Ireti Doyle (Full Name: Iretiola Olusola Ayinke Doyle, born May 3rd, 1967) is a 56-year-old Nigerian actress, television presenter, writer and public speaker from Ondo state. She is known for many of her roles in films and TV shows, including Oge With Iretiola, The Wedding Party, and Tinsel among others.
The actress is one of the most loved and respected actresses in Nollywood and she has accomplished a lot in her career and personal life. Growing up in a loving home, Ireti undoubtedly has always had love and passion for acting; little wonder she decided to learn more about it in the university. She is a strong, independent, and a hard-working woman regarded as a role model to her children, upcoming actresses, and fans worldwide.
Summary of Ireti Doyle’s Biography
- Name: Iretiola Olusola Ayinke Doyle
- Date of Birth: May 3rd, 1967
- Age: 56 years old
- State of origin: Ondo State
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Profession: Actress, Entertainer, TV Presenter, Writer, Public Speaker
- Spouse: Patrick Doyle
- Children: 6
How Old Is Ireti Doyle and Where Is She From? 56-year-old Actress Hails From Ondo State, Nigeria
Ireti Doyle is 56 years old and was born on May 3, 1967, to her parents, who are natives of Ondo State, Nigeria. Although nothing much is known about her parents, the actress revealed that her parents moved to Boston, in the United States, when she was very young. It is also unknown if she is the only child of her parents, as she enjoys keeping her personal information private. She spent her childhood years and equally started her basic education in the United States of America. However, when she returned to Nigeria, Ireti continued her studies at Christ’s School in Ado Ekiti.
Upon completing her secondary education, the actress acquired a diploma in Mass Communication before proceeding to the University of Jos, where she bagged a degree in Theatre Arts. Before her graduation, her school embarked on a long strike, and it was during that time she ventured into acting for the first time. However, she suddenly fell in love with it. Today, she has become an incredibly successful actress. What’s more, she also met the love of her life in the industry.
She also admitted that she is a lover of Tattoos; though no tattoos have been spotted on her yet, she might be one of those people who love to see tattoos on people and not on their own body, or she probably has it somewhere hidden and private. Ireti speaks Hausa, English, and Yoruba fluently, and she is also industrious and a go-getter. As of 2018, she was named one of the top-earning actresses in Nollywood, thanks to her role in Merry Men, which helped to put her up there. The actress was also named one of the richest actresses in Nigeria, with a net worth of about $2 million.
Ireti Doyle Began Her Acting Career At Age 28 in 1995
The veteran Nollywood actress recalled she was inspired to pursue a career in acting after watching a film starring Joke Silva. However, this passion became a reality when her school went on a long strike, and in 1995, she kicked off her acting career at the age of 28. At the initial stages of her career, Ireti started going for movie auditions. She first auditioned for a role in the movie titled Riddles and Hopes, which she got. Since then, the actress has never slowed down. She has appeared in more than 80 movies to date.
Some of the movies that made her a household name in Nollywood include Fuji House of Commotion, The Arbitration, The Wedding Party, Dinner, and Sitanda. For a long time, she has been starring in the long-running MNet TV Show, Tinsel, playing the role of Sheila Ade-Williams. Her pitch-perfect performances have endeared her to her many fans.
- Kasanova (2019)
- Zena (2019)
- Merry Men (2018)
- Something Wicked (2017)
- The Arbitration (2016)
- Guy Man
- Dinner (2016)
- The Wedding Party (2016)
- The Grudge (2016)
- Fifty (2015)
- Torn (2013)
- Across The Niger (2009)
- Sitanda (2006)
- All About Ere (1998)
She is Also a TV Presenter, Writer, and Entrepreneur
The actress wears a coat of many colors. Besides acting, she is also a TV presenter and has worked on various fashion and lifestyle shows, including her show “Oge with Iretiola.” The show, which celebrates Africa’s finest fashion trends where she interviews Icons and entrepreneurs like herself, started in 2000. It ran for ten years but stopped abruptly for some reason. That notwithstanding, the show is back now running better than before.
She has also hosted many TV shows such as Morning Ride, Nimasa This Week on Channels TV, Today on STV, and much more. Ireti Doyle has also written several screenplays, including Amaka Igwe’s Tempest (Season one), among many others. She also owns a media consulting and production company, which she named Sisi Ologe Ent, through which she produces her show, Oge with Iretiola.
Simply put, Ireti is a Boss Lady who works hard to earn her money. Outside the entertainment industry, Ireti is also a successful businesswoman; she owns some businesses that have grown over the years. Among them is Ologe Farms, an indigenous organic snail farm that was birthed in 2017. The farm is now a leading producer and distributor of good organic snails both in Nigeria and beyond.
At 56, Ireti Doyle Has Won Many Awards
Ireti’s talent and success in the movie and entertainment industry opened many doors of possibilities for her. As a result, she has been nominated for various awards over the course of her career. However, the actress has won a few of these awards.
Awards
- Actress of the Year ‘Dowry’ Late Ambassador Segun Olusola Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards, 2016.
- Best Actress in a Lead Role ‘Torn’ in 2014, Nollywood Movie Awards.
- Best Actress in a Lead Role, GIAMA Awards, 2013.
Nominations
She has also been nominated for these roles;
- Best Actress in a Leading Role in Fifty, by Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2016.
- Best Supporting Actress, by African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards in 2015.
- In 2009, she was also nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in the movie Across The Niger by African Magic Awards.
- African Movie Academy Awards in 2007 nominated her as Best Actress in a Supporting Role in the Movie Sitanda and many other awards.
- She was also nominated for Best Actress in the movie All About Ere in 1998
She Married Patrick Doyle During the 1990s
Ireti Doyle met her husband, the renowned Patrick Doyle, when she went for an audition. She walked into the audition hall, where prominent Nollywood actors were present, and immediately he set his eyes on her, he knew he wanted her as a wife. Ireti states that Patrick had to work hard to persuade her that their relationship would work because she had her doubts at first, but eventually, she also fell in love with him, and after a while, they got married and have been so for about 20 years now.
Her husband, Patrick Doyle, was once married before he met his wife, Ireti, but sadly, he lost her to Sickle Cell Anaemia, and the brighter side to their story is that they both found love again. Their union produced five children. However, before their union, Ireti was already a mother. She became a mother when she was about 19 years old, which made her grow up pretty fast, for she had to take care of her child named Ngozikachi Abimbola Ozofor.
The identity of the child’s father is unknown, but Ireti and her first child are close and love each other very much. Ngozikachi Abimbola Ozofor remains her most popular child to date. She is also successful like her mother, and she married Jonathan Kelechi Onyeulo in 2014. Through their union, actress Ireti Doyle has joined the league of young Nollywood grandmothers as they welcomed their first child, a daughter, in 2018.
Aside from Bimbo, nothing much is known about her other five children with Patrick, including their names, what they do for a living and their whereabouts. However, looking at how successful their parents are, it is expected their children might also take after their parents in the entertainment industry.
Are They Still Together as Husband and Wife?
Ireti Doyle and her husband have survived several challenges in the course of their union. Although she never denied or confirmed it, there are rumors that the two lovebirds are no longer together as a married couple due to a misunderstanding they had a while ago. However, the rumor further stated that the actress walked out of her marriage in 2017 following irreconcilable differences.
In the turn of events, reports later emerged in 2019, saying that Patrick has apologized privately and publicly, but Ireti seems to be ignoring him. So far, the actress has kept mum and has never said anything regarding her marriage with Patrick, and until then, there is no concrete proof they are divorced yet. We can only hope they will resolve their differences someday.