Every week we will be profiling a Nigerian that truly represents the brand Nigerian. This is to bring to our attention our genuine societal role models(as against few bad eggs) whom our youths should aspire and workhard to be like.
Genevieve Nnaji
Date of Birth
3 May 1979, Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria
Nickname
GennyBiography
Genevieve Nnaji started her acting career as a child actress in the then-popular television soap opera "Ripples" at the age of 8. She was also featured in several commercials, some of which included Pronto beverage and Omo detergent. In 1998, at the age of 19, she made her debut in the growing Nigerian film industry with the movie "Most Wanted." As an upcoming actress, trying to create a niche for herself, she went through various minor roles seeking for that opportunity for a breakthrough.
Her subsequent movies--"Last Party," "Mark of the Beast," and "Ijele" (which is still considered to be one of her best epic performances to date)--brought forth an icon to be loved and adored by many.
Her name became a household name and her image the desire of every young girl. In 2002, she starred in the movie Sharon Stone (2002) (V), and her fame shot beyond the shores of Nigeria to the rest of Africa and several European countries. One can say that through the buzz, Genevieve reinvented the Nigerian film Industry, introducing Nollywood to the rest of the world.
Genevieve appeals just as warmly to Kenyans, Liberians, South Africans, and Ghanaians, who avidly watch Nigerian home videos at home and abroad. Genevieve has led the market into new territories today.
She took the extra step of projecting herself beyond Nigeria by having a Web site constructed back in 2003, and it was arguably the most-visited Nigerian site on the Internet. Its fame spread like wildfire, a jolly virus: 3549 hits on 355 pages in two weeks.
In recognition of her immense contribution to the Nigerian film industry, Genevieve was presented with numerous awards, some of which have been in Dublin, London, and the United States. She won best actress of the year in the 2001 City People Awards and in 2005 at the inaugural awarding of the prestigious African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
In 2004, a search for the face of Lux was embarked upon, and out of several celebrities all over Africa, Genevieve emerged with the highest votes. She graced several billboards and television stations with her enduring smile and personality. The same year, she was contracted by a Ghanaian record label to record an album, which got immense attention locally and in several African countries.
With several movies to her credit, and numerous fans around the world, in 2008, in a bid to give back to society, Genevieve launched her clothing line, St. Genevieve, which donates a percentage of its proceeds to charity--orphanages. In 2009, Genevieve made history by being the first Nigerian actress to be profiled on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986) on an episode about the most popular people around the world. Genevieve is believed to be the highest-paid and most desired actress 
in Nollywood today.
A desire to be in touch with her fans after being absent from the Web for about 6 years has resulted in the construction of a new site. This affords the actress the opportunity to keep in constant touch with her numerous fans the world over. The site is an interactive one. and the hits have been outstanding.
Her life personifies the saying "All things are possible if you will only believe." These words describe her: determined, focused, humble, and creative. The best years of her career are still ahead.
Ajay captures her growing up and finding stardom in this additional mini biography-
Genevieve Nnaji grew up in Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria. The fourth of eight children, she was brought up in a middle-class environment. Her father worked as an engineer and her mother worked as a teacher. She attended the Methodist Girls College Yaba before heading to the University of Lagos. While at the university, Genevieve began auditioning for acting jobs among the many Nollywood productions.
Nnaji started her acting career as a child actress in the then-popular television soap opera "Ripples" at the age of 8. She was also featured in several commercials, some of which included Pronto beverage and Omo detergent. In 2004, she became the face of Lux soap in a highly lucrative sponsorship deal. In 1998, at the age of 19, she made her debut in the growing Nigerian film industry with the movie "Most Wanted." Her subsequent movies include "Last Party," "Mark of the Beast," and "Ijele." She has starred in over 80 Nollywood movies.
Nnaji received several awards and nominations for her work, including the Best Actress of the year award at the 2001 City People Awards and the Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the 2005 African Movie Academy Awards. In 2004, she signed a recording contract with EKB Records, a Ghanaian record label, and released her debut album, "One Logologo Line," a mix of various styles of so-called urban music.
