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Nethali Nanayakkara

Overview

Serials & Shows

DOB : 26-12-1936
Age : 87
Star Sign : Capricorn
Gender : Female

Skills

» Actress

Written By - Team Nettv4u

Nethalie Nanayakkara is an actress of Sri Lankan origin. Her full name is Nethalie Violet Nanayakkara. She has been actively contributing to television, cinema and theatre and has played significant roles in more than 140 serials over a career spanning six decades, making her one of the early pillars of the Sri Lankan television drama industry. She was born on the 26th of December in 1936, in Kiribathgoda, Colombo and is popularly known as Nethalie Nanayakkara. She grew up as the fourth child in her family, alongside two elder sisters, one of her sisters died at a very young age, and two younger brothers.

Her father worked at a private company, and she received her education at Roman Catholic School in Pamunuvila. She excelled in English and at the age of thirteen years cleared the O/L examination. She continued her studies at Gurukula Vidyalaya in Kelaniya, where she pursued an English medium education. After completing her school exams, Nethalie joined a private company with her uncle's guidance.After working at the firm for two years, she decided to resign. Following that, she joined Fordsroad Accounting Institute in Colombo, working as an auditor for a remarkable 30 years. In 1985, she decided to resign from her job and focus on her career in cinema. In the year 1955, she started her career in the entertainment industry, when she started working at Radio Ceylon. She participated in various radio plays, with her debut being Samudra Devi.

This was the time during which she met her future husband, Wally Nanayakkara, who also became involved in radio dramas in the 1960s. They acted together in the radio play Muwan Palessa in 1962.While maintaining her career in radio, she also pursued her work in the private sector. However, she also ventured into television dramas and appeared in a serial directed by Ananda Sirisena. In 2000, her performance in the teledrama Asani Wasi earned her the SIGNIS Award.

Additionally, she has contributed as a dubbing artist for various international television serials. In terms of her filmography, Nethalie has made notable appearances in films such as Le Kiri Kandulu (2003), Gamani (2011), Aloko Udapadi (2017), and The Newspaper (2020). Her exceptional acting skills have garnered widespread recognition and numerous accolades throughout her illustrious career.

She, honored with the prestigious Kalabushana Award, remains a highly respected figure in Sri Lankan entertainment. Her remarkable talent and contributions have left an indelible mark on the industry, solidifying her legacy as a celebrated actress and artist. She married Wally Nanayakkara at the age of 27. Wally, who served as the secretary of the Arts Circle during his time at Lake House, died in 2003 at the age of 64. They both have five children together: a son named Ravi and four daughters named Renuka, Shamika, Chandika, and Indika.