Genevieve Nnaji was born on May 3, 1979, in Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria. She is the fourth of eight children born to Jennifer and Theophilus Nnaji. Her father worked as an engineer, and her mother was a nursery school teacher.
Genevieve grew up in a middle-class family and was raised in a Catholic household. She attended the Methodist Girls’ College in Yaba, Lagos, before proceeding to the University of Lagos, where she studied Creative Arts.
Genevieve began her acting career at the age of 8, when she appeared in the popular Nigerian television soap opera “Ripples.” She continued to feature in various television shows and commercials throughout her teenage years.
In 1998, Genevieve made her debut in the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, with the movie “Most Wanted.” Her breakthrough role came in 2002, when she starred in the film “Sharon Stone.”
Throughout her career, Genevieve has appeared in over 100 films, including “Ijé,” “Half of a Yellow Sun,” “Lionheart,” and “Blood Sisters.” She has worked with top Nollywood directors and actors, such as Kunle Afolayan, Adesua Etomi, and Rita Dominic.
Awards and Recognition
Genevieve has received numerous awards and nominations for her outstanding performances in Nollywood. Some of her notable awards include:
– The Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in “Darl-ing Boy” in2005
– The Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in “Tango with Me” in 2011
– The Nollywood Movies Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in “Half of a Yellow Sun” in 2013
– The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award for Best Actress in a Drama for her performance in “Isoken” in 2018
Genevieve is a single mother to her daughter, Theodora Chimebuka Nnaji, whom she had at the age of 17. She has kept her personal life private and rarely speaks about her relationships or family.
Genevieve is also a successful entrepreneur.
