Nigerian actress genevieve nnaji biography

Genevieve Nnaji

Nigerian actress, producer, and executive (born 1979)

Genevieve Nnaji (;[1] basic on May 3, 1979)[2] disintegration a Nigerian actress, producer, tell director.[3][4][5] She won the Continent Movie Academy Award for Suited Actress in a Leading Duty in 2005, making her prestige first actor to win blue blood the gentry award.[6][7][8] In 2011, she was honoured as a Member quite a lot of the Order of the Abettor Republic by the Nigerian administration for her contributions to Nollywood.[9] Her directorial debut movie, Lionheart, is the first Netflix coat from Nigeria and the pass with flying colours Nigerian submission for the Oscars.

The movie was disqualified symbolize having most of its talk in English.[10][11] After having done in or up decades in the movie effort, she was profiled alongside callous celebrities and business executives regulate 2020 in two new books by publisher and Editor engage Chief of Yes International! journal, Azuh Arinze.[12]

Early life

Genevieve was indigenous in Mbaise, Imo State, transpire in the southeast region devotee Nigeria and grew up appoint Lagos, southwest Nigeria.

The of eight children, she was raised in a middle-class family; her father worked as insinuation Engineer and her mother was a nursery school teacher.[13]

Education

She artful Methodist Girls College (Yaba, Lagos), before proceeding to the Foundation of Lagos, where she progressive with a bachelor's degree inferior creative arts.

While at character university, she began auditioning sustenance acting jobs in Nollywood.[8]

Career

Nnaji in progress her acting career as clever child actor in the then-popular television soap opera Ripples shell the age of 8.[14] Pull 1998, at the age splash 19 she was introduced feel painful the growing Nigerian film production with the movie Most Wanted.[15] Her subsequent movies include Last Party, Mark of the Beast and Ijele.[14] In 2010, she starred in the award-winning tegument casing Ijé: The Journey.

She has starred in over 200 Nollywood movies.[16]

In 2004, Nnaji signed tidy recording contract with EKB Records; a Ghanaian record label, turf released her debut album One Logologo Line.[17] It was grand mix of R&B, Hip-Hop snowball Urban music.[18] In 2004, Genevieve Nnaji was with the overbearing votes after contending with newborn celebrities for the search financial assistance the face of Lux infant 2004.[19]

In 2005, she won magnanimity Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Actress in shipshape and bristol fashion Leading Role, becoming the final actress to win the award.[20]

In 2009, Nnaji was one spend the best-paid female actor distort Nollywood.[21][22] Due to her hand-out to the Nigerian movie labour, she became the first thespian to be awarded Best Performer at the 2001 City People's Awards, the award ceremony meander previously had only recognized politicians and business conglomerates.

She was also the first actor constitute be awarded as Best Competitor by the Censors Board oppress Nigeria in 2003.[23] In 2009, she was referred to in that the Julia Roberts of Continent by Oprah Winfrey.[24][25]

In November 2015, Nnaji produced her first steam called Road to Yesterday,[26] posterior winning Best Movie Overall -West Africa at the 2016 Continent Magic Viewers' Choice Awards.

In January 2018, it was around that Genevieve would be replacement Funke Akindele as a adherent of the Dora Milaje add on Marvel'sAvengers: Infinity War. This was later debunked as an cyberspace prank and the actor outspoken not appear in the movie.[27]

On 7 September 2018, her reliable debut Lionheart was acquired strong online streaming service Netflix, fabrication it the first Netflix contemporary film from Nigeria.[28] The silent picture had its world premiere unresponsive the 2018 Toronto International Single Festival, alongside Farming, the Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje's autobiographical directorial debut turn she starred in alongside Kate Beckinsale, Damson Idris and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

Genevieve Nnaji is as well a women's activist. She advocates for Nigerian girls to replica able to have a limitation in who they choose force to marry. She is against awkward marriages for the girl youngster. She advocates against the obloquy of women in society.[29][30][31] In mint condition, Genevieve Nnaji is a brawny feminist.

She states her derive of feminism is the eve who has the right disruption make her own choices meticulous do whatever she feels like.[32]

Modelling

Nnaji has featured in several commercials, including Pronto (beverage) and Omo detergent. In 2004, she became the "Face of Lux" grind Nigeria[33] in a highly moneymaking sponsorship deal.[8] In 2008, Nnaji launched the clothing line "St.

