Ruby Okezie
Ruby Precious Okezie is a Nigerian actor and model. Okezie has appeared in several films and television series, including Merry Men 2, Agu, Cheta'm and A Green Fever. Her breakthrough came in 2022 with her role as Nnenna in the Netflix Original series Far From Home.
Early life and education
Okezie was born in 1997, in Lagos, Nigeria. Though raised in Lagos, she is originally from Abia State. She grew up in a Catholic household and completed her primary and secondary education in Lagos before earning a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Port Harcourt. While at university, she began working as a freelance model and appeared in music videos. As a student, Okezie participated in various extracurricular activities such as stage plays, dance, public speaking, and school competitions. She also held the position of Press Club president in secondary school.The youngest of seven siblings, she often spent time alone, which encouraged creative play, including role-playing and performance. Her school involvement in drama, debates, and choreography reflected a continued interest in the arts. Although her parents initially preferred she focus on a traditional career path, she later pursued work in the entertainment sector with their support.
Career
Okezie began her career in entertainment during her university years, starting as a freelance model and appearing as a video vixen in music videos for prominent Nigerian artists such as Mayorkun, Rudeboy, Zlatan and Ycee.Her acting journey started in 2017, leading to roles in various films and television series, including productions featured on platforms like Showmax and Netflix. Okezie gained widespread recognition in 2022 for her role as Nnenna in the Netflix series Far From Home (2022) which marked a significant milestone in her acting career.
Okezie began modeling while attending university, signing with a Lagos-based agency that offered work opportunities within Nigeria. She later took part in a Coca-Cola commercial filmed in South Africa, which aired during the 2020 English Premier League season.
Okezie pursued acting by attending auditions and readings, eventually securing a role in a film that aired on Africa Magic. In 2019, she appeared in several television series produced by SceneOne TV.
She has commented on some challenges in the entertainment industry, including long wait times on set and the risk of being typecast. She has expressed a preference for taking on a range of roles rather than being limited to a single character type.
In addition to her work in entertainment, Okezie is involved in other projects. She co-founded a social event initiative and serves as a casting director at a modeling agency.