Bye Matilda, Hello Leonora! Ghanaian Actress Leonora Okine is the New “Angela Dede” on M-Net’s Tinsel

M-Net’s “Tinsel“, the Nigeria-based soap opera TV series has made a major cast change. One of the series’ key characters “Angela Dede” has been played by Nigerian actress Matilda Obaseki since the inception of the show, Matilda has now been replaced by Ghanaian Actress Leonora Okine.

Fans were not informed of the change prior to the appearance of the new actress on TV screens during Season 5, Episode 776 of the series, fans reacted by commenting via social media sites Facebook and Twitter.

Matilda Obaseki’s had garnered award nominations for her delivery of the Angela Dede role especially given the challenges involved in playing the role of the troubled yet determined mentally ill young woman with dignity rather than as a caricature.

The actress announced her engagement in March 2012 and is pregnant with her first child.

No official word from M-Net on if this is a permanent or temporary (maternity leave) change. This is not the first time the series is swapping one of its leading actresses, the roles of Amaka Okoh and Brenda Mensah have both been recast during the course of the series.

Leonora has previously featured in Ghanaian TV series and movies including “Different Shades of Blue” and  “Blood & Chocolate”.

Congrats to Matilda and Leonora.

What do you think about the change?

Update – Official statement from M-Net
M-Net wishes to advise Tinsel fans that Matilda Obaseki, who plays the role of Angela Dede, is currently on leave and will be temporarily replaced by Leonora Okine.

M-Net joins the Tinsel cast and crew in sending Matilda their love and best wishes and are looking forward to her return to set later in the year.

In the interim, the producers would like to welcome the very talented Leonara to the Tinsel family.