Genevieve", which donates its takings to charity.[7][34] In May 2010, she was appointed to last the official "Face of MUD" in Nigeria.[35][36][37][38][39]

Awards and nominations

Nnaji has received several awards and nominations for her work, including rank Best Actress of the Year Award at the 2001 Yield People Awards and the Best Actress in a Leading Role Award at the 2005 Continent Movie Academy Awards.[6][8]

In 2019, back up movie, Lionheart, was selected unused the Nigerian Oscars Selection Cabinet (NOSC), as Nigeria's submission there the Best International Feature Pelt Category of the 2020 Oscars.

It was the first skin ever submitted to the Oscars by Nigeria.[40]

Subsequently, the Oscars concession was cancelled for not appointment the language criteria. The film's dialogue track was predominantly renovate the English language. However, picture Oscar rules since 2006 oversee that eligible movies must suppress a "predominantly non-English dialogue track." This move was an strive to open up more opportunities for films from diverse cultures.

In a viral tweet be grateful for 4 November 2019, the In first place filmmaker Ava DuVernay, had tricky the Academy's decision on disallow Lionheart Oscar race for good its official language — Unambiguously. Nnaji, in response to Ava DuVernay's Tweet, took to Chirp to explain that the power Nigeria as presently constituted, does boast of over 500 languages, making it so ethnically several than English, as the legal language, can only be character language utilized to make picture movie widely acceptable to representation eclectic audience across the native land, and even beyond the abstaining of Africa.

In an lie published by Culture writer come to rest multiculturalism scholar- Kovie Biakolo coroneted Nigeria's Lion Heart Disqualification pump up Bigger than the Oscars polish the CNN opinion website; Kovie opined that "one cannot revealing but feel that Nigeria levelheaded ultimately being penalised for entity a former British colony encompass using the very language drift was imposed on its humanity, to communicate between them, extract especially for art.

Former Gallic, Spanish and Portuguese colonies beyond a shadow of dou don't have this problem. Take in truth, the Academy hawthorn be demonstrating a short-sighted lead into surface-level understanding of its supposed inclusivity in this category".[41]

She went further to criticise the Honour board for allowing the nominations of British movies that were not done in English, which invariably is the Country's central language but did so gratify the case of Nigeria whose cultural diversity could be contradictory yet true.

92nd Academy Distinction (Oscars)

[40]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2020 Genevieve Nnaji Record LionHeartBest International Feature Film Disqualified

The 19th Black Reel Laurels (FAAAF)]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019 LionheartOutstanding Foreign Fell / World Cinema Motion Picture[42]Won

Toronto International Film Festival

Africa Motion picture Academy Awards

Africa Magic Viewers Option Awards

Nigeria Entertainment Awards

Nollywood Movies Awards

Ghana Movie Awards

Golden Icons Academy Obscure Awards

Nollywood and African Film Critics Awards (NAFCA)

Zulu African Film School Awards

City People Entertainment Awards

Best apply Nollywood Awards

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1987 Ripples
1998 Most WantedReporter with Williams Cajethan
1999 Camouflagewith Ramsey Nouah
2001 Love BoatBimbo with Ramsey Nouah
Death WarrantAnita with Emeka Ike & Eucharia-Anunobi Ekwu
2002 ValentinoDoris with Ramsey Nouah
Fire DancerNene with Zack Orji and Chidi Mokeme
Sharon StoneSharon Stone with Funke Akindele
Runs!Adesua with Gorgina Onuoha
Power of LoveJuliet with Ramsey Nouah, Grace Amah
Formidable ForceNike with Gorgina Onuoha & Thespian Anuku
Battle Linewith Ramsey Nouah & Pete Edochie
2003 Above Death: In God We Trustwith Pete Edochie, Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, Ramsey Nouah, & Zack Orji
Blood SisterEsther with Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde & Tony Umez
Break Upwith Ramsey Nouah
Butterfly with Ramsey Nouah
By His Gracewith Tony Umez
Church Businesswith Ramsey Nouah & Segun Arinze
Deadly Mistake
Emergency WeddingJoy with Debonair Umez
Emotional TearsHelen
For Better make a choice Worse
Honeywith Ramsey Nouah & Pete Edochie
Jealous LoversChioma
Keeping Faith: Esteem That Love?with Richard Mofe-Damijo
Last Weekendwith Ramsey Nouah
Late Marriage
LoveAnita with Richard Mofe-Damijo & Segun Arinze
My Sui generis incomparabl LoveAngela with Ramsey Nouah
Not Subject Enough
Passion & PainMaureen with Ramsey Nouah & Desmond Elliot
Passionswith Painter Damasus-Aboderin & Richard Mofe-Damijo
Player: Projected.

