Liz Benson, whose full name is Elizabeth Benson, is a veteran Nigerian actress, television personality, philanthropist and evangelist.
She is widely regarded as one of the notable actresses who helped shape the early Nigerian home-video era and the Nollywood industry.
Born on April 5, 1966, in Etinan, Akwa Ibom State, Liz Benson developed an interest in acting from childhood.
She became widely known in the 1990s after appearing in the television soap opera Fortunes and later starring in the popular movie Glamour Girls.
At the height of her acting career, Benson became one of the most recognisable faces in Nigerian entertainment.
She later stepped away from mainstream acting and devoted much of her time to Christian ministry. She has also returned to the screen at different periods, taking on selected roles that align with her beliefs.
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Elizabeth Benson
- Stage Name: Liz Benson
- Date of Birth: April 5, 1966
- Current Age: 60 years old
- Place of Birth: Etinan, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
- Local Government Area: Etinan
- State of Origin: Akwa Ibom State
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Tribe/Ethnicity: Ibibio
- Occupation: Actress, television personality, philanthropist and evangelist
- Years Active: 1993–present, with periods away from mainstream acting
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: Married
- Husband: Bishop Great Ameye
- First Husband: Samuel Gabriel Etim, deceased
Early Life and Education
Liz Benson was born Elizabeth Benson on April 5, 1966, in Etinan, Akwa Ibom State, in southern Nigeria.
She grew up in a Christian family and developed an interest in performance at a very young age.
Benson has been described as the second child in a family of four. However, detailed information about her parents and siblings is not widely documented in reliable public sources. Their full names and other personal details have not been publicly established.
Her interest in acting started when she was a child. According to biographical accounts, she began performing at about five years old.
During her school years, she participated in drama and other performances, giving her an early foundation for the career that would later make her famous.
She attended Lady Lak School in Yaba, Lagos, and later Edgerley Memorial Girls Secondary School in Calabar.
She subsequently travelled to the United States, where she studied Dramatic Arts at Sylvania State College.
Although her family reportedly had different expectations for her education and career, Benson’s passion for acting remained strong.
Her training in Dramatic Arts eventually complemented the natural talent she had displayed since childhood.
Career
Liz Benson’s professional breakthrough came in the early 1990s when she joined the cast of the Nigerian television soap opera Fortunes.
In 1993, she played Mrs. Agnes Johnson, a role that introduced her to a much wider television audience.
Fortunes ran for about two years on the Nigerian Television Authority network. Her performance helped establish her as a serious television actress and prepared the way for her transition into Nigerian home-video productions.
Breakthrough with Glamour Girls
In 1994, Benson appeared in Glamour Girls, one of the movies that became closely associated with the growth of Nigeria’s home-video industry.
She played the character Jane, and the movie’s success significantly increased her popularity.
Benson quickly became one of the most sought-after actresses of the period, earning a reputation for portraying a wide range of characters convincingly.
Her performances in movies such as True Confession, Diamond Ring, Witches, Karishika and Yesterday further strengthened her position among the leading actresses of the era.
She was particularly respected for her ability to portray different stages of a woman’s life and characters with very different personalities.
Stepping Away From Acting
At the height of her career, Benson unexpectedly took a break from acting in 1996. Her decision coincided with major changes in her personal life and her growing commitment to Christianity.
She later became involved in evangelical ministry and began preaching the gospel full-time.
Benson has explained publicly that her faith influenced the type of film roles she was willing to accept.
Rather than completely abandoning acting, she became more selective about the projects she participated in. This explains why her appearances became less frequent compared with the 1990s and early 2000s.
Return to the Screen
Benson gradually returned to acting, particularly through projects that allowed her to take on roles consistent with her beliefs.
One of the notable projects associated with her return was Living Funeral, a Nigerian film focused on breast cancer awareness. She also appeared in Stephanie Linus’ Dry, where she played a matron.
Her later film appearances include Mummy Dearest, Lotanna, Idahosa Trails, Behind the Wheels and Still Falling.
In 2024, she was also featured in Matter of Choice and Something About the Briggs, marking another reminder of her continuing connection with Nigerian cinema.
