Anoja Weerasinghe

Paranapalliya Guruge Anoja Kanthi Siriwardena (Sinhala:අනොජා වීරසිංහ), popularly known as Anoja Weerasinghe (born January 21, 1955), is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. One of the most respected film actresses in Sinhala cinema, Weerasinghe won the Golden Award at New Delhi Film Festival for her critics acclaimed movie Maldeniye Simion.

Personal life

Born on 21 January 1955 near Badulla, as the seventh of the 12 siblings in the family which includes seven daughters and five sons. Her father was Jeldeen Siriwardena and mother was Wijayasinghe Arachchige Seelavathi. Anoja had older siblings: Shanthi, Sunethra, Asoka, Sunil and Maya Damayanthi. Anura, Shiyan, Lekha, Sandhya, Sudath are younger brothers and sisters.

After few years, the family moved to Monaragala due to many political disputes. Her father was a theatre actor who performed in stage dramas such as Barrister Hamu and Hingana Kolla. Her first marriage was celebrated in 1979 and lasted only for twelve years, where she married again to a plantation owner in 1991.

With the failure of her second marriage, she faced a number of challenges where she went to commit suicide seven times. Once she swallowed a bunch of sleeping pills due to stress and depression.

In the film Maldeniye Simieon, she played dual roles, which became her turning point. For the roles, she won the Best Supporting Actress at the 11th New Delhi International Film Festival. Then she established herself in the 1980s in Sinhala cinema, made her mark in popular cinema with the film Obata Diwura Kiyannam. Her popular role in 1980s came through Araliya Mal, Channayi Kello Dennayi, Peraḷikārayō, Mamayi Rajā, Sināsenna Raththaran and Yukthiyaṭa Væḍa. She later won Best Actress award at Sarasaviya, Presidential, OCIC and Swarnasanka awards for her performances in artistic films such as Kelimadala, Gurugedara, Surabidena, Julietge Bhumikawa, Muhudu Lihini, Seilama, Siri Medura and Janelaya. Thereafter she went on to LAMDA in London to further hone her skills and won further accolades, nationally and internationally. She has been honored with the Kohinoor Award by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Government of Sri Lanka's Kala Suri national award, the Asian Film Center tribute to her in 1994, Munich International Film Festival retrospective of her films, and the state governments of Kerala and West Bengal retrospectives of her films are among the many accolades she has received.

Apart from Sinhala films, Anoja played a leading role in the Australian film Island directed by Paul Cox. She has also acted in Pakistani Urdu films like Raththathin Rath Thame, India-Sri Lanka co-production film Hum Se Na Takrana, Agar Tum Na Hote, Suraj Bhi Tamasha, Miss Lanka, Naadani, and Do Haath. After that, she studied music, acting and voice acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (Lamda) in London. After return to Sri Lanka, she started the 'Advanced Performing Arts Institute' on the land belonging to the Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara adjoining temple. Diriya Mawa Saha Age Daruwo Ran Salakuna Memories of Monkey boy

Awards She is a recipient of many local, regional and international awards.