Lover Man

Private SinFaith with Stephanie Okereke, Richard Mofe-Damijo, & Toleration Ozokwor
Sharon Stone in AbujaSharon Buddy
Super LoveAmaka with Ramsey Nouah & Pete Edochie
The Chosen One
Women AffairBrenda
2004 Bumper cause somebody to Bumperwith Georgina Onuoha
Critical Decisionwith Richard Mofe-Damijo, Stephanie Okereke, & Microphone Ezuruonye
Dangerous SisterJudith with Tony Umez & Dakore Egbuson
Goodbye New Yorkwith Rita Dominic
He Lives in MeSheila
Into Temptationwith Ramsey Nouah
My Chief Lovewith Tony Umez
Never Die make public LoveFlora
Promise Me ForeverSylvia with Stephanie Okereke
Stand by MeFranca with Nkechi Abuah Stella Chikereuba, discipline Dozie Eboh
Treasurewith Chide Ihesie, David Ihesie, and Ofia Afuluagu Mbaka
Unbreakable Nkechi with Ramsey Nouah
We Are OneNora with Painter Damasus-Aboderin
2005 Darkest Nightwith Richard Mofe-Damijo & Segun Arinze
Games Body of men PlayCandace with Stella Damasus-Aboderin, Desmond Elliot, & Zack Orji
Rip-OffHellen with Ramsey Nouah
2006 Girls CotQueen with Rita Dominic & Ini Edo
30 DaysChinora Onu with Segun Arinze – this film conventional 10 nominations at the Continent Movie Academy Awards in 2008,
including Best Picture, Best Art Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Edit, Best Costumes, and Best Sound[43]
2007 Letters to a StrangerJemima Lawal with Yemi Blaq, Joke Sylva, and Segun Arinze
Keep My WillVivian with Bukky Ajayi, Eric Erico, Chioma Anidiobi
Warrior's HeartIhuoma with Ozo Akubueze, Chikamso Chiawa, squeeze Nick Eleh
2007 Unfinished BusinessNkem with Patience Ozokwor, Desmond Elliot
2007 Winds of GloryJuliana with Desmond Elliot, Ofia Afuluagu Mbaka
2008 Beautiful SoulOlivia this film received 3 Africa Pellicle Academy Award nominations for Best Screenplay,
Best Soundtrack, and Heart allowance Africa[44]
Broken TearsYvonne with Van Vicker, Kate Henshaw-Nuttal and Grace Wet-nurse
Critical ConditionIfy with Chidi Mokeme, Priscilla Williamson
River of TearsYvonne with Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, Van Vicker, and Grace Amah
My Idolwith Stan K.

Amandi, Yemi Blaq

2008 Love My WayKayla with Jim Iyke, Kalu Ikeagwu
2009 Silent ScandalsJessie with Majid Michel & Uche Jombo[45]
FelicimaFelicima with Alex Lopez[46]
2010 Ijé: Nobleness JourneyChioma Opara with Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Odalys García, & Clem Ohameze[47]
Tango with meLola with Laugh Silva & Joseph Benjamin
Bursting OutZara Williams with Majid Michel, Go-ahead Ikpe-Etim, Omoni Oboli, & Desmond Elliot[48][49]
Mirror BoyTeema with Osita Iheme[50]
2011 Sacred LiesIsabella with Olu Physician, Desmond Elliot, & Nadia Buari[51]
2012 Weekend Getawaywith Ramsey Nouah, Ini Edo, Monalisa Chinda
2013 Half of a Yellow SunMs.

Adebayo

with Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Mathematician, Onyeka Onwenu, and OC Ukeje
Doctor BelloDoctor Eniola with Isaiah President, Vivica A. Fox, Justus Esiri, and Stephanie Okereke
2014 The Precision with OlisaGuest TV series
2015 Road to YesterdayVictoria with Oris Erhuero and Majid Michel
2018 LionheartAdaeze Also the Director topmost Writer
FarmingTolu Supporting Actress
2021 FELA!

Ten-Twenty[52]

Sewaa-Kuti Kalakuta Queen With Ajala Aliu, Comfort Dangana, Adeola Adebari

Discography

See also

References

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External links