Mary Obakore has emerged as a quiet force behind the visual storytelling of Nollywood's latest blockbuster, "Call of My Life," a romantic comedy that raked in N396 million at the West African box office and claimed the title of highest-grossing romance film for both 2025 and 2026. While audiences celebrate the film's lead actors, costumes, and music, Obakore's meticulous work as head of makeup played a crucial role in shaping the film's emotional tone. The movie, directed by Dammy Twitch in his feature film debut and produced by Blessing Uzzi of Bluhouse Studios, follows Soluchi (Uzoamaka Power), a call centre agent navigating heartbreak and new love after a chance phone call with broadcaster Eli (Andrew Bunting). Supported by veteran actors Patience Ozokwor and Nkem Owoh, the film blends humour, music, and cultural nuance in a story about second chances.
Obakore traces her entry into cinema makeup to a 2015 photoshoot where she met Uzzi, a moment she describes as pivotal. Prior to that, she had only worked in beauty makeup since 2011 or 2012, focusing on surface-level aesthetics. But the encounter shifted her trajectory toward narrative-driven artistry. On "Call of My Life," her approach centred on subtlety—crafting natural, camera-ready looks that supported character development without drawing attention to themselves. She emphasized continuity and emotional authenticity, ensuring that Soluchi's evolving journey was mirrored in her appearance across scenes. For Obakore, makeup is not decoration but a storytelling device, one that shapes how audiences connect with characters on screen. Her work underscores the often-overlooked contribution of behind-the-scenes creatives in defining a film's visual language.
Mary Obakore helped shape the emotional arc of "Call of My Life" through understated makeup that vanished into the story rather than stood out. The film earned N396 million while her name remained absent from most public conversations about its success. Recognition in Nollywood still flows overwhelmingly to faces in front of the camera, not those shaping them behind it. A hit film's legacy is built on more than performance—it's built on invisibility done right.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
