Wanniarachchige Malini Senehelatha Fonseka, (Sinhala: මාලිනී ෆොන්සේකා; Tamil: மாலினி பொன்சேகா; 30 April 1947 – 24 May 2025) was a Sri Lankan actress, theatre artist, director and politician.[1] Often dubbed the "Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema",[2][3] her career spanned seven decades.[4] Fonseka made her debut in Sri Lankan cinema with Tissa Liyansooriya's Punchi Baba in 1968,[5] and later she was named by CNN as one of Asia's 25 greatest film actors of all time in 2010.[6][7][8]
Fonseka first became widely known when she won the Best Actress Award at the 1969 National State Drama Festival, followed by a Sarasaviya Best Actress Awards for Hingana Kolla in 1980, Aradhana in 1982 and Yasa Isuru in 1983.[9] She also broke records by winning the Slim Nielsen Peoples' Award for the Most Popular Actress twelve times in a row.[10]
Biography
Early life
Malini was born as the third of eleven siblings to Bandu Arachchige Gilbert Fonseka, a Government Press worker and Seelwathie Fonseka at Peliyagoda, Kelaniya.[11] After her birth, her family moved to Jambugasmulle, Nugegoda. In 1952, she started her education at Samudradevi Balika Vidyalaya, Nugegoda until grade 5 and continued at Kelaniya Gurukula Maha Vidyalaya until the end of her secondary education.[12] While studiying at Gurukula, she started to sing poetry under the guidance of teacher Thilakaratne and drama under the teacher S. Malal.[11] At a very young age, she played the role of a fifty-year-old woman in the short drama "Hiru Awara Giyado".
Family
Three of her sisters – Sriyani, Rasadari, Damayanthi – and two of her brothers – Dayananda and Ananda – are a part in the cinema industry.
Like her siblings, Malini's several relatives are in the Sinhala film industry. Actor Karunarathna Hangawaththa and Director Prasanna Vithanage are her brothers-in-law, Actresses Samanalee Fonseka and Senali Fonseka are her nieces, Actor Ashan is her nephew[13] and Actress Kushenya Sayumi of Rookada Panchi fame is her grandniece.[14] Apart from her popular nieces, Samanalee and Senali, five of her other nieces – Ruwini, Tharidi, Shivanya, Manori and Sanduni – are also in the drama industry.[15][16]
Her older brother Dayananda died in 2012[17] and her other brothers Ananda and Upali, father of Senali, died in 2020.[18]
On 24 May 2025, Fonseka died in Colombo, Sri Lanka, while receiving treatment at a local hospital. She was 78.[19][20][21] Her remains were placed for public viewing and to pay respects at her residence and later transferred to the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka on 25 May. The funeral ceremony, conducted with full state honours, took place on 26 May 2025 at Independence Square in Colombo.[22]
Career
Fonseka started her acting career with stage dramas with Noratha Ratha produced by H. V. Weerasiri in 1963. In 1968, Fonseka won a national award for Best Stage Drama Actress for her performance in Akal Wessa produced by Dharmadasa Jayaweera. From 1963 to 1969, Fonseka played the lead role in 14 stage dramas including; B. Ratnayake's Amal Biso, Sam Perera's Iwa Bawa Nathi Lowa, S. Karunaratne's Guththila, Erabudu Mal Pottu Pipila, Hiru Awarata Giyado, Sunanda Mahendra's Sayuren Aa Landa, Prema Kumara Epitawela's Nuwana Podiya, Sathischandra Edirisinghe's Baka Thapas, Sumana Aloka Bandara's Nidhi Kumba, and Gunasena Galappatty's Liyathambara.[11]
While acting in the play Akal Wessa in Lumbini Theatre, her acting credentials were observed by Sugathadasa Marasinghe, Tissa Liyanasuriya, Joe Abeywickrama, Sisira Senaratne, Anton Alwis, who were looking for an actress for a lead role in their upcoming film.[11] She entered the cinema industry through one of her brothers, Ananda Fonseka, who was both a film director and producer, and was introduced as a cinema actress by Tissa Liyansuriya and Joe Abeywickrama.[23]
At the age of 18, she made her film debut with Tissa Liyansuriya's Punchi Baba (Little Baby) in 1968 with the role "Maali", where she won the Swarna Sankha Award for Best Supporting Actress. The she acted in the films Abudasse kale, Dahasak Sithuwili and Adarawanthayo in the same year. The success of these movies led her to be cast as the lead role by several movie directors of the time. Fonseka acted in over 140 movies thereafter, some of which were international movies. She paired up with popular Indian Tamil actor, Sivaji Ganeshan in Pilot Premnath in 1978. Her career was enhanced by her work alongside Gamini Fonseka who had a long journey in the history of the silver screen in Sri Lanka. At his funeral in 2004, Fonseka stated "His performance had appeal across the board and I had the good fortune of being associated with Gamini. The cinema of that era is slowly fading away and the passing away of Gamini is another step towards that direction".[24] Her popularity peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, as she collaborated with renowned directors, including Lester James Peries and Dharmasena Pathiraja.[25] She successfully made her mark in both Imitative popular cinema (with the films: Mē Dǣsa Kumaṭada (1972), Suhada Pæthuma (1973) Sangeethā (1975) and Næwatha Hamuvemu (1982) as well as Cinematic popular cinema (with the films: Dæn Mathakada (1970) Hathara Denāma Sūrayō (1971), Edath Sūrayā Adath Sūrayā (1972), Adarē Hithenava Dækkama (1972) and Thuṣhārā (1973) at the same time. In the meantime, she became a trendsetter by fashion designs (Mini Frocks, Bell Bottoms, Swimming kit, Cabare kits) and hair cuts for the fans island wide.[11]
As a bridge between two immortal eras in Sri Lankan cinema: Vijaya-Malini and Gamini-Malini made huge impact on Sri Lankan cinema with several blockbuster films. The Gamini-Malini era was polished with the romantic action films such as Nidhānaya, Sahanaya, Edath Surayā Adath Surayā, Hondaṭa Hondayi, Hondayi Narakayi, Avā Soyā Adarē, Kawuda Rājā, and Surayā Surayāmayi. Meanwhile, Vijaya-Malini era powered with romantic thriller films such as Thuṣārā, Susee, Sangīthā, Pradīpē Mā Wēvā, Unnath Dāhayi Maḷath Dāhayi, Diyamanthi, Eyā Dæn Loku Lamayek, Pembara Madhu, Bæddēgama and Madhusamaya.[11] With these blockbuster movies, she became the only actress to win the Most Popular Actress award multiple times where Gamini and Vijaya won the Most Popular Actor award five times in a row respectively.
