Looking for Genevieve Nnaji Biography & Net Worth (2021)? Referred to as the “Julia Roberts” of Africa, Genevieve Nnaji is an ace Nigerian actress, Chief, model, businesswoman, producer and director.
She shot to prominence with the 1998 epic movie “Most Wanted” and has since retained her relevance in the Nigerian movie industry.
She is one of Africa’s brightest and prominent female stars in the movie industry.
She is petite, dazzling, charming, smart, adorable and is quite a reserved celebrity.
The history of Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry and the second-largest film industry in the world is not complete without her story.
A story of hard work, talent, resilience, passion, and grace.
She’s about Nollywood’s most decorated and most celebrated actress.
She is class personified.
She’s an icon and one of Nigeria’s pricy entertainment assets.
Below is Genevieve Nnaji Biography & Net Worth (2021)
Full Name: Genevieve Nnaji
Born: 3 May, 1979, Mbaise, Imo State Nigeria
Origin: Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria
Nationality: Nigerian
Occupation: Actress & Model
Marital Status: Single
Birth, Family & Education
Genevieve Nnaji was born on May 3, 1979, into the family of Chief Theophilus (An Engineer) and Bernadette Nnaji (A primary school teacher).
She hails from the Umuebi – Amuzu clan in Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
She wasn’t born into affluence and plenty rather was breed by a middle-class family of eight.
She is the fourth child of her parents.
For her education, she attended Kemstar Nursery and Primary School Surulere, Lagos after which she proceeded to Methodist Girls High School, Lagos.
She wrapped up her secondary education back in her home state at Government Girls Secondary School, Akwakwuma, Owerri.
She then obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in creative arts from the University of Lagos.
Acting Career
At the cradle age of 8, little Genevieve had already begun her acting career where she features in the “ripples” a vogue soap opera back then in 1987.
She made her grand entry to becoming a screen sensation in the movie industry with the movie “most wanted” in 1998 when she was 19.
While in the University, she juggled between scouting for movie roles via auditions and her studies.
When the roles came calling, they were quite bounty enough to make her a rising star.
She has since the era of “most wanted” shot over 80 movies in the Nigerian movie industry.
Suffice to add that prior to her university education, she experienced a major setback when she discovered she was pregnant.
This challenge seemed like a huge mountain to her as at then, but she surmounted and is now happy for not getting rid of the child who is now an adult and the pride of her mum.
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Genevieve has proven that through sheer diligence and passion, scandals and setbacks in the form of pregnancy do not prevent any more from achieving unprecedented feats.
Today she has attained the frontiers of her acting career.
In 2009, she became the highest-paid Nollywood actress and has since featured in more international movies than ever.
For her prodigy in acting, she won the Best Actress at the 2001 City Peoples Awards, on winning the award, she quickly registered her name in history as the first actress to win the award.
That feat would be repeated by her in 2003 when she won Best Actress award by the Nigerian movie censors board.
That would have seemed more trailblazing enough till she yet made it super trailblazing by adding another award in 2005 when she won the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) in the “best actress in a leading role category” making her the first actress to win the award.
Genny subsequently developed a knack for turning things into gold as most of the movies she starred in began receiving a plethora of awards and tons of nomination.
She directed and produced her first movie in 2015 titled “Road to Yesterday” and it stole the show at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards when it won the overall best movie in West Africa.
Just recently, in September 2018 she was a director debutant at the world premiere of Lion Heart which held at Toronto International Movie Festival.
The movie slammed the records again for becoming the first Nigerian authentic movie to be streamed online by Netflix.
Other viral movies that have seen Genevieve exhibit her flair for acting include; Half of a Yellow Sun, Ije – The journey, Tango with me, Mirror boy, Doctor Bello, Road to Yesterday, Ijele, Sharon Stone, Lions Heart, Weekend Getaways, 30 Days among others.
She became so prodigious in her career that her fame touched the ends of Africa and spilled into Europe leaving Oprah Winfrey with no choice but to refer to her as the Julia Roberts of Africa.
