Genevieve 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.
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| Genevieve at AMVCA 2015 in Lagos |
In 1998, at the age of 19, she made her debut
in the growing Nigerian film industry with the movie “Most Wanted.” The movie
also featured ex-beauty queen, Regina Askia.
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.
Genevieve 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. She 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 at that time.
In recognition of her
immense contribution to the Nigerian film industry, Genevieve has won 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 brand provided her with a chauffeur driven limousine
that took her to events.
The same year, she
was contracted by a Ghanaian record label to record an album, which was termed
as a huge failure by music lovers.
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” 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.
Overrated
ReplyDeleteToo much hype
ReplyDelete