Her milestones in cinema came through several artistic cinematic films such as Nidhanaya (role "Irene") by Lester James Peiris, Siripala Saha Ranmenika (role "Ranmenika") by Amaranath Jayathilake, Eya Den Loku Lamayek (role "Susila"), Bambaru Ewith (role "Helen") by Dharmasena Pathiraja, Soldādu Unnæhē (role "Prēmakkā"), Induṭa Malmiṭak (role "Nisansalā") and Stree (role "Mæggī Hāmi"). Apart from them, her other notable roles came through the films: Wasanthayē Davasak, Pembara Madhu, Deviyani Oba Koheda, Hingana Kollā, Danḍu Monara, Bambara Geethaya, Sandakaḍa Pahaṇa, Madhusamaya, Umayanganā, Sanda manḍala and Anthima Ræya.[11] During her 63 year cinema career, she acted minor roles in the films: Akkara Paha, Ahas Gavva, Punchi Suranganāvi, Uppalawanna; acted elderly roles in youth age in the films Anūpamā, Hingana Kollā; as well as complex roles in the films Soldādu Unnæhē, Sirimædura and Madhusamaya. In the film Sally, Fonseka played the same role with five different guises: a maid, a married woman, a prostitute, a woman addicted to smoking and drinking, and a crazy woman.[11]
Fonseka is also credited to play the first action packed heroine character in Sri Lankan cinema, with the film Raktha. Then she achieved a significant milestone with Sasara Chetana in 1984 as both the director and the producer. The film won the Sarasaviya Award for the Best Action film in that year and was a economically successful film.[11] Her directorial venture saw three other films: Ahimsa in 1987, Sthree in 1991 and Sanda Madala in 1994.[26]
She entered television with the teledrama Nirupa Mala, where she became the first female teledrama director in the history of Sri Lankan teledramas when she both directed and acted.[27] Her notable performances in the teledramas came through Manalada Puthe Kiri Dunne, Pitagamkarayo, Kemmura, Ambu Daruwo, Pin Mada Puthunē, Mahamera Pāmula, Mahagiridamba, Maha Naḍuva and Depæthi Dahara.[11] She later won the Sumathi Best Teledrama Actress Awards for her roles in Pitagamkarayo and Kemmura.[28] She further solidified her mark as a teledrama director with successful creations such as Sanasili Suwanda.
In 2024, Malini Fonseka took on an incredible role in the music video for Eya Wasanthaya Nowe (එය වසන්තය නොවේ) by the promising young vocalist Chapa Jayaruk. Her performance in the video was widely praised, showcasing her superb acting skills and adding another remarkable achievement to her illustrious career. The music video, which highlights Fonseka's emotional depth and versatility, became popular for both its storyline and her captivating presence.[29]
Winning more than 40 awards in her career, Fonseka is also the most awarded Sri Lankan film actress ever. She was the first Sri Lankan actress to reach international heights and earn international recognition, winning a special Jury award at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1975; a first of her many international awards. She also won an award at the New Delhi Film Festival in 1977.[30] She also won an honorary doctorate from the University of the Visual and Performing Arts.[11]
In 2010, she was named one of Asia's 25 Greatest Film Actors of All Time by CNN. She is the only Sri Lankan in the list. This list had been prepared ahead of the Oscar night on 7 March.[31][32][bettersourceneeded]
Apart from the many Sarasaviya Awards, Presidential Awards, OCIC Awards and others for her cinematic miles, she has also received awards including the "Best Actress Award" for the teledrama "Kemmura" at the Sumathi Tele Awards Ceremony, 2000 and Wishva Prasadhini Award as appreciation of her service to the cinema industry from the President of Sri Lanka in 1996.[28]
In January 2008, Sri Lankans living in the United States gathered in large numbers at Los Angeles to honour her, alongside a special dinner hosted by the Consular General of Sri Lanka to the Consulate in Los Angeles, Jaliya Wickramasuriya and his wife, followed by an honouring ceremony where she was awarded an Appreciative Plaque by the Consulate General.[34] In 2019, she was honoured with Janabhimani Honorary Award at the BMICH.[35]
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