In this edition of the Ranks Africa Spotlight Series, we shine the light on a longtime Nollywood talent whose moment has finally arrived — and whose performance is demanding the industry and audience take note. William Benson, often underrated and under-celebrated, has officially stepped into his era with a career-defining performance in Netflix’s To Kill a Monkey.
Benson doesn’t just show up in this crime thriller — he explodes on screen with a rare kind of intensity that turns every frame into a heartbeat. As Efemini, a man pushed by desperation into the underworld of cybercrime, Benson delivers what many are calling his most transformative performance yet. It’s not loud or theatrical — it’s hauntingly real. And that’s exactly what makes it so powerful.
The streets of social media are already buzzing, with viewers hailing him as “the unexpected star of the show” and rating his performance a solid 5 stars. Critics, fans, and even his peers are in agreement: To Kill a Monkey would not be what it is without the emotional depth and raw vulnerability that Benson brings to the role.
He plays Efemini not as a caricature, but as a man — layered, troubled, and painfully human. You don’t just watch him spiral; you feel every fall, every choice, every betrayal. It’s a performance that carries the emotional weight of the entire story and grounds the crime thriller in something deeply relatable.
And as if that wasn’t enough, Benson also features in Cordelia — another major release that hit cinemas the same day. While the spotlight rightly stays on To Kill a Monkey, the fact that Benson leads two major projects across two platforms in one day is a feat worthy of recognition. It speaks to his range, his consistency, and his quiet evolution into one of the industry’s most compelling leading men.
The truth is, Benson has been here all along. He’s put in the work. But in an industry that often overlooks subtle brilliance for louder performances, it’s taken this role — this moment — for everyone to finally see him clearly.
What he achieved in To Kill a Monkey isn’t just great acting. It’s a breakthrough. A reminder that some stars rise with a bang, and others — like William Benson — arrive with the weight of experience and the kind of grit that can’t be faked.
So here’s to Nollywood’s reluctant hero, now fully in his spotlight. William Benson didn’t just earn his moment. He built it. And now, the world is watching.
