Intimidating Profile Of Genevieve Nnaji, Africa’s Most Revered Actress

Genevieve Nnaji has
frequently been hailed as Africa’s own answer to the likes of Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon and the rest of Feminine Hollywood Stars, this is according to Forbes who has ranked her as number 19 of the 40 most powerful celebrities in Africa.
She started out in her acting career over 24 years ago at the age of 8 playing a supporting role in a Nigerian TV series. Today she is arguably Africa’s most revered actress and the poster girl in Nollywood, Nigeria’s burgeoning movie industry. She has featured in over 80 successful blockbuster movies.
Genevieve Nnaji was born in Mbaise, Imo State Nigeria, but grew up in Lagos. She is the fourth of eight children and was brought up in a middle class environment. Her father worked as an engineer and her mother as a nursery teacher.
She attended Methodist Girls College Yaba Lagos before transferring into University Lagos, while, at the University, Genevieve began auditioning for acting jobs amongst the many Nollywood projects. She started her acting career as a child actress at the age of 8 in the then popular television soap opera, ‘RIPPLES.’
In 1998, at the age of 19, she was introduced into the growing Nigerian film industry with the movie “MOST WANTED.’ Her subsequent movies include “LAST PARTY,” “MARK OF THE BEAST” and “IJELE,” in 2010, she starred in the award winning film “IJE,” the journey, Gene as she is popularly called by fans and admirers is considered to be one of the best paid actress in Nollywood.
In 2004, she signed a recording contract with EKB Records, a Ghanaian record bale and released her debut album one Logologo line, a mix of R&B, Hip-Hop and urban music Nnaji has featured in several commercials some of which include pronto beverage and Omo detergent. In 2004, she became the “Face of Lux” in Nigeria in a highly lucrative sponsorship deal. Also 2008  said Nnaji launching a clothing lines St Genevieve which donates its proceeds to charity.
In May 2010, Nnaji was appointed to be the official face of MUD in Nigeria, in June 2012, she was unveiled as the brand ambassador of Range Rover Evogue. Genevieve has received several awards and nominations for her works, 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 (AMAA).
The super Nollywood actress has also sealed a corporate deal with Amstel Malta as ambassador, alongside international football star Michel Obi. She is also one of the ambassadors of Airtle, a deal that fetched her multi millions of naira.