Belinda Effah
Belinda Effah | |
|---|---|
 Belinda Effah at the 2020 AMVCA | |
| Born | Uyu Effah 14 December 1989 Cross River State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Alma mater | University of Calabar |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent |
|
| Awards | the Most Promising Act of the Year at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards. |
| Website | www |
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
| Year | Television | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Shallow Waters | |
| The Room | ||
| 2011 | Tales of Eve | Simi |
Filmography[edit]
| 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[edit]
| 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[edit]
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[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Working with Majid Michel was a Revelation for me". nigeriafilms.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Belinda Effah: My encounter with God inspired me to change my name". Vanguard News. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "Nollywood actress Belinda Effah changes name". vanguardngr.com. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ^ "PHOTOS: Nollywood Actress Belinda Effah Poses In Wedding Dress". News.naij.com. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "I Like to see heads turn when I step out". dailyindependentnig.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ Uchechukwumgemezu, Chidinma (9 May 2021). "Nollywood actress: Why I changed my name". TODAY. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ "It's been Tough being an actress". Tribune Nigeria Newspaper. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Messing around in Nollywood is not for me". vanguardngr.com. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "I can marry an Actor". punchng.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ "Iké Udé: Nollywood Portraits". africa.si.edu. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ "Nollywood New IT Girl: Check out GIAMA Best new actress new photos". bellanaija.com. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Seyi Shay, Toke Makinwa, Mo'Cheddah, DJ Cuppy, Others Nominated". Pulse Nigeria. Chinedu Adiele. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "AMVCA 2016: Full nomination list". Africa Magic. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
- ^ Uchechukwumgemezu, Chidinma (9 May 2021). "Nollywood actress: Why I changed my name". TODAY. Retrieved 19 March 2022.