Nai Bonet

Last updated
Nai Bonet
Born
Christine Shapazian

January 6, 1939
Saigon, Vietnam
Years active19641980

Nai Bonet is a producer, screenwriter, actress, singer, and belly-dancer. Born Christine Shapazian on January 6, 1939 in Saigon, Vietnam. Bonet began her professional career at age 13, when she headlined as a belly-dancer in a show at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. [1] She began appearing in films in 1964 (frequently portraying a belly-dancer), as well as in television, commercials, variety shows, her photos adorned several album covers and she continued to appear as a night club headliner. In 1966 she released the novelty song Jelly Belly, [2] and she filmed a music video for the song [3] which was featured on Scopitone video jukeboxes. [4]

Contents

In the 1970s, Bonet decided to focus exclusively on her acting career, "But I wasn't getting anywhere in pictures," she said in 1978. [5] After conceiving, producing and starring in two film flops (1979's Nocturna and 1980's Hoodlums), Bonet gave up her career.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1964Diary of a BachelorBachelorette
1965 John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! Specialty Dancer
1965 The Beverly Hillbillies First Harem GirlEpisode: The Sheik
1965 Boeing Boeing Air India Stewardessuncredited
1966 The Spy with a Cold Nose Belly Dancer
1967Devil's AngelsTanya
1973 Soul Hustler Helena
1973 The Soul of Nigger Charley Anita
1977 The Greatest Suzie Gomez
1977 Fairy Tales Sheherazade
1979 Nocturna Nocturnaa.k.a. Nocturna: Granddaughter of Dracula
1980HoodlumsLorettaa.k.a. Gangsters

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References

  1. "Nocturna - Nai Bonet Biography" (Press release). Compass International, Inc. 1979.
  2. "Jelly Belly/The Seventh Veil - Rate Your Music" . Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  3. "YouTube - Nai Bonet - Jelly Belly music video" . Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  4. "Scopitones by Artist: A to B" . Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  5. Wilson, Earl (September 30, 1978). "Belly Dancer in Dracula Film?". Daily Intelligencer.