Personal Life
Genevieve Nnaji is a single mother and is yet unmarried even as she approaches 40.
She keeps her love life out of the prying eyes of the media which has left the entertainment blogs in clouds of speculations.
Some have linked her to various politicians including Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some top businessmen in Nigeria and abroad.
Modeling
This career of hers hasn’t been too glaring and not many people know that the pretty Genevieve is a model.
Her jaw-dropping face has used for commercials for brands like pronto beverages and OMO.
She has also enjoyed a mouth-watering deal with Lux soap when she became “Face of Lux” in 2004.
She leveled up in 2010 and became the face of MUD.
Awards & Recognitions
One of her most notable awards came from the federal government of Nigeria under President Goodluck Jonathan who gave her the National Meritorious award of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) for her immense contribution to the development of Nollywood and the entertainment scene in Nigeria generally.
She was also honored in her hometown with a chieftaincy title: the Eze Ada of Amuzu Neweafor making her a titled chief in her clan.
Forbes in 2011 listed her as one of the most powerful celebrities in Africa at No. 40
Other Notable awards include:
2018: Grolsch People’s Choice Award For Lionheart (Nominated)
Africa Movie Academy Awards Nominee/work Award Result
2005: Best Actress In Leading Role For 30 Days/Keep My will (Won)
2008: For 30 Days/Keep My Will (Nominated)
2011: Tango With Me (Nominated)
Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards
2013: Best Actress Drama/Tv Series for the Mirror boy (Nominated)
2016: Best Movie West Africa for Road to Yesterday (Won)
Nigeria Entertainment Awards
2009: Best Actress (Nominated)
2010: Best Actress Film/Short Story for Silent Scandals (Nominated)
2010: Guinness Ultimate Survivor Best Actress Tv Series (Won)
2011: Best Actress Film/Short Story for Tango with me (Nominated)
2013: Best Actress in Leading Role for Doctor Bello (Nominated)
2014: Best Actress in Supporting Role for Half of a Yellow Sun (Won)
2016: Lead Actress in Film for Road to yesterday (Nominated)
Nollywood Movies Awards
2012: Best Actress Leading Role for Tango with me (Nominated)
Ghana Movie Awards
2010: Best Actress-Africa Collaboration for Silent Scandals (Won)
Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards
Nollywood and African Film Critics Awards (NAFCA)
2013: Best Actress Leading Role for Weekend Getaway (Won)
Zulu African Film Academy Awards
2011: Best Actress in The Mirror Boy (Won)
Monaco Charity Film Festival Awards
2011: Breakthrough Performance (Actress) in Mirror Boy (Won)
City People Entertainment Awards
2001: Best Actress in Herself (Won)
Best of Nollywood Awards
2010: Best Actress-Leading Role in Silent Scandals (Nominated)
2011: Best Kiss with Majid Michel in Bursting Out (Won)
2014: ELOY Awards: Etisalat Brand Ambassador of the Year (Nominated)
2013: The Face List Awards (USA) Honouree
Endorsement Deals of Genevieve
She’s one of the celebrity endorsement queens in Nigeria as in 2014, Vanguard reported that the star actress rakes in N220 million excesses from endorsement deals alone.
He’s a brand ambassador for so many brands which includes: Etisalat, Range Rover Evoque, Amstel Malta, Face of Lux, MUD Cosmetics, Cintron Energy Drink, Polo.
Short Stint at Music
Genevieve once veered into the lane of the music and signed a deal with a Ghanaian record label known as EKB records.
She releases her debut album “One Logologo Line” under the label.
Business
Genevieve asides the showbiz is a very serious businesswoman.
She owns her own clothing line “St. Genevieve”.
The clothing line also funds her philanthropic ventures where she encourages young women to be who they want to be with empowerment and incentives.
Net Worth
From her array of lucrative endorsement deals coupled with the earnings from movies she has acted, produced and co-produced, the delectable Genevieve’s net worth is valued at N800 million Naira.