Genevieve Nnaji is a Nigerian actress, producer, and director. She was born on May 3, 1979, in Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria. Nnaji started her acting career as a child actress in the popular television soap opera “Ripples” at the age of 8. She has since grown to become one of the most successful and influential actresses in the Nigerian film industry, also known as Nollywood.
Biography
Nnaji has starred in numerous Nollywood movies and has received several awards for her outstanding performances. In 2005, she was awarded the Best Actress in a Leading Role at the inaugural Africa Movie Academy Awards for her role in the movie “Ijele.” She has also been honored with the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by the Nigerian government for her contributions to the entertainment industry.
In addition to her acting career, Nnaji has delved into film production and has produced several successful movies, including “The Mirror Boy” and “Road to Yesterday.” She made her directorial debut with the movie “Lionheart,” which was released on Netflix in 2018.
Genevieve Nnaji is not only known for her talent on screen but also her philanthropy work and advocacy for social causes. She continues to inspire and empower young actors and women in Nigeria and beyond with her remarkable work and achievements in the entertainment industry.
Genevieve Nnaji gave birth to her daughter, Chimebuka Theodora at 17, which further inspired her to pursue an acting career. She became a grandma at 39 years old.
NetWorth
Genevieve Nnaji is the wealthiest actress in Nigeria, with a net worth of about 5 billion naira, or 12 million US dollars. She became the first billionaire in Nollywood when her Netflix film Lion Heart was premiered for an estimated $3.8 million.
Genevieve Nnaji owns many choice properties on the Lekki corridors, Ikoyi, Ghana, and Abuja. Her automobile fleet includes luxury brands: Range Rover, BMW, and Mercedes Benz.
Business and Career
At the age of 8, Nnaji began her acting career as a child actor in the popular television soap opera Ripples. At the age of 19, she made her screen debut in the expanding Nigerian film industry with the film Most Wanted in 1998. She went on to star in other films such as Mark of the Beast, Ijele, and Last Party. In 2010, she was nominated for an award for her role in Ijé: The Journey. To date, Nnaji has acted in over 200 Nollywood productions.
Nnaji acquired a record deal with the Ghanaian label EKB Records in 2004 and put out her debut album, One Logologo Line. R&B, hip-hop, and urban music are all mixed. After competing against other celebrities to become the 2004 Lux face, Genevieve Nnaji received the most votes. She became the first actress to receive the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2005.
Genevieve at a 2009 event was among the highest-paid female actors in Nigerian cinema in 2009. Her contributions to the Nigerian film industry made her the first performer to win Best Actress at the 2001 City People’s Awards, an event that had previously only honored corporate giants and politicians. In 2003, she became the inaugural recipient of the Best Actress award from the Nigerian Censors Board. Oprah Winfrey dubbed her the Julia Roberts of Africa in 2009.
Moreover, Genevieve Nnaji is an activist for women. She is an advocate for giving Nigerian girls the freedom to choose who they marry. She opposes getting married young for girls. She is adamantly opposed to the social maltreatment of women. According to Genevieve, she is a fervent supporter of social justice. Genevieve Nnaji is also a fervent feminist. According to her, feminism is about a woman’s autonomy to choose what she wants to accomplish and who she is.
Modelling
Nnaji has appeared in several advertisements, such as those for the beverage Pronto and the detergent Omo. In 2004, she signed a very lucrative endorsement deal to become the “Face of Lux” in Nigeria. Nnaji established the clothing brand “St. Genevieve” in 2008, with all sales going to charitable causes. She was named the official “Face of MUD” in Nigeria in May 2010.
