Actress Elizabeth Evoeme, famously known as Ovularia from the timeless 80s TV series “The New Masquerade,” has passed away at 81. 

Reports said she died in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, on Sunday.

In a statement, the Evoeme Emekalam family thanked her fans, friends, and colleagues for their unwavering support and requested privacy to grieve the loss of their matriarch.

“Friends, fans, colleagues, and the family of the legendary actress Elizabeth Lizzy ‘Ovularia’ Evoeme would like to notify the public and all those who loved her and her work in ‘The New Masquerade’ of her passing.

“We thank you all for your support and for respecting our privacy at this time. God bless you all, and may our dear Elizabeth ‘Ovularia’ Evoeme rest in perfect peace, now and always,” the family’s statement partly read.

Ovularia’s daughter, Justina Ngozi Evoeme, currently residing in London, described her mother’s death as both painful and shocking.

The news of Ovularia’s death comes exactly four and a half years after false rumours circulated in 2019, suggesting her demise.

At that time, a misleading Twitter post stirred speculation about her health, which the actress later debunked.

Addressing the rumours in 2019, Ovularia refuted serious illness claims and criticised those responsible for spreading false information.

Beyond her role in “The New Masquerade”, Evoeme showcased her versatility as an actress through various stage and screen performances.