Genoveva Umeh
Born
Genoveva Kenechukwu Umeh

(1995-05-08) 8 May 1995
Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Actress, producer
Years active2016–present

Genoveva Kenechukwu Umeh (born 8 May 1995) professionally known as Genoveva Umeh is a British–Nigerian Actress.[1][2] She was nominated for the Best Actress in a drama at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award 2022 for her role in ‘A Tune Away’.[3]  She also received critical acclaim for her roles in Nigerian's first Netflix original crime thriller series ‘Blood Sisters’ and young adult series ‘Far From Home’.[4][5] One of her major film roles include ‘One Lagos Night’, 2019. She also leads as Shindara in Episode 4 of Showmax's Original Drama series ‘Crime and Justice Lagos’ 2022.[6][7]

Biography

Genoveva Umeh was raised both in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. She was born in Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria on 8 May 1995 to computer engineer, Gaius Umeh and Nurse Ifeoma Umeh.[8]  She lived in Enugu until age 12 and received her primary education at Command Children's school, Enugu.

Genoveva had her first year of secondary education at Command Day Secondary school, Enugu but later migrated with her family to the United Kingdom in 2006. She completed her secondary and A level education at St Marys C of E High School in London, United Kingdom.[9]

Genoveva fell in love with acting while she was in secondary school and then pursued the craft by successfully completing a term at part time drama school, Identity School of Acting, UK in 2012.[10] She performed a few plays at the Hammersmith theatre in London during summer holidays. Afterwards, she obtained a degree in LLB Law from the University of Surrey, England, graduating with honours.[11][12]

Career

Genoveva moved to Lagos, Nigeria in 2018 to pursue her acting career. She wrote and performed a one-woman stage play, HOME, which performed at Lagos Fringe Festival in Lagos, Nigeria and a year later at Bloemfontein, South Africa.[13][14] She also performed as Lami in Rue14 studios stage Play, ‘High’ to shine a light on substance abuse amongst teenagers in December 2018 and 2019.[15]

Genoveva booked her first lead role in "A Tune away" 2020 film, which earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the 2022 Africa Magic Viewers Choice -Award 2022.[16] In 2019, she began her on-screen journey with a small role in ‘Love is War’, a cinema film that eventually found its home on Netflix. She then played Anita, a youthful London girl with a lot to hide in "One Lagos Night"  released in 2021 and exclusive to Netflix 2 years after it was shot. She also played Khafilat in BAFTA nominated short film "Lizard" (2020).[17]

She was one of the first set of students admitted into Ebonylife Creative Academy in hopes that her talents will be seen.[18] She then featured in short films like "Monitoring Spirits", which earned her best supporting actress for her role as "Sara". Other shortfilms include "Reflections", "Focus" and "IJO".[19][20] Shortly, she caught the attention of Director Kenneth Gyang who recommended her to Media Mogul Mo Abudu and owner of the academy to audition for the role of ‘Timeyin Ademola" in Netflix original and Nigerian’s First Netflix original crime thriller series, "Blood Sisters".[21]

Shortly after wrapping "Blood Sisters",  she was cast to play Zina in "Far From Home".[22]

Filmography

Film/Television

Year Title Role Ref
2019 Blameless Ezinne [23]
Love is War Young Lady [24]
2020 Survivor's Guilt Ayobami [25]
The Crazy Wife Alicia [26]
2021 Reflections Kenena [27]
Country Hard Funmi [28][29]
Focus Jess [30][31]
All Good Things Funmi [32]
Lizard Khafilat [33]
The Griot Associate producer [34][35][36]
One Lagos Night Anita [37]
Temi's Diary Omolara [38]
2022 Crime & Justice Shindara [39][40]
Breath of Life Anna [41][42]
Blood Sisters Timeyin [43][44]
Far From Home Zina [45][46]
IJO: A Love Story Molara [47][48]
A Tune Away Anita [49][50]
2023 Shuga (Season 5) Chika [51][52][53]
2023 A Tribe Called Judah Testimony

Theatre

Year Title Role Short Notes
2016 Mind Body Soul Keisha T.D MOYO (Lyric Hammersmith London)
2018 High On Stage[54][55] Lami Philips Kenneth Uphoho (Rue 14 Studios)
Home[56] Genoveva Umeh Ibukun Fasunhan
Dodo Amarachi T.D MOYO

