Genoveva Umeh Explained

Genoveva Umeh
Birth Name:Genoveva Kenechukwu Umeh
Birth Date:8 May 1995
Birth Place:Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
Alma Mater:University of Surrey
Occupation:Actress, producer
Years Active:2016–present

Genoveva Kenechukwu Umeh (born 8 May 1995) is a British–Nigerian actress.[1] [2] She won the Best Supporting Actress award at The AMVCA in 2024 for her role in the Prime Video Original, Breath of Life.[3] She was nominated for the Best Actress in a drama at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards 2022 for her role in A Tune Away.[4]  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.[5] [6] 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).[7] [8] In 2024, she won the best supporting actress at the 2024 AMVCA for her role in Breath of Life (2023).[9]

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.[10]   She lived in Enugu until age 12 and received her primary education at Command Children's school, Enugu.

Umeh 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 Mary's College of Education High School in London, United Kingdom.[11]

Umeh 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.[12] 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.[13] [14]

Career

Umeh 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.[15] [16] 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.[17]

Umeh booked her first lead role in A Tune Away (2020), which earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the 2022 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice -Award 2022.[18] 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 two years after it was shot. She also played Khafilat in BAFTA nominated short film "Lizard" (2020).[19]

She was one of the first set of students admitted into Ebonylife Creative Academy in hopes that her talents will be seen.[20] She then featured in short films like "Monitoring Spirits", which earned her best supporting actress for her role as Sara. Other short films include "Reflections", "Focus" and "IJO".[21] [22] Shortly, she caught the attention of Kenneth Gyang who recommended her to Mo Abudu and owner of the academy to audition for the role of Timeyin Ademola in Netflix original and Nigerian's firs Netflix original crime thriller series, Blood Sisters.[23]

Shortly after wrapping Blood Sisters she was cast to play Zina in Far From Home.[24]

Filmography

Film/Television

!Year!Title!Role!Ref
2019BlamelessEzinne
Love is WarYoung Lady[25]
2020Survivor's GuiltAyobami[26]
The Crazy WifeAlicia[27]
2021ReflectionsKenena[28]
Country HardFunmi[29]
FocusJess[30] [31]
All Good ThingsFunmi[32]
LizardKhafilat[33]
The GriotAssociate producer[34] [35] [36]
One Lagos NightAnita[37]
Temi's DiaryOmolara[38]
2022Crime & JusticeShindara[39] [40]
Breath of LifeAnna[41] [42]
Blood SistersTimeyin[43] [44]
Far From HomeZina[45] [46]
IJO: A Love StoryMolara[47] [48]
A Tune AwayAnita[49]
2023Shuga (Season 5)Chika[50] [51] [52]
2023A Tribe Called JudahTestimony[53]
2023Breath of LifeAnna
2024Strawberry ChinnyChinny

|}

Theatre

!Year!Title!Role!Short Notes
2016Mind Body SoulKeishaT.D MOYO (Lyric Hammersmith London)
2018High On Stage[54] [55] Lami PhilipsKenneth Uphoho (Rue 14 Studios)
Home[56] Genoveva UmehIbukun Fasunhan
DodoAmarachiT.D MOYO

