Kalabushana Nethalie Violet Nanayakkara (born 26 December 1934 as නෙතලි නානායක්කාර) [Sinhala]), popularly as Nethalie Nanayakkara, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.[2] One of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan television drama industry, Nanayakkara has involved more than 140 serials across a career spanning more than six decades.[3]
Nethalie Nanayakkara නෙතලි නානායක්කාර | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nethalie Violet 26 December 1934 |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Education | Roman Catholic School, Pamunuvila Gurukula Vidyalaya, Kelaniya |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, Dubbing artist |
| Years active | 1955–present |
| Spouse | Wally Nanayakkara |
| Children | 5 |
| Awards | Kalabushana [1] |
Personal life edit
Nanayakkara was born on 26 December 1936 in Kiribathgoda, Colombo as the fourth of the family.[4] She has one elder brother and two elder sisters, where one sister died at small age. She also has two younger brothers. Her father worked at a private company. She started education from Roman Catholic School, Pamunuvila. She is fluent with English and passed the O/L examination at the age of 13. Then she attended to Gurukula Vidyalaya, Kelaniya and studied from English medium.[5]
After the final exams at school, she joined to a private company under the guidance of his uncle. She worked in that company for two year and then resigned. Then she joined with Fordsroad Accounting Institute in Colombo as an auditor and worked for 30 years.[5][3] She resigned from the job in 1985 to focus her career through cinema.[6]
She married fellow actor Wally Nanayakkara at the age of 27.[5] They were first met at Dalugama Catholic Church in Kelaniya in 1958.[7] During his tenure at Lake House, Wally was also secretary of the Arts Circle.[8] Wally Nanayakkara died on 11 October 2003 at the age of 64.[9]
The couple has one son - Ravi - and four daughters - Renuka, Shamika and twins Chandika and Indika.[8] Her son Ravi is a doctor in Surgery at General Hospital, Colombo and his wife Sagarika is the director of the Maharagama Cancer Hospital.[3]
Career edit
Nanayakkara has been worked in Radio Ceylon since 1955 in many radio plays.[10] She was first involved in H. D. Wijedasa's radio production of Vihilu Thahalu. Her maiden radio play was Samudra Devi.[6] She met his future husband during this period, where Wally joined the radio dramas in the 1960s.[11][8] The couple first acted together in the 1962 radio play Muwan Palessa as "Ukku Banda" and "Binari".[12]
She worked parallel in both drama as well as private company without any obstacle. Then she acted in a television serial directed by Ananda Sirisena.[5] In 2000, she received the SIGNIS Award for the teledrama Asani Wasi.[3]
She has worked as a dubbing artist for numerous international television serials.[6]
Selected television serials edit
- Adaraneeya Chanchala [13]
- Adare Ahasa Tharam
- Asani Wasi
- Batti
- Diyaniyo [14]
- Giridevi
- Haara Kotiya
- Ingammaruwa
- Koombiyo [15]
- No Parking
- Sakala Guru 1 & 2[16][17]
- Sakarma [18]
Filmography edit
| Year | Film | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Le Kiri Kandulu | Upendra's mother | |
| 2007 | Sankara | ||
| 2011 | King Hunther | ||
| 2011 | Gamani | Head Grama Arakshaka's mother | |
| 2013 | Nikini Vassa | ||
| 2016 | Ulath Ekai Pilath Ekai | ||
| 2016 | Motor Bicycle | Patta's mother | |
| 2017 | Aloko Udapadi | Elderly mother | |
| 2017 | Bandhanaya | Piyasili's granny | |
| 2017 | Heena Hoyana Samanallu | Tharaka's granny | |
| 2019 | Weli Pawuru | A helpless mother (Cameo) | [19] |
| 2020 | The Newspaper | Guna's mother | [20] |
| 2021 | Kawuruth Danne Na | ||
| 2023 | Gaadi | Ukkuwa's mother | [21] |
| 2023 | Thattu Deke Iskole | [22] | |
| TBD | Veera Kumari: Viharamaha Devi | [23] | |
| TBD | Pirimi Adarayak | [24] |
References edit
- ^ "President patrons State 'Kalabhushana' Awards 2018". The Morning. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "Nethalie Nanayakkara filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d "The voice actress came out with a humor". Dinamina. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "Happy Birthday artists". Suratha. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d "A chat with Nathalie Nanayakkara". Hiru FM. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ a b c "Our radio artist Nethalie". Saaravita. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "Great couples". lifie.lk. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ a b c "Wally Nanayakkara who wrote Sandakada Pahanaka". Sarasaviya. January 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "Wally Nanayakkara remembrance". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "When I was little, I was a naughty girl". Saaravita. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "Star couples". Deshaya. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "Tale of Muwan Palessa". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "Adaraneeya Chanchala on National Rupavahini". Silumina. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "'Diyaniyo' on Rupavahini from tomorrow". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ ""This is called the decade of the talented, the decade of the educated is over." - Jehan". BBC News සිංහල. BBS Sinhala. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "Sakala Guru on National Rupavahini". Silumina. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "'Sakala Guru 2' on the National Television from May 5". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
- ^ "Sakarma soon on ITN". Sarasaviya. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
- ^ "Sinhala Film Directory". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- ^ "Friends who seek justice against media injustice". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ "One day in the Kandyan Kingdom of the mountain". Sarasaviya. 28 November 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- ^ "Thattu Deke Iskole will start functioning from today". Sarasaviya. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- ^ "Veera Kumari: Viharamaha Devi special screening". Sarasaviya. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- ^ "ගැහැනු හැමදාම දැනෙන්න හෙව්වේ පිරිමි ආදරයක්". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 October 2023.