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Result Ref
2022 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award Best Actress in a Drama Nominated [57][58]
2023 The Future Awards Africa Prize for Acting Pending [59]

References

  1. ↑ "Genoveva Umeh Special Issue with TW Magazine". TW Magazine Website. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  2. ↑ "MTV Shuga Naija unveils new cast for fifth season". Tribune Online. 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  3. ↑ "Underrated Gems To Look Out For In 2023". thewillnews.com. 2023-01-08. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  4. ↑ Tv, Bn (2023-02-20). "Genoveva Umeh opens up on her Nollywood Journey, Missed Opportunities & Landing the "Blood Sisters" Role on "Tea With Tay"". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  5. ↑ "Sisters Bound By Blood- Blood Sisters: A Netflix Nigerian Thriller". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  6. ↑ Ogunsunlade, Imisioluwa (2022-08-07). "Genoveva Umeh: From Nollywood Fits and Starts To Breakout Star". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  7. ↑ Obinna, Emelike (2022-12-02). "Crime and Justice Lagos: Showmax's new procedural drama series debuts December". Businessday NG. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  8. ↑ "Biography of Genoveva Umeh". NELOC News. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  9. ↑ Tosin, Alamu (2022-12-22). "Genoveva Umeh Biography, Net Worth, Wikipedia, Age, Husband, State, Parents » Naija News 247". Naija News 247. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  10. ↑ "Genoveva: I fell in love with acting in high school". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 2023-03-04. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  11. ↑ "Genoveva Umeh: I'm a Natural Entertainer; I'm Inspired By People's Stories – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  12. ↑ Akpobome, Deborah (2023-01-26). "I studied law as backup plan – Actress, Genoveva Umeh". CorrectNG. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  13. ↑ "All About 'Home' At Lagos Fringe – Independent Newspaper Nigeria". independent.ng. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  14. ↑ "How Genoveva Umeh Became Nollywood's Rising Movie Star – OkayAfrica". www.okayafrica.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  15. ↑ Fagbule, Kehindé (2023-01-12). "LOOKOUT, HERE THEY COME! 6 Faces We Expect To See More Of This Year – TheWill Downtown". Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  16. ↑ "AMVCA Unveils Nomination List for 8th Edition – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  17. ↑ Ogunsunlade, Imisioluwa (2022-08-07). "Genoveva Umeh: From Nollywood Fits and Starts To Breakout Star". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  18. ↑ "Alumni – EbonyLife Creative Academy". Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  19. ↑ "Genoveva Umeh and Others: Reflections". FilmFreeway. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  20. ↑ "Watch "Ijo,"Charles Etubiebi and Genoveva Umeh's Love Story About Men's Vulnerability – Nollywire". 2022-07-29. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  21. ↑ tvcecontent (2022-07-06). "How I Was Able To Deliver The 'Timeyin' Role in Blood Sisters – Genove..." TVC. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  22. ↑ "Watch Far From Home | Netflix Official Site". www.netflix.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  23. ↑ Blameless (2019) – IMDb, retrieved 2023-04-18
  24. ↑ Grey, Yousuph (2022-09-09). "TFC Chat: Wasn't Speaking to Anyone While Shooting at the Rehab – Genoveva Umeh". The Film Conversation. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  25. ↑ "KOKO's Top 7 Fast-Rising Actresses To Watch Out For In Nigeria 2022". koko.ng. 2022-08-27. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  26. ↑ "Genoveva Umeh". IMDb. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  27. ↑ "Genoveva Umeh Biography | Profile | FabWoman". FabWoman | News, Celebrity, Beauty, Style, Money, Health Content For Millenial Women. 2022-05-08. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  28. ↑ "'Country Hard' Review: Paul Utomi's Long Dive in a Sea of Sadness". What Kept Me Up. 2022-11-23. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  29. ↑ Country Hard (2021) – IMDb, retrieved 2023-04-20
