Nollywood Kate Celebrates 20 Years in Nollywood

 Nollywood star, Kate Henshaw, presented a book titled, The World of an Actress: My Story, amidst
fanfare and encomiums, in celebration of her 20 years as an actress on Tuesday at the Muson Centre, Lagos.
The memoir, which also doubles as a photo book, chronicles the actress' humble beginning as a starlet, career highpoints, as well as the journey to fame. With colleagues like Rita Dominic, Dakore Egbuson, Chidi Mokeme, Chioma Chukwuka,Ibinabo Fiberesima, Segun Arinze, Funke Akindele and Monalisa Chinda in attendance, it was an outpour of praise for Henshaw, as each one took time to praise one of their own.

Special guests at the event, which was anchored by ace Nollwyood actor and comedian, Basorge Tariah Jnr, include the First Lady of Ekiti State, Mrs.Bisi Fayemi; Managing Director, Promasidor Nigeria, Mr. Keith Richards; Managing Director/CEO, Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo; as well as representatives from Samsung Nigeria. In her opening remarks, Mrs. Fayemi said the actress has remained committed to her craft since she first met her in 2006.

She also charged the Nollywood practitioners present on the need to represent the African woman right in their movies. "Henshaw is a bundle of beauty, elegance, talent and grace. You are blessed with internal beauty, which is eternal. I am a huge fan of Nollywood and so I feel that regardless of what people say about the industry, it is still the best thing to happen to Nigeria. I am also concerned about the portrayal and images of African women in popular culture as well as the way women are pathologised.

They have productive careers and opportunities which need to be reflected in the movies." Basorge, who has starred alongside Henshaw in various movies and soap operas, described the actress as a bundle of talent. "Kate is talented, consistent, persistent, a big dreamer and fine interpreter. With this photobook, she celebrates her art in the direction it has led her." On her part, the visibly elated actress who studied Medical Biology at the University of Calabar, expressed gratitude at the turnout of colleagues and friends. She also paid homage to the late Nollywood actor, J.T Tom West, as one of the people behind her success today.

"I will never forget JT Tom West because he was the one who invited me to my first movie audition. For many of you who do not know, my career as an actress began with my first audition, When the sun sets in 1993.

Since then, I have been in over 100 movies. Over the years, I have been involved in various charities like Project Alert on Violence Against Women, National Cervical Cancer Protection Council and most recently, The Global Initiative for Peace, Love and Care. "I am also ready to be at the front of the battle and fight to ensure that there will be zero tolerance for violence against women and children. I intend to raise the much needed funds to support the charities I have mentioned with proceeds from the sale of the books.

Nollywood has lost many lives since we started and because I am somebody who loves to keep things, I hope that with this book, I will take you down from where we started to where we are going." Highpoints of the event include a video reel of the actress' earliest movies which elicited some feeling of nostalgia from everyone present at the event.