Genevieve Nnaji Biography
Genevieve Nnaji was born in Nigeria on May 3, 1979. She is a multi-talented artist whose work in film, TV, and other media has won her international praise.
In 2005, she became the first actor to win the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
For her work in the Nigerian film industry, the government of Nigeria made her a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011.
Profile:
- Name: Genevieve Nnaji
- Born: 3 may, 1979
- Place of birth: Mbaise. Imo state
- Nationality: Nigerian
- State of origin: Imo state
- Age: 43 years old
- Gender: Female
- Profession: Actress, TV Personality
- Children: 1
- Husband: Married
Early Life And Education
Born in Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria, Genevieve grew up in Lagos. She was raised in a middle-class family as the fourth of eight children; her father was an engineer and her mother was a nursery school teacher.
She attended Methodist Girls’ College (Yaba, Lagos) prior to enrolling at the University of Lagos, from which she earned a bachelor’s degree in creative arts. While in college, she began to audition for acting roles in Nollywood.
Career
At the age of eight, Nnaji began her acting career as a child actor in the then-popular television series Ripples. In 1998, at the age of 19, the film Most Wanted introduced her to the burgeoning Nigerian film industry.
Her subsequent films include Last Party, Mark of the Beast, and Ijele, among others. She starred in the 2010 Oscar-nominated film Ijé: The Journey. She has appeared in more than 200 Nollywood films.
Nnaji acquired a recording contract with the Ghanaian record label EKB Records in 2004 and released her debut album One Logologo Line. It contains elements of R&B, hip-hop, and urban music. In 2004, after competing with other celebrities in the quest for the face of Lux, Genevieve Nnaji received the most votes.
In 2005, she became the first actress to win the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Nnaji was one of the highest-paid female actors in Nollywood as of 2009.
Due to her contributions to the Nigerian film industry, she was the first actor to win Best Actress at the 2001 City People’s Awards, an event that had hitherto honored mainly politicians and businesspeople.
She was also the first actress to receive the Censors Board of Nigeria’s Best Actress award in 2003. In 2009, Oprah Winfrey referred to her as the Julia Roberts of Africa.
In November 2015, Nnaji produced her debut film titled “Road to Yesterday,” which won the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award for Best Film Overall-West Africa.
In January 2018, it was revealed that Genevieve would replace Funke Akindele in Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War as a member of the Dora Milaje. This was later shown to be an internet hoax, and the actor in question did not feature in the film.
The internet streaming provider Netflix bought her directorial debut, Lionheart, on September 7, 2018, making it the first Nigerian original film produced by Netflix.
The movie was shown for the first time at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. It was shown alongside Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s autobiographical directorial debut, Farming, in which he directed Kate Beckinsale, Damson Idris, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
Genevieve Nnaji was featured in a comedy named “Say It and Quench” by Ofego on his YouTube channel on May 6, 2021.
Genevieve Nnaji is a feminist activist as well. She argues for the right of Nigerian women to select who they will marry. She opposes early marriages for young girls.
She is vehemently opposed to the mistreatment of women in society. Genevieve asserts that she is an ardent supporter of social justice. Genevieve Nnaji is also a committed feminist. According to her definition of feminism, a woman has the right to make her own decisions and act as she pleases.
Filmography
Genevieve Nnaji has appeared in over 150 Nigerian films; listed below are some of the films in which she has appeared.
- Camouflage
- love Boat
- Death Warrant
- Valentina
- Fire Dancer
- Sharon Stone
- Runs
- Power of Love
- Formidable force
- Most wanted
- River of Tears 2
- Sister’s Love
- Keep My Will
- Letters to a Stranger
- Unfinished Business
- Warrior’s Heart
- Wind of Glory
- Girls Cot
- 30 Days
- Darkest Night
- Games Women Play
- Rip-Off
- Bumper to Bumper
- Critical Decision
- Dangerous Sisters
- Goodbye New York
- He Lives in Me
- Into Temptation
- My First Love
- Never Die for Love
- Promise Me Forever
- Stand by Me
- Farming
- Lionheart
- Road to Yesterday
- Half of a Yellow Sun
- Doctor Bello
- Sacred Lies
- The Mirror Boy
- Bursting Out
- Tango with Me
- Ijé: The Journey
- Silent Scandal
- Silent Scandal 2
- Beautiful Soul
- Broken Tears
- Broken Tears 2
- Critical Condition
- Critical Condition 2
- Love My Way
- Love My Way 2
- My Idol
- My Idol 2
Modelling
Nnaji has appeared in multiple ads, including those for Pronto and Omo detergent. She became the “Face of Lux” in Nigeria in 2004 as part of a lucrative sponsorship contract. Nnaji started the apparel company St. Genevieve in 2008, with earnings going to charity. She was chosen as the official “Face of MUD” in Nigeria in May 2010.
Social Media
- Instagram: @genevievennaji
- Facebook: Genevieve Nnaji Official
- Twitter: @GenevieveNnaji1
- IMDb: Genevieve Nnaji
Throughout her career in the film industry, Genevieve Nnaji has been nominated for and won a number of awards. Among her honors are:
- 2005 Africa’s Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Actress The Cinema Censor Board awarded
- Best Actress in the cinema censor board 2003.
- 2010 Nigerian Entertainment Award for Best Actress in a Television Series;
- 2014 Nigerian Entertainment Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role;
- 2012 Nollywood Movies Award for Viewer’s Choice (Female); and so on.
Genevieve Nnaji produced her debut film, “Road to Yesterday,” in 2015. A film that received the African Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) for best film in West Africa in 2016.
Genevieve Nnaji Net Worth
The actress is one of the most powerful people in Nigeria. She is estimated to have a net worth of $2 million and has made a number of great, eye-catching movies that have sold a lot of copies. She also has endorsement deals and her own businesses.
Genevieve’s Nnaji is one of the few Nigerian actresses who have already left their mark on the Nigerian film industry, given her recent influence.