In 2008, Nnaji launched a clothing line called St. Genevieve, which donates a percentage of its proceeds to charity. Shei is one of the best-paid actresses in Nollywood.
Her smiles
Trivia
Won Best Actress at the inaugural AMAA.
Was voted for and officially became face of Lux beauty soap for sub-Saharan Africa in 2004.
Appeared in Maria Claire Magazine alongside Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, Paris Hilton, Jennifer Aniston, and Catherine Zeta-Jones in an article about who is the most beautiful woman in your world, in which she came fourth.
The first woman to host the Gulder Ultimate Search and the first host of "Gulder Ultimate Search--Celebrity Showdown.".
Loves Angelina Jolie for her humanitarian work.
Voted as the sexiest Nollywood actress in poll conducted by Vanguard Newspaper in 2008.
Has been dubbed as the 'Julia Roberts of Africa' by Oprah Winfrey and Cable News Network (CNN).
In its 20 years of publishing, News/Politics magazine, TELL has never put a Nigerian entertainer on it's cover until Genevieve Nnaji graced one of its June 2011 editions.
Ranked #19 in Forbes "40 Most Powerful Celebrities In Africa" [2011].
Personal Quotes
Chocolates and cakes. That's the biggest problem I have. That is why I punish myself at the gym because I know I can't stop myself from eating what I want. I call it eating your cake and having it.
They have been the normal vicissitudes of life. They are usually advantages and disadvantages seen in every facets of life. I am not expecting everything to be all roses. But on a serious note, I have passed that stage of downs, I am looking up.
[on Hollywood aspiration] I am an actress. I can work anywhere. I am passionate about a story, particularly character driven stories. If your story is good and the character appeals, I will play the role. Although it will be nice to work with acclaimed Hollywood directors and actors, I have always maintained that when they are ready for a young African woman to take part in a project that they will come looking for us.
[Her beauty advice] Something I would recommend for any woman is whenever you have the opportunity, let your skin breathe. We need oxygen and air on the naked skin
Now, I have got to a point, where I have to shoot movies just for me. I have to enjoy what I am doing. I have to enjoy the story and I have to like the script, because that is my only reward. It is not all about the money, but the reward for me comes from when I am in a good movie where I enjoy what I am doing. That is where I derive pleasure.
(On her album): "The CD was a contract with a Ghanaian company that had seen me sing impromptu at a show in Ghana. They found it intriguing and ran the idea of producing a CD by my manager and a deal was signed. They wrote and produced all the songs and own all rights to it.
Movies, music and fashion kind of go hand in hand. It has to do with entertainment. Movie making is entertainment, music is entertainment, fashion is glamour and TV is a glamorous thing.
I hate the PHD (Pull Her/Him Down) syndrome we all seem to have. My greatest belief is that you do unto others what you want them to do to you!
(On her kind of man) "I'm sure if I see the kind of man I want I would recognize him"
I was brought up to have a conscience, and that is linked to my catholic upbringing.
I react to treatment. How you approach is how you will be received. Fair is fair.
[What she wish for her future] I want to be further challenged in my career, I don't think I have reached my peak necessarily so I hope for other opportunities, greater opportunities to express myself. Mostly because there is still something inside of me that I just feel I haven't let out and it's really trying to come out and trying to burst loose so I'm hoping for that opportunity... I just want that story, that story that challenges me even further.
[on playing a blind girl]: I've been asked if I did any kind of study or research for that film ( Wind of Glory (2007) (V) ), to be honest I didn't. For me, acting is all about imagination. It's bringing to life not just the imagination of the character, but that of the imagination of the writer. You have to walk in the shoes of the character and be that character and not just pretend to be that character.
Every week we will be profiling a Nigerian that truly represents the brand Nigerian. This is to bring to our attention our genuine societal role models(as against few bad eggs) whom our youths should aspire and workhard to be like.
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