Grace Nortey

Grace Nortey
Born	(1937-02-01)1 February 1937 Ghana
Died	26 August 2026(2026-08-26) (aged 89)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1970s–2019
Children	5

Grace Nortey (1 February 1937 – 26 August 2026) was an actress from Ghana who played many important roles on TV in Ghana. She worked in movies, theater, and drama for over 50 years and was seen as one of the veteran actors in Ghanaian drama.

Early Life

Grace Nortey was born on February 1, 1937, and grew up in Ghana. Her childhood helped shape her interest in the arts.

Career

Grace Nortey has acted in many movies made by the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI).

She often played strong and outspoken mother figures who fought against old, unfair traditions and practices. These roles included standing up against male dominance, unfair treatment of women, class discrimination, institutional corruption, and social injustice, etc.

Grace Nortey became famous for her on-screen battles with tough male characters, including actors like Solomon Sampa, MacJordan Amartey, George Williams, Kofi Adjorlolo, and William Addo (Akpatse), etc.

She was very active in the 1980s and 1990s, which is often called the golden age of Ghanaian theater and TV shows like "Obra," "Osofo Dadzie," "Key Soap Concert Party," "Cantata," "Taxi Driver," and "Thursday Theatre." Before acting in movies and on TV, she hosted a radio show for Ga women called "Nyeawokoshie" on Radio One in the 1970s. Her first big role on screen was in the 1986 movie called "Juju," which was made by King Ampaw and Peter Wohlgemuth-Reinery. It was a funny film where she acted alongside other veteran actors like Joe Eyison and Evans Oma Hunter.

Some of her well-known movies include Lost Hope, Dza Gbele, Matters of the Heart, Sekina, Expectations, Jewels, Beasts of No Nation (2015), Ties That Bind (2011), Sinking Sands (2011), Nana Akoto (1985), Escape to Love (1996), and The Other Side of The Rich (1992), and many others.

In her later years, health issues and poor eyesight made it difficult for her to take on physically demanding roles or read long scripts. However, she still appeared in smaller roles that require less movement and allow for more improvisation on set.

Advocacy

Nortey was a member of the Ghana Actors Guild, an organization that helps take care of actors, both old and new.

She also believed that actors should get formal education and training in acting before choosing it as a full-time job.

Personal life

Nortey had five children. One of her children, Sheila Nortey, is also an actress.

Nortey died on 26 August 2026 at the age of 89.

Works

Movies

Year	Movie	Role	Notes
1985	Nana Akoto
1992	The Other Side of the Rich	Mrs. Ampofo
2006	Frozen Emotion		Direct-to-video
2008	Before My Eyes	Wummi	Direct-to-video
2009	My Sister's honour	Mrs. Wills	Drama
2011	Sinking Sands	Grandma
	Ties That Bind	Church Member
2015	Beasts of No Nation	Old Witch Woman
2016	Amakye and Dede		Comedy
2019	P over D	Ayorkor
	'95	Old Woman

Awards

Nortey won many awards, including:

• Best Cameo Actress (for the movie "Adams Apple") - Ghana Movie Awards (2011)

• Excellence in Arts - Glitz Women of the Year Honours (2016)

• Lifetime Achievement Award - Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF) Awards (2018)

• Legendary Award for Outstanding Contributions - Ghana Actors Entertainment Award (GAEA) (2020)

• Outstanding Contribution to Women's Excellence in The Performing Arts - 3Music Awards Women's Brunch (2021)