Movies
Liz Benson has appeared in numerous Nigerian films and television productions throughout her career. Some notable titles include:
- Fortunes (1993)
- Glamour Girls (1994)
- True Confession (1995)
- Back to Life (1997)
- Yesterday (1997)
- Diamond Ring (1998)
- Karishika (1998)
- Witches (1998)
- Chain Reaction (1999)
- Dapo Junior (2000)
- Wisdom and Riches (2002)
- Last Warning (2002)
- World Apart (2004)
- Melody of Life (2004)
- Bridge-Stone (2005)
- Political Control (2006)
- Living Funeral (2013)
- Dry (2015)
- Mummy Dearest (2015)
- Lotanna (2017)
- Idahosa Trails (2017)
- Children of Mud (2020)
- Still Falling (2021)
- Matter of Choice (2024)
- Something About the Briggs (2024)
Her filmography reflects both her early dominance in the Nigerian home-video era and her more selective appearances in later productions.
Awards and Recognition
Liz Benson’s contribution to Nigerian film has earned her recognition from the entertainment industry.
In 2014, she was among the veteran entertainers honoured at the Best of Nollywood Awards with a special recognition honour for her contribution to the Nigerian movie industry.
She was also associated with the critically recognised film Living Funeral, which received multiple nominations at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
Benson was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for her performance in the film.
Her long career and influence on Nigerian cinema have also earned her several industry honours. However, a complete and independently verified list of every award she has received is not publicly available.
Personal Life
Liz Benson has experienced significant changes in her personal life, including the loss of her first husband.
Her first husband was Samuel Gabriel Etim, who died when Benson was still relatively young. The couple had children together.
Benson has spoken about the impact of his death and how his character and the strength she drew from her family helped her move forward.
She later married Bishop Great Ameye in 2009 in a private ceremony. Ameye is a Christian pastor, and the couple became involved in evangelical ministry together.
Benson’s life after her second marriage has been closely connected to her Christian faith. She and her husband have been associated with Freedom Family Assembly, where Benson serves as an evangelist.
Children and Family
Benson is a mother of three children from her first marriage. She has generally maintained a relatively private approach to her family life, so detailed information about her children is not as extensively documented as her acting career.
One of her daughters, Lilian, has received public attention through her own career and marriage. Benson has also become a grandmother.
Despite her celebrity status, she has largely kept her family away from the intense public attention that often surrounds Nigerian entertainers.
Religion and Ministry
Christianity has played a major role in Liz Benson’s life, particularly since she stepped away from mainstream acting in the 1990s.
She became a born-again Christian and devoted considerable time to preaching and evangelism. Her religious convictions have also influenced her approach to acting.
Benson has said that she is selective about scripts and roles, particularly where the content does not agree with her Christian beliefs.
This has contributed to the relatively small number of films she has appeared in compared with her prolific output during the peak of her career.
Her transition from celebrated actress to evangelist remains one of the most distinctive aspects of her biography.
Lifestyle and Public Image
Unlike many contemporary celebrities, Liz Benson has maintained a relatively private lifestyle.
She is not known for constantly seeking publicity, and much of her public identity has centred on acting, faith, family and ministry.
For many Nigerian movie lovers, however, her name remains strongly connected to the golden era of Nollywood home videos.
Her performances in Glamour Girls, True Confession, Diamond Ring and other popular productions helped establish the image of the sophisticated and versatile Nigerian screen actress.
Her continued appearances in carefully selected productions have also allowed younger generations of viewers to become familiar with her work.
Net Worth
Liz Benson’s exact net worth is not publicly known. Various websites have published different estimates of her wealth, but there is no sufficiently reliable public financial record that establishes an exact figure.
Her career in television and film, together with her other professional activities and ministry work, has contributed to her public profile.
However, her current assets, investments, properties and income are not publicly disclosed in enough detail to calculate a dependable net worth.
Interesting Facts About Liz Benson
- Liz Benson began acting as a child and reportedly started performing at about five years old.
- Her major television breakthrough came through the soap opera Fortunes.
- Glamour Girls played a major role in establishing her as a Nollywood star.
- She studied Dramatic Arts in the United States.
- She took a major break from mainstream acting in 1996.
- Christianity became a central part of her life and career after her withdrawal from mainstream acting.
- She later returned to selected film projects.
- She has received recognition for her contribution to the Nigerian film industry.
- She is married to Bishop Great Ameye.
- She is a mother of three and a grandmother.