Barbara Soky

{{short description|Nigerian actress and former singer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Use Nigerian English|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Barbara Soky | image = | caption = | birth_name = Barbara Soky | citizenship = Nigeria | birth_date = | birth_place = Nigeria | alma_mater = | occupation = Actress, former singer | years_active = | website = }} '''Barbara Soky''' (born '''Bara Sokoroma''') is a Nigerian actress and former singer who rose to fame in the TV soap ''Mirror in the Sun''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nwafor |date=2025-04-26 |title=Unforgettable Nollywood beauties who stole hearts in their time |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/04/unforgettable-nollywood-beauties-who-stole-hearts-in-their-time/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2025-06-30 |newspaper=Vanguard|language=en-GB}}</ref> Following a hiatus after various roles in the 1980s and 1990s, Soky revived her acting career, appearing in Nollywood movies and other soaps.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.modernghana.com/movie/3370/3/wicked-people-put-my-life-in-jeopardybarbara-soky.html | title=Wicked people put my life in jeopardy.........Barbara Soky | publisher=modernghana.com | accessdate=14 August 2014}}</ref>

==Acting== Soky's first major acting role was as office receptionist Rosemary Hart in the NTA series ''Inside Out''. Originally an NTA Port Harcourt production, the sitcom gained popularity across Eastern Nigeria following syndication within other NTA stations via exchange. Soky also had a part alongside Adiela Onyedibia in ''You Can't Take Your Wife to New York'', a series about a Nigerian ambassador with an illiterate wife.

After ''Inside Out'' ended, Rivers-native Soky moved to Lagos where she starred in Lola Fani-Kayode's serial ''Mirror in the Sun''. Her role as Yinka Fawole, a seductive young woman in love with two polar opposites, shot her to national stardom and led to a commercial for Jik bleach. After ''Mirror in the Sun'', Soky was among the original cast of ''Ripples'' as unlucky-in-love city lawyer Daphne Wellington-Cole, from 1988 to 1993. Soky would later reprise her role in the show's 2022 revival ''Ripples: The New Generation''. <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/actings-calling-back-better-barbara-soky/ | title=Acting's my calling, so I am back and better –Barbara Soky | publisher=mydailynewswatchng.com | accessdate=14 August 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904024701/http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/actings-calling-back-better-barbara-soky/ | archive-date=4 September 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/barbara-soky-my-regrets-as-an-actress/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212175804/http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/barbara-soky-my-regrets-as-an-actress/ | url-status=usurped | archive-date=12 December 2012 | title=My Regrets as an actress – Barbara Soky | accessdate=14 August 2014|newspaper=National Mirror}}</ref>

After a 13-year hiatus that briefly saw her venture into television presenting, Soky returned to acting with the Amaka Igwe production ''Solitaire'' as Nkoyo Broderick, a woman determined to protect the family's wealth.<ref>[https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/2369/barbara-soky-is-back.html Barbara Soky is Back]</ref> Most recently, she has appeared in the series Journey of the Beats.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Online |first=Tribune |date=15 July 2022 |title=Eight interesting facts unveiled during the first two episodes of 'Journey Of The Beats' |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/eight-interesting-facts-unveiled-during-the-first-two-episodes-of-journey-of-the-beats/ |access-date=27 July 2022 |newspaper=Nigerian Tribune|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Music== In 1986, Soky released the album ''Going Places'' under Mercury Records.<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Barbara-Soky-Going-Places/release/4795653 Barbara Soky Going Places]</ref> Prior to earning a record deal, her character Rosemary in ''Inside Out'' had sung on the show.

==Awards== In 2013, Soky was named Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 2013 Nollywood Movies Awards for her performance in the film ''Bridge of Hope''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.360nobs.com/2013/10/nma2013-nollywood-movies-awards-2013-winners-full-list/|title=#NMA2013: Nollywood Movies Awards 2013 (Winners – Complete Full List)|date=13 October 2013|website=360Nobs.com|language=en-US|access-date=26 September 2019|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809021801/https://www.360nobs.com/2013/10/nma2013-nollywood-movies-awards-2013-winners-full-list/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2014, she received the same nomination for her role in the film ''Brothers Keeper'' at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://dailypost.ng/2014/04/03/amaa-2014-uche-jombo-r-desmond-elliot-others-make-nominees-list/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=AMAA 2014: Uche Jombo-R, Desmond Elliot, others make nominees' list|last=Orenuga|first=Adenike|date=3 April 2014|newspaper=Daily Post|language=en-US|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life== Soky has a daughter, Maxine.<ref>{{cite news| title=Clem Ohameze|work=The Guardian | date=12 May 2018| url=https://www.pressreader.com/nigeria/the-guardian-nigeria/20180512/281938838557149 | access-date=3 October 2023}}</ref>

==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- |2004 |''Standing Alone 2'' |Lady Claudia |Drama |- |2006 |''Saviour'' |Cynthia |Drama |- |2008 |''Mission to Nowhere'' |Naomi Adams |Drama |- |2010|| ''Tango with Me''|| Uzo's Mother ||Drama / Family / Romance |- |2012|| ''Mr. and Mrs.''|| Mrs. Abah ||Drama / Family / Romance |- |2012|| ''Black November'' || Ebiere's Mother ||Action / Crime / Drama / Thriller |- |2013 |''Lonely Heart'' |Tiana |Drama |- |2014|| ''Brother's Keeper'' || Mrs. Nwankwo ||Thriller |- |2018|| ''Love, Food and Everything in Between'' || Ngozi ||Romance |- |2021 |Marrying a Campbell |Granny D |Comedy |- |2021 |Andauotu |Ageless Goddess |Drama |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{sister project links|d=Q17612550|c=no|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no|species=no}} * {{IMDb name|4143367}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soky, Barbara}} Category:20th-century Nigerian actresses Category:21st-century Nigerian actresses Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Nigerian film actresses Category:Nigerian television actresses Category:Nigerian women singers Category:Actresses from Rivers State Category:People from Rivers State Category:Nigerian television presenters Category:Nigerian musicians