the inside out. In interviews, Adetiba described casting Amanda Sparkles as “the most delicate choice in the entire production.” That delicacy is preserved in the final cut.
Rosman’s performance suggests a strong collaborative process behind the scenes. Adetiba’s signature style long takes, minimal cuts, and layered dialogue demands precision and patience. Rosman meets the challenge with a composure that suggests not just talent, but deep preparation. She is neither over-directed nor indulgent. She strikes the balance that keeps Amanda Sparkles real.
Impact and Critical Reception
Critics have described Rosman’s performance as “a revelation,” with The Lagos Review calling her “the film’s quiet storm.” On social media, viewers praised her ability to “haunt a scene without speaking a word.” For an actress still regarded as an emerging talent, such acclaim is rare and deserved.
Her performance has also sparked discussions about the direction of female roles in Nollywood thrillers. Amanda Sparkles is not a stereotype. She is not a femme fatale, a damsel, or a sacrificial lamb. She is something else entirely flawed, reactive, calculating, and caught. Rosman makes her real, and in doing so, makes the genre richer.
What This Means for Rosman
To Kill a Monkey is more than a breakout role, it’s a pivot. Sunshine Rosman has moved from the margins to the center of serious conversation about the next generation of Nigerian screen talent. She has demonstrated the kind of range, discipline, and interpretive skill that opens doors across genres and industries.
Producers and casting directors would do well to recognize that Rosman is not merely a capable actress—she is a craftsman. She builds character the way a sculptor works with marble: slowly, intentionally, leaving no motion unmeasured.
Final Thought
In an era where spectacle often overshadows sincerity in performance, Sunshine Rosman’s portrayal of Amanda Sparkles reminds us that acting is still, at its best, a study in truth. Whether To Kill a Monkey earns cult status or fades into the stream of seasonal hits, Rosman’s performance will remain one of its lasting achievements.
This is not a star emerging. This is a serious artist arriving.
