Wendy Lawal Simpson

EARLY LIFE

Wendy Lawal was born Yewande Lawal Adebisi on February 25, 1991, in Ogun State, Nigeria, into a Yoruba family. She is the fifth of six children. She completed her primary and secondary education in Nigeria. After secondary school she gained admission to study English at Olabisi Onabanjo University but did not attend because the campus was far from home and her mother preferred she stay closer. Influenced by her older brother, who was studying Theatre Arts at the University of Ibadan, she enrolled at the University of Lagos, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Creative Arts with a focus on acting. During her university years she participated in church dramas, stage plays, and campus productions that helped develop her craft.

CAREER

Lawal began her professional acting career in 2009 while still a student, landing a role in the Nigerian television series Living in Lagos. In 2012 she achieved two major breakthroughs: she won the Miss Lagos Carnival Pageant, which brought her significant public visibility, and she landed the recurring role of Shoshanna in the long-running Africa Magic soap opera Tinsel. The Tinsel role remains one of her most recognized performances. She has since built a steady body of work across television, web series, short films, and feature films. Notable credits include: Journey to Self (2012) as Young Nse Our Best Friend’s Wedding (2017) as Tolu The Men’s Club (2018) as Shade The Auction (2018) The Set Up (2019) as Young Chike (the film was a commercial success) Unbreakable (2019) Things We Do in the Shadow (2022) as N.K. Grey Roses (2022) as Colleen Refuge (2023) as Amara Utibe Alli Eid Dinner (2024) as Morenike Alli Additional appearances in Jemeji, The Room, Out of Sight, Foreign Love, and more recent projects such as Mother of the Brides and The Artifact: Stones of Fatima. Her work is characterized by natural emotional range and versatility across drama, romance, and thriller genres.

PERSONAL LIFE

Lawal married Wanri Simpson on September 1, 2018. She has described their relationship as peaceful, warm, and safe. The couple welcomed a child in late 2019. In November 2020 she publicly mourned the death of her mother (whom she referred to as Sisi Yinka), sharing heartfelt tributes about the profound impact of the loss. She maintains a relatively private personal life while remaining active on social media.

Beyond acting, Lawal has maintained a modeling career that began with her pageant success. She remains active in the industry, balancing screen work with public appearances and brand-related activities. She is recognized as a consistent presence in Nollywood television and film since her breakthrough in the early 2010s.