Mary Uranta

Last updated

Mary Uranta
Mary Uranta in 2013.jpg
Uranta in 2013
Born
Port Harcourt
NationalityNigerian
Alma mater Rivers State University of Science and Technology
Occupation(s)Actress, model, film producer, singer
Years active2006—present

Mary Data Uranta is a Nigerian film and television actress, producer, model, singer, and businesswoman. [1]

Contents

Mary Data Uranta was born and raised in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State, south-south Nigeria. she competed in beauty pageant Miss Niger Delta, where she achieved the rank of first runner-up. The first acting role she got was in the year 2000 in the film, Girls Hostel. In 2006, she received more significant attention with a leading role in the Nollywood movie, Secret Mission. She also featured in other films including Love Doctor, Critical Passion, Pradah, Secret Shadow, and Blood Game.

Aside from being an actress, Uranta is an entrepreneur through her own movie production company. She established the Mary Uranta Foundation, a charity organisation which helps improve the lives of underprivileged children in Opobo, Rivers State. Her contributions to the film industry has earned her a City People Award, Best of Nollywood Award nomination and the African Youth Ambassador Award.

Early life and education

Uranta grew up primarily in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State. She has seven siblings and four step-brothers. Describing her upbringing, Uranta commented that she "had a great childhood. I never had it rough or tough growing up. Fine, I'm from an average home. But it's never been bad. I had all I wanted as a child[...]we were one happy family." [2]

Although Uranta was born a Pentecostal Christian, she attended Roman Catholic schools, including Sacred Heart Nursery and Primary School before attending the Holy Rosary Girls Secondary School in Port Harcourt. There, she took an interest in both dancing and stage-acting and would gain a Dance and Drama scholarship upon graduation. [3]

Uranta later enrolled at Rivers State University of Science and Technology (now Rivers State University). She had aspired to go for a course related to her dream career (acting) but ended up studying Secretarial Administration. She had also placed first runner-up in the Miss Niger Delta contest. [3]

Career

Uranta's journey of acting started with a minor guest role in the Ndubisi Okoh-directed film, Girls Hostel, alongside Uche Jombo. she won the role after her first film audition. [2] Subsequently, Uranta played roles in films such as Paul and Silas, War of Roses, Silver Spoon, and Church Committee before taking a break to complete her education. [3] In 2006, Uranta received her first big break role appearing as Ngozi Ezeonu's younger sister in the movie Secret Mission. Her other Nollywood films include Tea or Coffee, Tears of a Princess, Baits of Doom, The Professionals, Real Passion, Mistress, The Darkest Link, Love Doctor, Critical Passion, Pradah, Secret Shadow, and Blood Game.

Mary Uranta holds a postgraduate diploma in Theatre—a branch of performing arts—from the London School of Arts Academy. [3] In October 2011, Uranta received the African Youth Ambassador Award for her contributions to Nollywood. [4] The following year, she landed a Best of Nollywood Award nomination for her role in the film Mistress, and at the 4th City People Awards on 14 July 2013, she won the City People Award for Best Actress. [5] That same year, Uranta launched 50th Academy, a film production company created to aid the industry's growth, and the Mary Uranta Foundation which caters for the welfare of deprived children in Opobo. [6]

Filmography

YearFilmRoleNotes
2000Girls Hostelwith Uche Jombo & Olu Jacobs
2006Secret Missionwith Chioma Chukwuka & Desmond Elliot
2007The Love DoctorEberewith Jackie Appiah
The Love Doctor 2Eberewith Jackie Appiah
2011Gallant BabesGiftwith Mercy Johnson
Gallant Babes 2Gift
2013 Nation Under Siege
2016Hotel chocowith Dianne Chukwu, Femi Branch, Tamara Eteimo
2017Sand Castlewith Wale Ojo ,Charles Okocha, Bassey Okon
2020Honeymoon BluesFolakeDirected by Austin Nnaemeka Soundmind
2021RestlessMiss NellyDirected by Okey Ifeanyi

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genevieve Nnaji</span> Nigerian actress, producer, and director (born 1979)

Genevieve Nnaji is a Nigerian actress, producer, and director. She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2005, making her the first actor to win the award. In 2011, she was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian government for her contributions to Nollywood. Her directorial debut movie, Lionheart, is the first Netflix film from Nigeria and the first Nigerian submission for the Oscars. The movie was disqualified for having most of its dialogue in English. After having spent decades in the movie industry, she was profiled alongside some celebrities and business executives in 2020 in two new books by publisher and Editor in Chief of Yes International! magazine, Azuh Arinze.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omotola Jalade Ekeinde</span> Nigerian actress (born 1978)

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, is a Nigerian actress, singer, philanthropist and former model. Since her Nollywood film debut in 1995, Ekeinde has appeared in over 300 films, selling millions of copies. Omotola is the second Nigerian and first Nigerian celebrity to receive over 1 million likes on her Facebook page. She currently has a total of 3 million followers on Facebook.

