Amanda Oruh breaks through after a decade of rejections

A standing ovation at Berlinale capped off nearly a decade of audition rejections for one Lagos-set film's breakout star.

Amanda Oruh's long road to Lady

• Amanda Oruh spent roughly ten years chasing a breakthrough.
• Months without work and constant rejections defined that stretch.
• Her role as Pinky in Lady finally changed everything.
• Oruh previously appeared in King of Boys.

Lady's festival run so far

• Lady premiered in Europe at the Berlin International Film Festival.
• Berlinale's audience gave the film a standing ovation.
• Sundance awarded its cast the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award.
• That ensemble-acting recognition came earlier this year.

What the film is about

• Lady is a UK-Nigerian co-production.
• Lagos women navigating survival and sisterhood drive the story.
• Oruh described her emotional reaction to seeing herself onscreen.