Girley Gunawardana

Dona Girley Grace Gunawardana (ගර්ලි ගුණවර්ධන, [Sinhala]; 15 November 1935 – 11 March 2012), popularly known as Girley Gunawardana, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema. She is the mother of popular actress Sabeetha Perera.

Personal life Gunawardana was born on 15 November 1935 in Mount Lavinia as the fifth child of the family. She had three elder brothers - Titus, Lionel, Erwin - and one elder sister and one younger sister, Rose. She was educated at Girls High School Mount Lavinia.

Gunawardana was married to popular film actor Stanley Perera. She identified Stanley through her friends Bhadra Marapana and A.J. De Zoysa. On 21 July 1956, they secretly got engaged. It was a secret, even though both were acting together. The couple have four daughters - Sandya, Sadna and Sabeetha and Chandima. Her remains were kept at no: 286, Sri Jayewardenepura Mawatha, Kottte her residence. The funeral took place at Borella Cemetery at 6.30 pm on 13 March 2012.

Career During school times, she learned drama under Ailean Sarachchandra, wife of popular playwright Ediriweera Sarachchandra. She had the opportunity to dance under Neranjana Devi who taught dance and acting under Ailean. She went to the "Sundara" studio in Kandana with two of her friends. She was selected for a minor role in the film under the guidance of Laddy Ranasinghe. She also got a part of a song as a friend of the lead actress Ayesha Weerakoon. She played a lead role "Thangamma" in the film and it became highly popular.

After the secret marriage, Stanley and Girley acted as lovers in the 1956 film Duppathage Dukka. In the film, Stanley played the role "Thilak", a rebellious university youth and Girley played "Nalini". Laddy Ranasinghe played as "Dharma Sri", grandfather of Nalini. There was a scene where "Dharma Sri" slaps "Nalini". The shot came real and Girley had to hospitalized for three days due to the slap.

After the film Duppathage Dukka, she acted in several commercially successful films such as Ganthera, Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe, Sasaraka Hati, Laa Dalu, Hathara Maha Nidhanaya, Iwasana Danaa, Davena Pipasaya, Tom Pachaya and Rasa Rahasak. In 1984, Girley acted together with her own daughter Sabeetha in the film Deweni Gamana, which marked her second journey in the cinema with an adult role for the first time. In the 1967 film Iwasana Danaa, Girley starring with her husband Stanley Perera and her daughter Sabeetha.

She left the cinema after having children. However she appeared in few minor roles hereafter. Her last cinema appearance was in 1994 film Ahas Maliga.

Filmography Year Film Role Ref. 1952 Prema Tharagaya Dancer 1953 Puduma Leli Dancer 1954 Saradiel Thangamma 1956 Duppathage Duka Nalini 1957 Saradama 1961 Gan Thera 1964 Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe 1964 Chandali 1964 Sasaraka Hati 1965 Hathara Maha Nidhanaya Daisy Dharmawardena 1965 Laa Dalu 1965 Sonduru Yuwala 1967 Hathara Kendare 1967 Iwasana Danaa 1969 Hathara Peraliya 1971 Dawena Pipasa 1972 Hathara Wate 1977 Tom Pachaya Miss Primrose 1982 Sandaa Sanda's mother 1983 Samanala Sihina 1984 Adara Geethaya 1984 Deveni Gamana 1984 Podi Ralahami 1st proposal onlooker 1987 Kawuluwa 1988 Rasa Rahasak 1992 Okkoma Kanapita 1994 Ahas Maliga