Monalisa Chinda | |
---|---|
Born | Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria | 13 September 1974
Education | Theatre arts, University of Port Harcourt |
Occupation(s) | Actress, film producer, TV personality, media personality |
Years active | 1996–present |
Notable work | Pregnant Virgin |
Awards | Best Actress, Afro Hollywood Award 2009 at the Monte Carlo Television Festival |
Monalisa Chinyere Chinda [1] is a Nigerian actress,[2] film producer, talkshow host, television personality, humanitarian and media personality.[3][4]
(born 13 September 1974)Monalisa Chinda was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, south-south Nigeria, to Ikwerre parents. She is the firstborn in a family of 6 children (two sons and four daughters).[5] She attended Army Children's School GRA for Primary and then Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls' School, Elelenwo. Both schools are located in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.[6] She obtained a degree in theatre arts from the University of Port Harcourt.[7]
Monalisa's first major movie was Pregnant Virgin,[8] which she did in 1996 and subsequently, after she graduated in 2000, she did Above the Law and has done many others since then.[9]
In 2007 her road to stardom kicked off when she started appearing in the television soap Heaven’s Gate.[10] In 2011, she debuted as Executive Producer in the Royal Arts Academy movie, 'Kiss & Tell', which Emem Isong co-produced with her and Desmond Elliot directed.[11] In 2012, she became one of the first of four Nollywood actors to be featured on the cover of Hollywood Weekly Magazine.[12] In November,2014 the actress branched out of acting a little bit and debuted her Talk Show titled 'You & I with Monalisa."[13]
Monalisa is involved in a lot of charity work. She has a column (Monalisa Code) in the Saturday edition of The Sun Newspapers where she writes on social issues and relationships. She is a consultant with Royal Arts Academy, a media school known for breeding new talents, in acting, directing, and screenwriting.' [14] She partner with Goge African to encourage tourists in Nigeria.[15]
She has featured in more than 80 films.[19][20]