Awards and nominations

!Year!Award!Category!Result!Ref
2022Africa Magic Viewers Choice AwardBest Actress in a Drama[57] [58]
2023The Future Awards AfricaPrize for Acting[59]
2024Africa Magic Viewers' Choice AwardsBest Supporting Actress[60] [61]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Genoveva Umeh Special Issue with TW Magazine . 18 April 2023 . TW Magazine Website . en-GB.
  2. Web site: 4 February 2023 . MTV Shuga Naija unveils new cast for fifth season . 18 April 2023 . Tribune Online . en-GB.
  3. Web site: Genoveva Umeh is the 2024 Best Supporting Actress in a Movie – AMVCA 10 .
  4. Web site: 8 January 2023 . Underrated Gems To Look Out For In 2023 . 20 April 2023 . thewillnews.com . en-US.
  5. Web site: Tv . Bn . 20 February 2023 . Genoveva Umeh opens up on her Nollywood Journey, Missed Opportunities & Landing the "Blood Sisters" Role on "Tea With Tay" . 18 April 2023 . BellaNaija . en-US.
  6. Web site: 1 May 2022 . Sisters Bound By Blood- Blood Sisters: A Netflix Nigerian Thriller . 18 April 2023 . The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News . en-US . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404175235/https://editor.guardian.ng/life/sisters-bound-by-blood-blood-sisters-a-netflix-nigerian-thriller/ . dead .
  7. Web site: Ogunsunlade . Imisioluwa . 7 August 2022 . Genoveva Umeh: From Nollywood Fits and Starts To Breakout Star . 18 April 2023 . Nigerian Entertainment Today . en-US.
  8. Web site: Obinna . Emelike . 2 December 2022 . Crime and Justice Lagos: Showmax's new procedural drama series debuts December . 18 April 2023 . Businessday NG . en-US.
  9. Web site: Reporters . Our . AMVCA 2024: Iya Rainbow, RMD bag Lifetime awards as Bankole, Ojo win best actors . Punch Newspapers . 12 May 2024 . 12 May 2024.
  10. Web site: Biography of Genoveva Umeh . 18 April 2023 . NELOC News.
  11. Web site: Tosin . Alamu . 22 December 2022 . Genoveva Umeh Biography, Net Worth, Wikipedia, Age, Husband, State, Parents » Naija News 247 . 18 April 2023 . Naija News 247 . en-US.
  12. Web site: 4 March 2023 . Genoveva: I fell in love with acting in high school . 18 April 2023 . The Guardian . en-US.
  13. Web site: Genoveva Umeh: I'm a Natural Entertainer; I'm Inspired By People's Stories – THISDAYLIVE . 18 April 2023 . www.thisdaylive.com.
  14. Web site: Akpobome . Deborah . 26 January 2023 . I studied law as backup plan – Actress, Genoveva Umeh . 20 April 2023 . CorrectNG . en-US.
  15. Web site: All About 'Home' At Lagos Fringe – Independent Newspaper Nigeria . 18 April 2023 . independent.ng. 10 November 2018 .
  16. Web site: How Genoveva Umeh Became Nollywood's Rising Movie Star . 18 April 2023 . OkayAfrica . en.
  17. Web site: Fagbule . Kehindé . 12 January 2023 . LOOKOUT, HERE THEY COME! 6 Faces We Expect To See More Of This Year – TheWill Downtown . 18 April 2023 . en-US.
  18. Web site: AMVCA Unveils Nomination List for 8th Edition – THISDAYLIVE . 18 April 2023 . www.thisdaylive.com.
  19. Web site: Ogunsunlade . Imisioluwa . 7 August 2022 . Genoveva Umeh: From Nollywood Fits and Starts To Breakout Star . 18 April 2023 . Nigerian Entertainment Today . en-US.
  20. Web site: Alumni – EbonyLife Creative Academy . 18 April 2023 . en-US.
  21. Web site: Genoveva Umeh and Others: Reflections . 18 April 2023 . FilmFreeway . en.
  22. Web site: 29 July 2022 . Watch "Ijo,"Charles Etubiebi and Genoveva Umeh's Love Story About Men's Vulnerability – Nollywire . 18 April 2023 . en-GB.
  23. Web site: tvcecontent . 6 July 2022 . How I Was Able To Deliver The 'Timeyin' Role in Blood Sisters – Genove... . 18 April 2023 . TVC . en-US.
  24. Web site: Watch Far From Home Netflix Official Site . 18 April 2023 . www.netflix.com . en.
  25. Web site: Grey . Yousuph . 9 September 2022 . TFC Chat: Wasn't Speaking to Anyone While Shooting at the Rehab – Genoveva Umeh . 18 April 2023 . The Film Conversation . en-US.
  26. Web site: 27 August 2022 . KOKO's Top 7 Fast-Rising Actresses To Watch Out For In Nigeria 2022 . 18 April 2023 . koko.ng . en-GB.
  27. Web site: Genoveva Umeh . 20 April 2023 . IMDb . en-US.
  28. Web site: 8 May 2022 . Genoveva Umeh Biography Profile . 20 April 2023 . FabWoman . en-US.
  29. Web site: 23 November 2022 . 'Country Hard' Review: Paul Utomi's Long Dive in a Sea of Sadness . 20 April 2023 . What Kept Me Up . en-US.
  30. Web site: Nwogu . Precious 'Mamazeus' . 20 October 2021 . EndSARS: Watch 'Focus' short film directed by Tolulope Ajayi . 20 April 2023 . Pulse Nigeria . en.