Jackie Appiah is a Canadian-born Ghanaian actress. For her work as an actress, she has received several awards and nominations, including the awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 2010 Africa Movie Academy Awards; and Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2007. She received two nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Upcoming Actress at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2008. Glitz Africa Honors Her with Excellence in Creative Art Award at Ghana Women of the Year Honors 2023. She is a movie producer, fashion model and a humanitarian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uche Jombo</span> Nigerian American actress and film director

Uche Jombo is a Nigerian actress, screenwriter, and film producer. She has appeared in over 250 Nollywood movies and has also written and produced. She is known for her roles in movies such as Visa to Hell, Girls Hostel, Fire Love, Endless Lies, Nollywood Hustlers and many more. She is also an ambassador for Globacom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercy Johnson</span> Nigerian actress (born 1984)

Mercy Johnson Okojie is a Nigerian actress, film director and film producer. She attended Rivers State Secondary School and also the Nigerian Navy Secondary School in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Right after her secondary education, she auditioned for a role in the movie titled The Maid and subsequently acted in other movies such as Hustlers, Baby Oku in America, and War in the Palace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judith Audu</span> Nigerian actress

Judith Emike Audu-Foght, professionally known as Judith Audu, is a Nigerian film and television producer, director, casting director, actress, presenter, model and blogger. She is widely known for her movie production credits which include Just Not Married, The Family and The Sessions. In 2019, she was listed among the YNAIJA 100 most Influential Nigerians in Film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Ejiofor</span> Nigerian actress and model (born 1986)

Linda Ejiofor is a Nigerian actress and model from Abia state, located in the southeastern region of Nigeria. She is known for her role as Bimpe Adekoya in M-Net's TV series Tinsel. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards for her role in the film The Meeting (2012). Tony Ogaga Erhariefe of The Sun Nigeria listed her as one of the ten fastest-rising Nollywood stars of 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belinda Effah</span> Nigerian actress and presenter (born 1989)

Grace-Charis Bassey Effah is a Nigerian actress and presenter. She has won six awards throughout her career, including the Most Promising Act of the Year award at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards. She changed her name after an encounter with God to Grace-Charis Bassey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamara Eteimo</span> Musical artist

Tamara Eteimo also known by her stage name Tamara Jones, is a Nigerian R&B singer-songwriter and Actor. Since her Nollywood film debut in 2011, right after she won the seventh edition of the Next Movie Star reality show, the actress has appeared in over 50 films. She was ranked second in Charles Novia's annual rankings of Nollywood actresses for 2013 and has been nominated for numerous awards. Eteimo completed her primary and secondary school education in Port Harcourt before enrolling at the University of Port Harcourt to study Theatre Arts. As of May 2010, she had released singles "Vibrate" and "Na Only you" from her debut studio album. She won the 2013 Next Movie Star winner and she claims to be eyeing the oscar award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monalisa Chinda</span> Nigerian actor, film producer and TV personality (born 1974)

Monalisa Chinyere Chinda is a Nigerian actress, film producer, talkshow host, television personality, humanitarian and media personality.

Yewande Adekoya is a Nigerian actress, filmmaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibinabo Fiberesima</span> Nigerian actress and model

Ibinabo Fiberesima is a Nigerian film actress, Director and Producer ex-beauty Queen and event manager. She is a former president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hilda Dokubo</span> Nigerian film actress and youth advocate

Hilda Dokubo is a Nigerian award-winning film actress, author, social justice advocate, and politician who once served as special adviser on youth affairs to Peter Odili, a former Governor of Rivers State. She is currently the Chairman of Labour Party in Rivers State.

Ebele Okaro Onyiuke is a Nigerian actress and film producer.

Franca Obianuju Brown is a Nigerian actress and film producer who in 2016 was a recipient of the City People Movie Special Recognition Award at the City People Entertainment Awards.

Daniel Lloyd is a Nigerian actor and talent manager. In 2016, Lloyd was nominated for Most Promising Actor of the Year (English) at the City People Entertainment Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cynthia Shalom</span> Nigerian actress and businessperson (born 1988)

Cynthia Shalom is a Nigerian actress, producer, blogger, and businessperson. She won season 11 of the reality show, Next Movie Star. She has since then featured in several Nollywood films. She was featured in the M-net TV series Tinsel.

Chinwekene Isaac Udokporo is a Nigerian actress. She won the 2019 City People Movie Awards for Face of Igbo Movie of the year which was presented by City People Magazine.

Matilda Gogo Lambert is a Nigerian actress, movie producer, model, and CEO of Tilda Goes Green Foundation. She made her movie debut in the film The Celebrities alongside Mike Ezuruonye. Her performance in the movie brought her to prominence and earned her leading roles in other Nollywood movies.

Nichole Banna popularly known as Virgin Mary is a Nollywood actress and producer who has featured in various film. She produced the movie, Icheke Oku which is of Igbo origin.

References

  1. ↑ "I have been stereotyped in movies, says Mary Uranta". Vanguard News. 15 June 2017. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 Erhariefe, Tony (28 April 2013). "Mary Uranta: Sexual harassment drove me out of Nollywood". Sunnewsonline.com . Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Why I'm scandal free – Mary Uranta". Vanguardngr.com . Vanguard Media. 12 November 2011. Archived from the original on 20 September 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Adaora UKOH, Mary URANTA amongst others receives honorary youthambassador awards". TheNigerianvoice.com. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  5. ↑ Mezue, Tee. "List of Winners: City People Entertainment Awards". Maxibeats.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  6. ↑ Augoye, Jayne (30 August 2013). "My plan for Nollywood – Uranta". The Punch. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.