  30. ↑ Nwogu, Precious 'Mamazeus' (2021-10-20). "EndSARS: Watch 'Focus' short film directed by Tolulope Ajayi". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  31. ↑ BellaNaija.com (2021-10-22). ""Focus" Paradigm Initiative's latest Short Film on Citizen Vigilance just Premiered & We Have Photos". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  32. ↑ Naijaray. "All Good Things – Nollywood Full Movie". naijaray.com.ng. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  33. ↑ BellaNaija.com (2021-03-09). "Akinola Davies Jr's "Lizard", Bukky Bakray, Wunmi Mosaku have been Nominated for the 2021 BAFTAs". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  34. ↑ "The Griot Review: A Simplistic Tale of a Storyteller and Secrets | Leisurebyte". 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  35. ↑ Abdul-Hafeez, Adedimeji Quayyim (2022-11-23). "'The Griot' is an exploration into the intricacies of love, tradition and opportunities [Pulse Review]". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  36. ↑ "Adeoluwa Owu's "The Griot" is Simple and Soothing but Fails to Reach its Potential as an Epic – Afrocritik". 2022-11-25. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  37. ↑ Club, Film Rats (2021-06-20). "One Lagos Night is Nice and Easy". Film Rats Club. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  38. ↑ Z, Drey (2021-12-23). "DOWNLOAD: Temi's Diary – Nollywood Movie". 365Trendies. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  39. ↑ Peter, Dennis Ade (2023-02-01). "AV Club: 'Crime and Justice Lagos' tackles societal ills through police & legal procedure". The NATIVE. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  40. ↑ "Crime and Justice Lagos: Promising Nigerian detective series screens in Lagos". www.premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  41. ↑ ShockNG (2022-07-29). "Genovevah Umeh, Chimezie Imo Join Cast of "Breath of Life Prime Video Original Directed by BB Sasore". ShockNG. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  42. ↑ "Everything We Know About 'Breath of Life', Prime Video's First Commissioned Nigerian Film". What Kept Me Up. 2022-09-10. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  43. ↑ "Character I Played In Blood Sisters A Dream Role – Genoveva Umeh – Independent Newspaper Nigeria". independent.ng. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  44. ↑ Nwogu, Precious 'Mamazeus' (2022-04-19). "Meet 'Blood Sisters' breakout star in '10 things to know about Genoveva Umeh'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  45. ↑ Rasak-Oyadiran, Opeyemi (2022-12-16). "Far From Home: In Conversation With Genoveva, Elsa And Tomi". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  46. ↑ Udodiong, Inemesit (2022-12-26). "'Far From Home': Genoveva Umeh, Tomi Ojo & Elma Mbadiwe on Netflix Original [Pulse Interview]". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  47. ↑ Nwogu, Precious 'Mamazeus' (2021-08-30). "Charles Etubiebi & Genoveva Umeh to star in Hello July's 'Ijo; A Love Story'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  48. ↑ "Ijo: A Love Story". svaff.org. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  49. ↑ A Tune Away (2022) – IMDb, retrieved 2023-04-18
  50. ↑ Genoveva Umeh A Tune Away (2022) – IMDb, retrieved 2023-04-18
  51. ↑ Media, IFM Social (2023-01-30). "Genoveva Umeh, Gbubemi Ejeye, And More Return For Season 5 Of MTV Shuga Naija". Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  52. ↑ Akintonde, Oluwasola (2023-02-04). "MTV Shuga Naija Unveils New Cast For Fifth Season". Voice of Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  53. ↑ "MTV Shuga Naija Season 5 returns, meet the cast". Vanguard News.
  54. ↑ "Stage Play 'High' returns in April". Businessday NG. 2019-03-26. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  55. ↑ BellaNaija.com (2018-12-17). "Rue14 Studios to host a Stage Play tagged 'High' to Shine Light on Substance Abuse amongst Teenagers | December 27th–29th". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  56. ↑ "All About 'Home' At Lagos Fringe – Independent Newspaper Nigeria". independent.ng. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  57. ↑ Spur, Brand (2022-03-19). "AMVCA Unveils Nomination List For 8th Edition". Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  58. ↑ "2022 Africa Magic Awards Nominees don land- See who dey list". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  59. ↑ "FULL LIST: Asake, Tobi Amusan, Osimhen nominated for TFAA 2023". TheCable Lifestyle. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
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