  31. Web site: BellaNaija.com . 22 October 2021 . "Focus" Paradigm Initiative's latest Short Film on Citizen Vigilance just Premiered & We Have Photos . 20 April 2023 . BellaNaija . en-US.
  32. Web site: Naijaray . All Good Things – Nollywood Full Movie . 20 April 2023 . naijaray.com.ng . 11 August 2022 . en-US.
  33. Web site: BellaNaija.com . 9 March 2021 . Akinola Davies Jr's "Lizard", Bukky Bakray, Wunmi Mosaku have been Nominated for the 2021 BAFTAs . 18 April 2023 . BellaNaija . en-US.
  34. Web site: 18 November 2022 . The Griot Review: A Simplistic Tale of a Storyteller and Secrets Leisurebyte . 18 April 2023 . en-US.
  35. Web site: Abdul-Hafeez . Adedimeji Quayyim . 23 November 2022 . 'The Griot' is an exploration into the intricacies of love, tradition and opportunities [Pulse Review] ]. 18 April 2023 . Pulse Nigeria . en.
  36. Web site: 25 November 2022 . Adeoluwa Owu's "The Griot" is Simple and Soothing but Fails to Reach its Potential as an Epic – Afrocritik . 18 April 2023 . en.
  37. Web site: Club . Film Rats . 20 June 2021 . One Lagos Night is Nice and Easy . 18 April 2023 . Film Rats Club . en-US.
  38. Web site: Z . Drey . 23 December 2021 . DOWNLOAD: Temi's Diary – Nollywood Movie . 18 April 2023 . 365Trendies . en-US.
  39. Web site: Peter . Dennis Ade . 1 February 2023 . AV Club: 'Crime and Justice Lagos' tackles societal ills through police & legal procedure . 18 April 2023 . The NATIVE . en-US.
  40. Web site: Crime and Justice Lagos: Promising Nigerian detective series screens in Lagos . 18 April 2023 . www.premiumtimesng.com.
  41. Web site: ShockNG . 29 July 2022 . Genovevah Umeh, Chimezie Imo Join Cast of "Breath of Life Prime Video Original Directed by BB Sasore . 18 April 2023 . ShockNG . en-US.
  42. Web site: 10 September 2022 . Everything We Know About 'Breath of Life', Prime Video's First Commissioned Nigerian Film . 18 April 2023 . What Kept Me Up . en-US.
  43. Web site: Character I Played In Blood Sisters A Dream Role – Genoveva Umeh – Independent Newspaper Nigeria . 18 April 2023 . independent.ng. 21 May 2022 .
  44. Web site: Nwogu . Precious 'Mamazeus' . 19 April 2022 . Meet 'Blood Sisters' breakout star in '10 things to know about Genoveva Umeh' . 18 April 2023 . Pulse Nigeria . en.
  45. Web site: Rasak-Oyadiran . Opeyemi . 16 December 2022 . Far From Home: In Conversation With Genoveva, Elsa And Tomi . 18 April 2023 . The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.) . en-GB.
  46. Web site: Udodiong . Inemesit . 26 December 2022 . 'Far From Home': Genoveva Umeh, Tomi Ojo & Elma Mbadiwe on Netflix Original [Pulse Interview] ]. 18 April 2023 . Pulse Nigeria . en.
  47. Web site: Nwogu . Precious 'Mamazeus' . 30 August 2021 . Charles Etubiebi & Genoveva Umeh to star in Hello July's 'Ijo; A Love Story' . 18 April 2023 . Pulse Nigeria . en.
  48. Web site: Ijo: A Love Story . 18 April 2023 . svaff.org . 18 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230418063108/https://svaff.org/ijo-a-love-story/ . dead .
  49. Genoveva Umeh
  50. Web site: Media . IFM Social . 30 January 2023 . Genoveva Umeh, Gbubemi Ejeye, And More Return For Season 5 Of MTV Shuga Naija . 18 April 2023 . en.
  51. Web site: Akintonde . Oluwasola . 4 February 2023 . MTV Shuga Naija Unveils New Cast For Fifth Season . 18 April 2023 . Voice of Nigeria . en-US.
  52. News: MTV Shuga Naija Season 5 returns, meet the cast . Vanguard News .
  53. Web site: A Tribe Called Judah – Nollywood Movie – Netnaijas . 7 June 2024 . en-US.
  54. Web site: 26 March 2019 . Stage Play 'High' returns in April . 18 April 2023 . Businessday NG . en-US.
  55. Web site: BellaNaija.com . 17 December 2018 . Rue14 Studios to host a Stage Play tagged 'High' to Shine Light on Substance Abuse amongst Teenagers 27–29 December . 18 April 2023 . BellaNaija . en-US.
  56. Web site: All About 'Home' At Lagos Fringe – Independent Newspaper Nigeria . 18 April 2023 . independent.ng. 10 November 2018 .
  57. Web site: Spur . Brand . 19 March 2022 . AMVCA Unveils Nomination List For 8th Edition . 18 April 2023 . en-US.
  58. News: 2022 Africa Magic Awards Nominees don land- See who dey list . BBC News Pidgin . 18 April 2023.
  59. Web site: FULL LIST: Asake, Tobi Amusan, Osimhen nominated for TFAA 2023 . TheCable Lifestyle . 27 September 2023 . 26 September 2023.
  60. Web site: Itodo . Sunny Green . 2024 AMVCA: Full list of winners . Daily Post Nigeria . 12 May 2024 . 12 May 2024.
  61. Web site: Ademola . Bisi . Full List Of The AMVCA 2024 Winners . African Folder . 11 May 2024 . 13 June 2024.

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