Romantic heartthrobs have always been part of the movie industry. During the pioneering years of Nollywood—the 2000s and even the 2010s—the faces of Ramsey Nouah and Muna Obiekwe, coupled with their excellent portrayals of “down bad” leading men, made hearts throb.
In our current era, there has been a search for that heartthrob who has a firm grip on the male gaze and makes the audience swoon. We spoke to a few Nollyphiles who listed their favourite contending heartthrobs.
Caleb Richards
For many Nollyphiles, Caleb Richards’ portrayal of Kassim in ‘Beyond The Veil’ locked in his place as a heartthrob. And Vanessa, a culture and fashion journalist, is not an exception. Richards’ performance on ‘Beyond The Veil’ stunned Vanessa. She had not seen a male protagonist so into his love interest, “so keen, so genuine, while so confident in their pairing as a couple.”
Vanessa also believes he has perfected the male gaze. There is a scene on the show that made her buy shares in Richards’ fan club. It was the scene where the tomboyish character, Zizi, played by Ame Aiyejina, visited Kassim wearing lipstick, and Richards’ voice softened as he said, “You wore lipstick for me.” Vanessa asserts that with a cheesy romcom script and an actor’s director, Richards will be unstoppable.
Maryam, a consultant, is another member of Richard’s fan club. When Maryam first saw Richards on ‘Beyond the Veil’’ her first reaction was “Where have you been?” Like Vanessa, Maryam agrees that Richards has a way with his eyes. She notes that his body language also helps emphasise his affection for the leading woman. It’s clear to even the blind that he is in love with this woman. Plus, he is easy on the eyes.
Vine Olugu
Vine Olugu, who recently starred in ‘When Love Strikes,’ is another fan favourite. Vanessa calls him “the quintessential heartthrob on paper.” He is tall, gorgeous, and has a beautiful smile, and she is quite taken by his expressive eyes.
However, she thinks his acting needs room to grow. She has not been able to trace the root of this feeling. It could be the dialogue or the directing, but she alludes to his potentiality of becoming a heartthrob. The kind that makes the ladies weak in the knees.
Nonzo Bassey
The Africa Magic telenovela ‘Battleground’ brought Nonzo Bassey to the spotlight. He played Dr Emeka Kalu, Teni Badmus’ (Ini Dima Okojie) boyfriend. Laolu, a cinematographer, opines that Bassey emotes brilliantly. He has a way of displaying emotions with his face.
In the telenovela, his portrayal of the perfect boyfriend stole hearts. However, for Laolu, the Ndani romantic drama ‘Love Like This’ is his best portfolio yet. He embodied the character Nimi, who was left on the altar and is now in search of closure. His performance proves why he should be in the conversation of romantic heartthrobs.
Paul Nnadiekwe
Paul Nnadiekwe has been occupying the hearts of Nolly YouTube lovers for a while now. He is mostly associated with ‘Silver Lining’ and ‘Schooled’. Olanna, a lawyer, saw him in these movies and thought, “He did a pretty good job in both.” Her choice is influenced by her belief in his ability to bring vulnerability to any character he plays. And as we all know, vulnerability is a major ingredient of the heartthrob.
Olanna is equally impressed by his comedic timing, which prompts her to watch Adam Sandler, “He is not as goofy but he reminds me of Adam Sandler in ’50 First Dates’ and could probably pull off a character similar to Richard Gere in ‘Runaway Bride.'”
Michael Dappa
Michael Dappa, known for ‘It Blooms in June,’ is also a “by the book” heartthrob: a face card that never declines and a body to match. Thus, he makes it to Vanessa’s list. And like Ologu, she believes he needs to brush up his acting to cause the perfect storm.
Maryam buys into Dappa’s viability as a heartthrob. She is also convinced that his lowkey personality causes intrigue. But overall, “he just gets it.”
As Nollywood evolves, these actors are poised to take on more romantic roles. Whether they have already stolen hearts in past performances or are just beginning to explore their romantic potential, Nollyphiles are eager to see them step into the spotlight as the next generation of heartthrobs.
Who do you think will rise as the ultimate romantic heartthrob? Let the debates begin!
