{{Short description|Nigerian actress}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Elizabeth Benson | image = | caption = | birth_name = Elizabeth Benson | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1966|4|5}} | birth_place = Akwa Ibom | alma_mater = Sylvania State College USA | occupation = Actress, philanthropist, television personality | years_active = 1993 - Present | spouse = Samuel Gabriel Etim, Bishop Great Ameye | children = | website = | image_size = }} '''Elizabeth 'Liz' Benson''' {{Audio|Ig-Elizabeth 'Liz' Benson.ogg|listen|help=no}} (born 5 April 1966) is a veteran Nigerian actress,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Liz Benson, the ever adorable Nollywood veteran: A Profile - P.M. News |url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/03/12/liz-benson-the-ever-adorable-nollywood-veteran-a-profile/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2022-03-15 |language=en-US|newspaper=P.M. News}}</ref> television personality and philanthropist.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thenationonlineng.net/new/liz-benson-makes-a-comeback/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Liz Benson makes a comeback|accessdate=14 March 2015|newspaper=The Nation}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Liz was born in Etinan, Akwa Ibom State in southern Nigeria. She attended Sylvania State College in the United States of America, where she got a degree in Dramatic Arts.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sulaimon|first=Nimot|date=2020-03-12|title=Liz Benson, the ever adorable Nollywood veteran: A Profile|url=https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/03/12/liz-benson-the-ever-adorable-nollywood-veteran-a-profile/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-03-26|newspaper=P.M. News|language=en-US}}</ref> Benson began acting when she was 5 years old.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Liz Benson, back with a bang! |date=25 May 2016|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/celebrities/womancrushwednesday-liz-benson-back-with-a-bang/n9s07mf|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Check out Liz Benson, Frederick Leonard, Mimi Orijekwe in upcoming series|url=http://pulse.ng/movies/hilarious-hilary-check-out-liz-benson-frederick-leonard-mimi-orijekwe-in-upcoming-series-id3781676.html|website=Pulse Nigeria|date=21 May 2015|publisher=Chidumga Izuzu|accessdate=21 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://kokolevel.com/2017/03/liz-bensons-daughter-lilians-pre-wedding-photos-adorable-see-photos/|title=Liz Benson's Daughter, Lilian's Pre Wedding Photos Are So Adorable- See Photos|date=30 March 2017|work=Koko Level's Blog|access-date=24 May 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Career == ===Early success and quitting the film industry=== She featured in ''Fortunes'', a television soap opera in 1993. Benson played the part of Mrs. Agnes Johnson in the soap, which ran for about two years on NTA Network. In 1994, her role in ''Glamour Girls'', a successful home video film that focused on escorting, cemented her status as a film actress. Benson suddenly quit acting in 1996.
===Return to Nollywood=== Since returning to Nollywood, it was disclosed that she is a born-again Christian and now preaches the gospel on fulltime-basis.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/celebrities/womancrushwednesday-liz-benson-back-with-a-bang/n9s07mf|title=Liz Benson, back with a bang!|date=25 May 2016|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=I will be damned if I don't speak out — Liz Benson-Ameye |date=11 October 2017|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/will-damned-dont-speak-liz-benson-ameye/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Vanguard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Liz Benson returns |date=14 February 2014|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/02/liz-benson-returns/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Vanguard}}</ref> In an interview, she explained that she would only act in films that she believed was in line with her faith.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-02-14 |title=Liz Benson returns |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/02/liz-benson-returns/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2022-07-19 |newspaper=Vanguard|language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Personal life == Benson lost her first husband (Samuel Gabriel Etim) while around her mid-twenties. She said that she actually gained strength from his character and that made her able to carry on with her children through the loss.
