Liz Benson, born exactly 50 years ago, is unarguably one of Nigeria’s best actresses of all time.
Charming and still ageless, she is excellent both on stage and on the screen. Educated at Ladi Lak Primary School, Yaba, Lagos State; Edgerley Girls Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River State and Sylvania State University, Georgia, USA, where she read Drama, Liz has really come a long way.
A native of Etinan in Akwa Ibom State, she got sucked into show biz after a TIB commercial which she did many, many years ago. In love with Lola Fani-Kayode, some of her popular stage works are Who is afraid of Solarin?, Morountodun, Second Chance and Harlem Fire. Her major television appearances include Third Eye, Fortunes and Palace. And for home video, the list is very long – Circle of Doom, Shame, Yesterday, Evil Men, Dead End, True Confession, Glamour Girls, Izaga, Faces, Scores to Settle, Abandon, Confusion, etc.
At a time Nigeria’s undisputed screen queen, her first marriage, which ended with the death of her husband, Gabriel Samuel Etim, produced three children – Roseline, now 30, Lilian, 29 and Richard, 27.
Married for a second time to Bishop Great Ameye, YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine have it on good authority that Elizabeth, that is her full name, dreads flying, but loves reading and watching films, as well as soaking in the word of God. She worked with Aguda Hospital in Surulere, Lagos when her husband suddenly died – to keep body and soul together. Of course, this was before super stardom beckoned and turned around her life forever.
Assisting her new husband with the enormous work in the Lord’s vineyard, especially in Delta State where they are currently based, the darling and gifted actress who once had all of us eating from her palms – and without any complaints – has graduated into an Evangelist.
Hitherto a renowned member of Apostle Anselm Madubuko’s Revival Assembly Church, she met her second husband in the course of doing God’s work. And like we say in Nigeria, so far so good.