Belinda Effah
A woman with medium-dark skin and towering coils of black hair stands regally on a red carpet in a flowing, off-the-shoulder blue and black gown.
Belinda Effah at the 2020 AMVCA
Born
Uyu Effah

(1989-12-14) 14 December 1989
Cross River State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Alma materUniversity of Calabar
OccupationActress
Years active2005–present
Children1
Parent
  • Asido Bassey Effah (father)
Awardsthe Most Promising Act of the Year at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Websitewww.belindaeffahofficial.com

Grace-Charis Bassey Effah (born 14 December 1989) is a Nigerian actress and presenter. She has won six awards throughout her career, including the Most Promising Act of the Year award at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards.[1] She changed her name after an encounter with God to Grace-Charis Bassey.[2]

Early life and education

Grace-Charis Bassey was born Uyu Effah[3] on 14 December 1989 in Cross River State, a coastal state in Southern Nigeria.[4] Her father, Lieutenant Commander Asido Bassey Effah, was a commander in the Nigerian Navy.[5]

She had her primary and secondary education at Hillside International Nursery & Primary School and Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Port Harcourt respectively. She furthered her studies at the University of Calabar, majoring in Genetics and Bio-Technology.[6] While in secondary school, she adopted the first name Belinda after her brother suggested that she and her siblings change their names.[7] According to an interview with The Punch Newspaper, she claimed that the disciplinary nature of her dad towards his 14 children was very helpful in shaping her career.

Career

She made her Nollywood television debut in the 2005 TV series Shallow Waters. Afterwards, she took a break from the series to feature in the reality show Next Movie Star. She finished 5th, and was never evicted from the house.[8][9]

She was once a television presenter for Sound City, a Nigerian Entertainment cable station. However, she left the station to start her own TV show titled Lunch Break with Belinda.[10][11]

She is the CEO and founder of GCB Empire, a Nigeria-based clothing and fashion brand.[12]

In 2022, Iké Udé's portrait of her was featured in the Nollywood Portraits exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art.[13]

Television

Year Television Role
2005 Shallow Waters
The Room
2011 Tales of Eve Simi

Filmography

Year Film Role
Java's House
2012 Kokomma Kokomma
2012 Mrs. Somebody
2013 Alan Poza Bunmi
2013 Lonely Hearts Aima
2013 Misplaced
2013 The Hunters
2013 Cat and Mouse
2013 Princess Ekanem
2013 After the Proposal Oyinye
2014 Udeme Mmi Ima
2014 Apaye Young Yepayeye
2014 Bambitious Bambi
Bigger Ladies
Azonto Babes
Ojuju Calabar
2015 Jump and Pass
2015 The Banker Daisy Aburi
2015 Stop
2015 Keeping Secret
2015 Luke of Lies Shola
2015 Folly April
2015 So In Love
2015 Being Single
2015 Heroes and Villains Kiki
2015 Black Val
2016 Lost Pride Jenny
2016 Oracles Online Eme
2016 Melting Point
2016 A Star in Heaven Mary
2018 SA Girl Effi
2019 Crack
2019 Bursted
2019 Inside Nollywood: Chapter 1 Self
2019 The Devil Within
2019 Miracle Miracle, Producer
2020 Angel and Gabriela Gabriela
2020 Secret Twins 1
2020 Secret Twins 2

Accolades

Year Award Category Film Result
2012 Best of Nollywood Awards Most Promising Act (female) Kokomma Won
Golden Icons Academy Awards[14] Best New Actress Won
2013 Nollywood Movies Awards Best Rising Star Won
Nollywood Movies Awards Best Indigenous Actress Nominated
Africa Movie Academy Awards Most Promising Act Udeme Mmi Won
Ntanta Award Won
2014 ELOY Awards[15] Movie Actress of the Year After The Proposal Nominated
2014 2014 Golden Icons Academy Movie Award Best Supporting Actress APAYE Won
2016 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards[16] Best Actress in a Drama Stop Nominated

Personal life

In 2016, she gave birth to a son in the United States. She has kept the identity of the child's father private.

In 2021, she publicly announced that she would like to be addressed as Grace-Charis Bassey rather than as Belinda Effah. She explained that, on 15 August 2020, she had a divine encounter with God that prompted her to change her name to Grace.[17] Charis is a word of Greek origin that also means "grace."

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Working with Majid Michel was a Revelation for me". nigeriafilms.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "Belinda Effah: My encounter with God inspired me to change my name". Vanguard News. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  3. ↑ "Nollywood actress Belinda Effah changes name". vanguardngr.com. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  4. ↑ "PHOTOS: Nollywood Actress Belinda Effah Poses In Wedding Dress". News.naij.com. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  5. ↑ Gists, Naija (22 April 2016). "Photos: Nollywood Actress Belinda Effah Father's Burial In Calabar Cross River State - NaijaGists.com - Proudly Nigerian DIY Motivation & Information Blog". Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "I Like to see heads turn when I step out". dailyindependentnig.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  7. ↑ Uchechukwumgemezu, Chidinma (9 May 2021). "Nollywood actress: Why I changed my name". TODAY. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  8. ↑ "It's been Tough being an actress". Tribune Nigeria Newspaper. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Messing around in Nollywood is not for me". vanguardngr.com. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "I cant stop people from making passes at me - Belinda Effah". dailyindependentng.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "I can marry an Actor". punchng.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  13. ↑ "Iké Udé: Nollywood Portraits". africa.si.edu. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  14. ↑ "Nollywood New IT Girl: Check out GIAMA Best new actress new photos". bellanaija.com. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Seyi Shay, Toke Makinwa, Mo'Cheddah, DJ Cuppy, Others Nominated". Pulse Nigeria. Chinedu Adiele. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  16. ↑ "AMVCA 2016: Full nomination list". Africa Magic. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  17. ↑ Uchechukwumgemezu, Chidinma (9 May 2021). "Nollywood actress: Why I changed my name". TODAY. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
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