Presidential Special Award 1984 - Muhudu Lihini Sarasaviya Awards 1985 - Hithwathiya Presidential Award 1985 Merit Award - Hithawathiya Sarasawiya Award 1986 Merit Award - Mihidum Salu Best Actress in 1986 State Awards Best Costume Design in 1986 State Awards Sarasaviya Awards 1986 Best Film - Obata Diwura Kiyannam Best Actress in 1987 Sarasaviya Awards - Maldeniye Simion Best Actress in 1987 OCIC Awards - Maldeniye Simion Best Actress in 1987 Presidential Awards - Maldeniye Simion Rajatha Mayura Award for Best Actress in 1987 Best Actress in 11th Indian International Film Festival - Maldeniye Simion Best Television Actress in 1987 - Thaara Devi Rana Thisara Award in 1987 Kalsuri Award in 1987 Honor Award in 1987 Woman of the Year 1987 - Vanitha Award at Rotary International Club Best Actress in 1990 Sarasaviya Awards - Sirimedura Best Actress in 1987 OCIC Awards - Sirimedura Koinor Rathna Award 1990 Most Popular Actress in 1991 Vanitha Award Best Actress in 1992 Sarasaviya Awards - Kelimadala Best Actress in 1992 OCIC Awards - Kelimadala Best Producer in 1992 Sarasaviya Awards - Kelimadala Best Actress in 1994 Sarasaviya Awards - Surabidena Best Actress in 1994 Presidential Awards - Gurugedara Best Actress in 1994 Swarna Sankha Award - Surabidena Fringee First Award at Edinburg Drama Festival 2005 - Children of the Sea producer Tap Water Award at Edinburg Drama Festival 2005 - Children of the Sea producer Best Actress in 2006 State Awards - Diriya Mawa Saha Age Daruwa

Filmography No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.

Year No. Film Role Ref. 1979 423 Monarathenna Suranji 1980 440 Tak Tik Tuk 1980 465 Sinhabahu 1981 487 Amme Mata Samawenna Dulcy 1981 492 Dayabara Nilu 1981 493 Geethika Naalika 1981 499 Aradhana 1981 504 Saaranga 1982 534 Kale Mal Pushpalatha 1983 548 Kaliyugaya 1983 560 Hasthi Viyaruwa 1983 562 Pasa Mithuro 1983 564 Menik Maliga 1983 571 Monarathenna 2 1984 574 Muhudu Lihini 1984 583 Niwan Dakna Jathi Dakwa 1984 584 Thaththai Puthai Anoja 1984 590 Hithawathiya 1984 601 Batti Kosala 1985 612 Mihidum Salu 1985 613 Mawubima Nathnam Maranaya 1985 616 Araliya Mal 1985 620 Channai Kello Dennai 1985 621 Aeya Waradida Oba Kiyanna 1985 624 Obata Diwura Kiyanna 1985 629 Varsity Kella 1985 608 Miss Lanka 1986 636 Mal Warusa Soma 1986 640 Peralikarayo 1986 643 Maldeniye Simion Jane / Somawathi 1987 644 Devuduwa 1987 654 Hitha Honda Chandiya 1987 655 Janelaya Mrs. Weerasinghe 1987 656 Sathyagrahanaya 1987 662 Kale Kella 1988 670 Ahinsa 1988 673 Chandingeth Chandiya 1988 682 Ko Hathuro 1988 681 Nawatha Api Ekwemu 1989 685 Mamai Raja Nisha 1989 689 Obata Rahasak Kiyannam 1989 692 Sinasenna Raththaran 1989 694 Randenigala Sinhaya 1989 696 Sirimadura 1990 700 Yukthiyata Wada 1990 702 Weera Udara 1990 707 Pem Raja Dahana Rekha Gajasinghe 1991 714 Hitha Honda Puthek 1991 721 Sihina Ahase Wasanthaya 1991 722 Kelimadala 1991 724 Hithata Dukak Nathi Miniha Yasawathi 1991 729 Asala Sanda 1991 732 Ran Hadawatha 1991 741 Ma Obe Hithawatha 1992 742 Ranabime Veeraya 1992 746 Rajadaruwo 1992 757 Me Ware Mage 1993 770 Guru Gedara 1993 772 Surabidena Soma 1993 775 Wali Sulanga 1994 817 Shakthi 1995 822 Vijay Saha Ajay 1995 824 Seilama Siriya 1998 891 Aya Obata Barai 1998 902 Julietge Bhumikawa Anjali Senanayake 1999 921 Aduru Sewanali 2002 983 Thahanam Gaha Seetha 2003 1001 Pura Sakmana Gunawathi 2003 1016 Yakada Pihatu Manuja 2014 1213 Thanha Rathi Ranga Wimal's Mother 1989 - The Island 2014 - Human Touch