Yvonne Nelson is a Ghanaian actress, model, producer, activist, philanthropist, and educationist, known for her starring roles in movies including Princess Tyra, Heart of Gold, The Return of Beyonce, and The Game. Nelson transitioned from acting to production after receiving a ban from the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG), which she said was due to her outspoken nature. Yvonne published her memoir, ‘I Am Not Yvonne Nelson’ (2023), which contained explosive details of a previous relationship with the rapper Sarkodie (born Michael Owusu Addo). The angry rapper retaliated against her by releasing a diss song.
Yvonne is the mother of two children.
Early Life and Education
Yvonne Nelson was born on November 12, 1985, in Accra, Ghana, to her parents, mother Margaret Gaddy and an unknown father. Yvonne bears the surname of Ghanaian businessman Mr Okoe Nelson, who she believed was her father until much later in life. In reality, Okoe Nelson was of no relation to her, and she had been lied to by her mother regarding her biological father. Yvonne Nelson to this day does not know her real father.
Nelson attended St Martin De Porres School in Accra before proceeding to Aggrey Memorial Senior High School. She graduated from Central University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management. Nelson acquired a Master’s Degree in international relations and Diplomacy from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in 2020.
Career
Yvonne Nelson started out in showbiz in beauty pageants. She contested for Miss Ghana in 2005 but did not win the ultimate prize. Disappointed, she took on a chance to audition for an unaired TV series, ‘Fortune Island’. Nelson then transitioned from beauty pageants to acting, landing a role in the 2006 production ‘The Return of Beyonce’.
Her breakthrough role came in the movie ‘Princess Tyra’ in 2007, which made her a household name with a domineering performance. The Frank Rajah Arase picture starred Van Vicker, Kofi Adjorlolo, Jackie Appiah, Oge Okoye, and more. Nelson credits legendary Ghanaian producer Abdul Salam Mumuni for believing in her and helping establish her career.
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Yvonne went on to star in dozens of movies within the next few years in both Ghallywood and Nollywood, including two Princess Tyra sequels, Passion of the Soul, Playboy, and more.
In 2010, Nelson was banned by the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG), ostensibly for being too disrespectful to colleague actresses, producers, and directors. Nelson disputes this characterisation, arguing that she was banned because she was outspoken and the mostly male and elderly, misogynistic producers mistook her speaking up for being disrespectful.
“I was banned by a group of men in the industry. They call themselves FIPAG. Something happened on set and they got together,” Nelson said in an interview. “When you are a woman and you are vocal; when you are unhappy with things around you, and you want to talk about them, people just don’t like that. They feel you just came into the industry. Why are you talking too much? Why are you complaining too much?” Nelson credited Majid Michel and one Kelvin Kobiri for being instrumental in supporting her dream to become a producer.
Following the ban, Yvonne started her own production company, YN Productions. She has since produced movies such as ‘Kotoka’, ‘House of Gold’, ‘Single and Married’, plus more. Nelson also produced the television series ‘Heels and Sneakers’.
Controversies
For years, Yvonne Nelson harboured extreme hatred towards the man she believed to be her father, Mr Okoe Nelson, due to him refusing to acknowledge her as his daughter or have any relationship with her. In her book ‘I Am Not Yvonne Nelson’, she revealed that her mother told her the truth about her paternity just before Mr Nelson’s death, and before she could confirm the veracity of her mother’s claims, he died. Nelson dedicated an apology to him in her book, writing, “To you, your children and your family, I sincerely apologise. I’m sorry that I said all those things about you. I wish you were alive so I could say this to you in person… I regret I couldn’t apologise to you in person. Although the first apology should have come from my mother, I wish I could kneel by you and tell you how sorry I am.”
To this day, Yvonne Nelson does not know her biological father, as her mother has refused to furnish her with his identity.
In the same book, ‘I Am Not Yvonne Nelson’, the actress revealed that she dated popular Ghanaian rapper Michael Owusu Addo, professionally known as Sarkodie, when they were both young people in Tema before either found fame. Their relationship resulted in a pregnancy, which Sarkodie refused to accept responsibility for, forcing her to get an abortion, after which he ‘ghosted’ her. An angry Sarkodie replied to Yvonne Nelson in a ‘diss track’ he titled ‘Try Me’.
Personal Life
Yvonne Nelson has two children. She welcomed her first child, Ryn, with her ex-boyfriend, Welsh photographer Jamie Roberts. Nelson welcomed a second child in 2024.
Nelson is the founder of the Yvonne Nelson International School, an Accra-based Cambridge-accredited coeducational day school for grades 1 through 5.
She is the founder of the Yvonne Nelson Glaucoma Foundation, which she established in 2010. A fiercely outspoken individual, Yvonne Nelson has twice led protests against the Ghanaian government over crippling power cuts known locally as ‘dumsor.’
Awards
Favorite Actress – 2010 Ghana Movie Awards
Best Ghanaian Actress – 2011 City People Awards
Glitz Magazine Fans Favorite Actress – 2013 Ghana Movie Awards
Best Actress in a Leading Role – 2015 Ghana Movie Awards
