Akindele Olufunke Ayotunde (popularly known as Funke Akindele) is a Nigerian actress and movie producer.
She was born on August 24, 1977, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. Funke is the second of three children (two girls and one boy). Akindele’s mother is a Medical Doc tor while her father is a retired School Principal. Funke obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from the former Ogun State Polytechnic, now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.
Akindele came into the limelight after starring in popular United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-sponsored sitcom I Need to Know, which ran from 1998 to 2002.
Funke starred in the sitcom I Need to Know from 1998 to 2002, and in 2009 she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She plays the lead character in the show Jenifa’s Diary, for which she was named Best Actress in a Comedy at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
Funke played Bisi, a curious but highly intelligent secondary school student. Funke Akindele’s big break came in 2008 when she appeared in the movie Jenifa.
Mainstream Nigerian press reported that she was set to star in Infinity War as the guard Dora Milaje, citing IMDb.
Some weeks later her name was replaced with that of fellow Nigerian actress Genevieve Nnaji, with Akindele’s upload shown to have been a hack. In February 2018, it was reported that Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly, Dr Bukola Saraki has advised Marvel Studios to feature Akindele in Infinity War.
In July 2016, in an interview, she stated she was acting less in the Yoruba film industry at that time because of piracy. Akindele plays the lead character in the ongoing hit TV show Jenifa’s Diary, alongside Fisayo Ajisola, Falz, Juliana Olayode, and Aderounmu Adejumoke. The show is a spin-off from the movie Jenifa.
The 2018 comedy film Moms at War stars Akindele and Michelle Dede. In July 2019, Akindele started a new web series, ‘Aiyetoro Town,’ a spinoff from her popular TV series, ‘Jenifa’s Diary.
She made her directorial debut in 2019 political drama film Your Excellency.
Akindele married Nigerian rapper JJC Skillz in London in May 2016. Rumours about her pregnancy dominated searches on Google search engine in August 2017.
In January 2018, there was a controversy when it was reported that Akindele would get her Hollywood debut in Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War as she was listed as a member of the cast on IMDb.
On May 26, 2012, Akindele married Adeola Kehinde Oloyede. The couple divorced in July 2013, citing irreconcilable differences.
Akindele gave birth to twin boys in December 2018 and has several step-children.
She is currently the CEO of Scene One Film Production.
