Genevieve Nnaji is a Nigerian actress, producer, and director.
Gatekeepers News reports that Genevieve was the first actor to be awarded Best Actress at the 2001 City People’s Awards, an award that had only recognised politicians and business conglomerates.
Early Life
Genevieve was born on 3 May 1979 in Mbaise, Imo State, Southeast Nigeria. She grew up in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria. Her father worked as an engineer and her mother was a nursery school teacher.
She attended Methodist Girls College (Yaba, Lagos), before proceeding to the University of Lagos, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in creative arts.
Early Career
Genevieve began auditioning for acting jobs in Nollywood while at the university. She was the first actor to be awarded as Best Actress by the Censors Board of Nigeria in 2003. In 2005, Genevieve won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, making her the first actor to win the award.
In 2009, Oprah Winfrey referred to her as the Julia Roberts of Africa.
In November 2015, Nnaji produced her first movie called Road to Yesterday, which won Best Movie Overall -West Africa at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
In 2018, her directorial debut Lionheart was acquired by online streaming service Netflix, making it the first Netflix original film from Nigeria. The movie was Nigeria’s submission for the Oscars.
Lionheart had its world premiere at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, alongside Farming, the Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s autobiographical directorial debut where she starred in alongside Kate Beckinsale, Damson Idris, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
Personal Life
At 17, Genevieve had her only daughter Theodora Chimebuka Nnaji. She is however not married.
In 2011, she was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian government for her contributions to Nollywood.
Net Worth
Genevieve has an estimated net worth of $10 million.
