Grace-Charis Bassey Effah (born 14 December 1989) 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.[1] She changed her name after an encounter with God to Grace-Charis Bassey.[2]
Belinda Effah | |
|---|---|
 Belinda Effah at the 2020 AMVCA | |
| Born | Uyu Effah 14 December 1989 Cross River State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Alma mater | University of Calabar |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Children | 1 |
| Father | Asido Bassey Effah |
| Awards | the Most Promising Act of the Year at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards. |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
editGrace-Charis Bassey was born Uyu Effah[3] on 14 December 1989 in Cross River State, a coastal state in Southern Nigeria.[4] Her father, Lieutenant Commander Asido Bassey Effah, was a commander in the Nigerian Navy.[5]
She had her primary and secondary education at Hillside International Nursery & Primary School and Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Port Harcourt respectively. She furthered her studies at the University of Calabar, majoring in Genetics and Bio-Technology.[6] While in secondary school, she adopted the first name Belinda after her brother suggested that she and her siblings change their names.[7] According to an interview with The Punch Newspaper, she claimed that the disciplinary nature of her dad towards his 14 children was very helpful in shaping her career.
Career
editShe made her Nollywood television debut in the 2005 TV series Shallow Waters. Afterwards, she took a break from the series to feature in the reality show Next Movie Star. She finished 5th, and was never evicted from the house.[8][9]
She was once a television presenter for Sound City, a Nigerian Entertainment cable station. However, she left the station to start her own TV show titled Lunch Break with Belinda.[10][11]
She is the CEO and founder of GCB Empire, a Nigeria-based clothing and fashion brand.[12]
In 2022, Iké Udé's portrait of her was featured in the Nollywood Portraits exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art.[13]
Television
edit| Year | Television | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Shallow Waters | |
| The Room | ||
| 2011 | Tales of Eve | Simi |
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Java's House | ||
| 2012 | Kokomma | Kokomma |
| 2012 | Mrs. Somebody | |
| 2013 | Alan Poza | Bunmi |
| 2013 | Lonely Hearts | Aima |
| 2013 | Misplaced | |
| 2013 | The Hunters | |
| 2013 | Cat and Mouse | |
| 2013 | Princess Ekanem | |
| 2013 | After the Proposal | Oyinye |
| 2014 | Udeme Mmi | Ima |
| 2014 | Apaye | Young Yepayeye |
| 2014 | Bambitious | Bambi |
| 2014 | A Certan Night | Anita |
| Azonto Babes | ||
| 2014 | Jump and Pass | Idare |
| 2015 | Ojuju Calabar | |
| 2015 | The Banker | Daisy Aburi |
| 2015 | Desperate Housegirls | Imaobong |
| 2015 | Keeping Secret | |
| 2015 | Luke of Lies | Shola |
| 2015 | Folly | April |
| 2015 | So In Love | |
| 2015 | Being Single | |
| 2015 | Heroes and Villains | Kiki |
| 2016 | Black Val | |
| 2016 | Lost Pride | Jenny |
| 2016 | Oracles Online | Eme |
| 2016 | Melting Point | |
| 2016 | A Star in Heaven | Mary |
| 2017 | Cash Daddy | Doctor |
| 2017 | Talking Dolls | Linda |
| 2017 | Timid Timi | Anitau |
| 2018 | SA Girl | Effe |
| 2018 | A Break from Reality | Tomi |
| 2018 | The Quest | Laide |
| 2019 | Crack | |
| 2019 | Bursted | |
| 2019 | Inside Nollywood: Chapter 1 | Self |
| 2019 | The Devil Within | |
| 2019 | Miracle | Miracle, Producer |
| 2020 | Angel and Gabriela | Gabriela |
| 2020 | Secret Twins 1 | |
| 2020 | Secret Twins 2 | |
| 2021 | Fine Wine | Angela |
| 2021 | Enemy Closer | Muna |
| 2022 | Hard Choice | Cynthia |
| 2022 | Foreigner's God | Oge |
| 2023 | Twin Flame | Blessing |
| 2023 | Lahira | Alicia Kubanji |
Accolades
edit| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Best of Nollywood Awards | Most Promising Act (female) | Kokomma | Won |
| Golden Icons Academy Awards[14] | Best New Actress | Won | ||
| 2013 | Nollywood Movies Awards | Best Rising Star | Won | |
| Nollywood Movies Awards | Best Indigenous Actress | Nominated | ||
| Africa Movie Academy Awards | Most Promising Act | Udeme Mmi | Won | |
| Ntanta Award | Won | |||
| 2014 | ELOY Awards[15] | Movie Actress of the Year | After The Proposal | Nominated |
| 2014 | 2014 Golden Icons Academy Movie Award | Best Supporting Actress | APAYE | Won |
| 2016 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards[16] | Best Actress in a Drama | Stop | Nominated |
Personal life
editIn 2016, she gave birth to a son in the United States. She has kept the identity of the child's father private.
In 2021, she publicly announced that she would like to be addressed as Grace-Charis Bassey rather than as Belinda Effah. She explained that, on 15 August 2020, she had a divine encounter with God that prompted her to change her name to Grace.[17] Charis is a word of Greek origin that also means "grace."
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Working with Majid Michel was a Revelation for me". nigeriafilms.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Belinda Effah: My encounter with God inspired me to change my name". Vanguard News. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "Nollywood actress Belinda Effah changes name". vanguardngr.com. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ^ "PHOTOS: Nollywood Actress Belinda Effah Poses In Wedding Dress". News.naij.com. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
- ^ Gists, Naija (22 April 2016). "Photos: Nollywood Actress Belinda Effah Father's Burial In Calabar Cross River State - NaijaGists.com - Proudly Nigerian DIY Motivation & Information Blog". Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ "I Like to see heads turn when I step out". dailyindependentnig.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Uchechukwumgemezu, Chidinma (9 May 2021). "Nollywood actress: Why I changed my name". TODAY. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ "It's been Tough being an actress". Tribune Nigeria Newspaper. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Messing around in Nollywood is not for me". vanguardngr.com. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "I cant stop people from making passes at me - Belinda Effah". dailyindependentng.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "I can marry an Actor". punchng.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ "Iké Udé: Nollywood Portraits". africa.si.edu. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ "Nollywood New IT Girl: Check out GIAMA Best new actress new photos". bellanaija.com. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Seyi Shay, Toke Makinwa, Mo'Cheddah, DJ Cuppy, Others Nominated". Pulse Nigeria. Chinedu Adiele. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "AMVCA 2016: Full nomination list". Africa Magic. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
- ^ Uchechukwumgemezu, Chidinma (9 May 2021). "Nollywood actress: Why I changed my name". TODAY. Retrieved 19 March 2022.