The Ibibio-born actress, took another shot at marriage after her conversion. In a quiet court ceremony in Abuja in 2009, She married Bishop Great Ameye of Freedom Family Assembly at the Rainbow Christian Assembly in Warri, Delta State.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.modernghana.com/movie/5387/3/why-i-remarried-liz-benson.html|title=Why I Remarried — Liz Benson|work=Modern Ghana|access-date=24 May 2018|language=en-gb}}</ref> The couple is deeply involved in a Christian Evangelical Ministry. While Benson is an evangelist, her husband, Ameye, is a pastor in Jesse Town, Ethiope West, Delta State.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/life-beat/from-showbiz-to-the-pulpit/|title=From showbiz to the pulpit|date=10 March 2012|author=Ademola Olonilua|access-date=29 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413090620/http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/life-beat/from-showbiz-to-the-pulpit/|archive-date=13 April 2012|url-status=dead|newspaper=The Punch}}</ref> Benson is an evangelist and lives in Delta State with her husband. Together they run a ministry, Freedom Family Assembly.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/21129/27/my-mistakes-belong-to-the-past-liz-benson.html|title=MY MISTAKES BELONG TO THE PAST – LIZ BENSON|website=Nigeriafilms|author=Kemi Lawal|publisher=Punch|access-date=29 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410211727/http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/21129/27/my-mistakes-belong-to-the-past-liz-benson.html|archive-date=10 April 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Liz Benson biography, net worth, age, family, contact & picture |url=https://www.manpower.com.ng/people/15983/liz-benson |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=www.manpower.com.ng}}</ref>
== Selected filmography == Some of her more popular roles includes her role as Titubi in Femi Osofisan's ''Morountodun'' and as Mrs. Agnes Johnson in ''Fortunes'', a soap opera that ran for about two years on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Channel 10. She acted in a number of Nollywood video-films such as ''Evil Men 1'' and ''2'', ''Shame'', ''Conspiracy'', ''Izaga'', ''Burden'', ''Stolen Child'', ''Faces'', ''Dead End'', ''Tycoon'', ''Glamour Girls'', ''Body of Vengeance'' and a horde of other movies which includes:
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em| * ''Still Falling'' (2021) as Mrs. Kuku * ''Lotanna'' (2017) as Efya * ''Children of Mud'' (2020) as Annie * ''Lotanna'' (2017) as Efya *"Idahosa Trails" (2017) as Sarah *" Behind the Wheels" (2017) as Mama Elijah * ''Hilarious Hilary'' (2015) * ''Miss Teacher'' (2015) as Principal *" Dry" (2015) as Matron * ''Mummy Dearest'' (2015) as Rose Chinda * ''Dry'' (2014) as Matron * ''Toko taya'' (2007) as Stella * ''Political Control'' (2006) * ''Political Control 2'' (2006) * ''Political Control 3'' (2006) * ''Bridge-Stone'' (2005) as Polina * ''Bridge-Stone 2'' (2005) * ''Crazy Passion'' (2005) a Rebecca * ''Crazy Passion 2''(2005) * ''Day of Atonement'' (2005) * ''Now & Forever''(2005) * ''Now & Forever 2'' (2005) * ''Squad Twenty-Three'' (2005) * ''Squad Twenty-Three 2'' (2005) * ''Women in Power'' (2005) * ''Women in Power 2'' (2005) * ''Inheritance'' (2004) * ''Melody of Life'' (2004) as Anita * ''Red Hot'' (2004) * ''Turn Table'' (2004) * ''Turn Table 2'' (2004) * ''World Apart'' (2004) as Mirabel * ''World Apart 2'' (2004) * ''Èèkù-idà'' (2002) * ''Èèkù-idà 2'' (2002) * ''Wisdom and Riches'' (2002) * ''Wisdom and Riches 2'' (2002) * ''Dapo Junior'' (2000) .... Ronke * ''Karishika: Part 2 1999'' (1999) * ''Chain Reaction'' (1999) * ''Diamond Ring'' (1998) * ''Diamond Ring 2'' (1998) * ''Karishika'' (1998) * ''Scores to Settle'' (1998) * ''Witches'' (1998) as Princess * ''Yesterday'' (1997) * ''Back to Life'' (1997) * ''Glamour Girls 1996'' (1996) * ''True Confession'' (1995) * ''Glamour Girls'' (1994) * ''Silenced'' (????) * ''Hour of Grace'' * ''Lady Bianca'' * ''Evil Men'' * ''Matter of Choice '' (2024)<ref name="w249">{{Cite news | title=MOVIE REVIEW: Matter of Choice: Liz Benson breaths fresh air into familiar narrative |newspaper=Premium Times| url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/713577-movie-review-matter-of-choice-liz-benson-breaths-fresh-air-into-familiar-narrative.html | access-date=30 June 2025}}</ref> *''Something About the Briggs'' (2024)<ref name="z620">{{Cite news | last=Nigeria | first=Guardian | title=Liz Benson Ameye Returns To The Screens |newspaper=The Guardian| date=21 May 2024 | url=https://guardian.ng/life/liz-benson-ameye-returns-to-the-screens/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria| access-date=30 June 2025}}</ref> }}
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|id=1229840|name=Liz Benson}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Benson, Liz}} Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:Nigerian Christians Category:Actresses from Delta State Category:20th-century Nigerian actresses Category:21st-century Nigerian actresses Category:Actresses in Yoruba cinema Category:Nigerian television actresses Category:Nigerian film actresses Category:Nigerian Pentecostal pastors Category:Nigerian Christian clergy Category:Yoruba actresses Category:Actresses from Akwa Ibom State