The Best Supporting Actress category at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) 2026 is packed with talent, star power, and unforgettable performances.
From seasoned Nollywood icons and fan favorites to rising stars, this year’s nominees brought depth, emotion, humour, and intensity to their roles.
Here is a look at the eight women nominated for Best Supporting Actress and the films that earned them this well-deserved recognition.
1. Bisola Aiyeola – Gingerrr
Since transitioning into acting, Bisola Aiyeola continues to prove she is more than a reality TV star. In Gingerrr, she brought life to her supporting role with confidence and humour.
Gingerr is a 2025 action-comedy following four women entangled in a high-stakes heist, where Aiyeola plays the role of Da Silva. She also serves as a co-producer of the movie alongside Bolaji Ogunmola, Kie Kie, and Wunmi Toriola.
2. Sola Sobowale – The Covenant
Nollywood legend Sola Sobowale once again showcased her authority and unmatched screen presence in her role in The Covenant. She is also nominated this year for Best Lead Actress, showing her enduring relevance.
Set in the Niger Delta, The Covenant is a crime thriller that follows two brothers as one races to rescue the other from militant gangs with ties to occult forces. Sola Sobowale plays Stella, the brothers’ mother, a woman carrying a mountain of guilt and secrets who is said to have abandoned them in childhood.
3. Linda Ejiofor Suleiman – The Herd
Following her rise to fame through the popular TV series Tinsel, Linda Ejiofor Suleiman has become one of Nollywood’s most respected actresses, known for her emotionally layered performances.
In the critically acclaimed movie, The Herd, she delivered a powerful supporting role as ‘Ádanma’ that added emotional depth and tension to the story.
The Herd explores themes of love, family, and generational change through a story of kidnapping with many twists and a gritty feel.
Just like Sobowale, Linda also received a Best Lead Actress nomination this year.
4. Olamide Kidbaby – Oversabi Aunty
Olamide Kidbaby, whose real name is Salman Aliyat Olamide, is a fast-rising content creator, actress, and digital storyteller who has built a name for herself. Her nomination for Oversabi Aunty highlights her ability to bring humour and authenticity to the screen, making her one of the surprise contenders in the category.
Oversabi Aunty is a family comedy-drama that follows the story of Toun, a deeply religious Yoruba woman whose obsessive moral policing of everyone around her quietly destroys her own household. Kidbaby plays Temitope, one of Toun’s children growing up in the shadow of a mother who is too busy fixing other people’s lives to notice her own family falling apart.
For a 22-year-old, holding her own in a film that eventually crossed over ₦1 billion at the box office is no small feat.
5. Funke Akindele – Behind The Scenes
Funke Akindele is one of the biggest names in Nollywood and is known for her acting, directing, and producing blockbuster projects.
Akindele plays Adetutu Fernandez, a supporting role in her 2025 record-breaking film Behind the Scenes. As Adetutu, she portrays the selfish and manipulative sister of the main character, Ronke (Scarlet Gomez), who secretly builds a house in Lekki to extort her sister, contributing to the film’s tense family drama and themes of emotional burden.
Her nomination for Behind The Scenes is another reminder of her consistency and star power. Whether in comedy or drama, Funke has mastered the art of commanding attention on screen.
ALSO READ: Meet The 8 Actresses Nominated For The Best Lead Actress Category At The AMVCAs 2026
6. Amal Umar – The Herd
Amal Umar joins Linda Ejiofor as a second nominee from The Herd, showing how strong the film’s cast was.
Umar plays Habiba, Halil’s strategic partner, delivering one of the film’s most surprising performances, and for many viewers, The Herd marks her breakout moment on the national stage.
7. Nadia Dutch – Aljana
Nadia Dutch earns recognition for her role in Aljana, a nomination that places her among some of the continent’s strongest female performers, which could mark a breakthrough moment in her acting career.
Aljana is a 2025 Hausa-language drama directed by Grace Yakubu, released in Nigerian cinemas in November 2025.
8. Juliebrenda Nyambura – MTV Shuga Mashariki
Juliebrenda Nyambura represents East Africa in this category through her performance in MTV Shuga Mashariki, a Kenyan youth drama series tackling love, mental health, identity, and the social pressures facing young people in Nairobi. The series is part of the wider Shuga franchise.
Nyambura plays the character of ‘Asha Bahari,’ who is portrayed as a loyal “best friend” figure, a confident, outspoken coastal girl, and a campus radio host who tackles themes of HIV stigma, consent, and social pressures.