Joke Silva is an award winning Nigerian International Actress, Producer, and one of the Pioneers of Nollywood. She has gained recognition in the English and Yoruba speaking sectors of Nollywood. She gained wide recognition in English films with “Mind Bending” (1990); and in Yoruba films with “Owurolojo” (1993). In 1999, she starred alongide Colin Firth and Nia Long in Peter Schwabach’s cross cultural romantic comedy, “The Secret Laughter of Women”. In 2006, she starred in Jeta Amata’s British-Nigerian historical film, “Amazing Grace”. In the same year, she received the Award for Best Actress at the Africa Movie Academy Awards for her role in “Women’s Cot”. In 2008, she received the Award for Best Supporting Actress at the Africa Movie Academy Awards for her roles in Izu Ojukwu’s “White Waters” and Mildred Okwo’s “30 Days”. In 2014, she was honoured as a Member of the Order of The Federal Republic.

Born on September 29, 1961, in Lagos. She is the second child of five children. Her mother was a Medical Doctor while her father was a Lawyer. She attended Holy Child College, Obalende, Lagos and did her A levels at Wentworth Milton Mount, Bournemouth, England, where she also sat for the London Academy of Music and Arts Examinations. She proceeded to study drama at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She had a brief stint at The Royal Court Theatre and worked briefly at the British Broadcasting Corporation. She later studied English at the University of Lagos. As a girl, Joke Silva performed in The Merry Peasant, a school stage play in which she also play the titular character, Merry Peasant. Upon her return from England, she joined the cultural centre of University of Lagos and went on to perform at the British Council and The Goethe Institute.

Joke Silva’s career spans across Stage, Film and Television. Her stage credits includes Jero’s Metarmophosis (1981) Mad King of Ijudiya (2013), The Wives by The Make it Happen Productions (2014) and Ifeoma Fafunwa’s Hear Word (2014-present), Solomon Mac-Auley’s A Past Came Calling
Her Film credits includes: Amaka Igwe’s “Violated” (1995), Peter Schwabach’s “The Secret Laughter of Women” (1999), Odion P.Agboh’s “Twins of the Rain Forest” (1999), Ego Boyo’s “Keeping Faith” (2002), “The Kingmaker” (2002) which she co-produced with her husband, Olu Jacobs. In 2003 and 2004, she stars in leading roles in “Shylock”, “A Husband’s Wife” and “A Past Came Calling”. In 2005, she starred in “Women’s Cot”, and in 2006 she stars in Mildred Okwo’s “30 Days”, and Jeta Amata’s “Amazing Grace”. In 2007 she stars in Izu Ojukwu’s “White Waters”, Ndubuisi Okoh’s “To Love and to Hold” and Fred Amata’s “Letters to A Stranger”. In 2011, she starred in Kunle Afolayan’s “Phone Swap”. In 2010, she starred in Ali Mahmood Balogun’s “Tango With Me”, and in 2012, she starred in Tunde Olaoye’s “Married but Living Single”. In 2016, Joke Silva starred in OLA’s crime TV series, Las Gidi Cops: Special Crimes Unit. In 2017, she stars in Jadesola Osiberu’s hit web series, Gidi-Up and Femi Odugbemi’s hit TV series, Battleground

Joke Silva married Actor, Olu Jacobs in 1985. Together they have two sons; Olusoji Jacobs and Olugbenga Jacobs. In 2009, Joke Silva co-founded Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts with her husband. In 2012, she was appointed as a goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. In 2016, she became the brand ambassador for AIICO Pension Managers Limited.