Mary Lazarus (born 5 May)[1] is a Nigerian actress [2] and movie producer who won the City People Movie Award for Most Promising Actress of the Year (English) at the City People Entertainment Awards in 2018[3] and was nominated for Best Actress in a leading role in the same year at the Best of Nollywood Awards.[4] She also won the award for Most Peaceful Actress of the Year.[5]
Mary Lazarus | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mary Lazarus Lagos State, Hails from Abia State Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Alma mater | University of Ibadan |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2002–Present |
| Awards | City People Movie Award for Most Promising Actress of the Year (English) at the City People Entertainment Awards in 2018. City People Movie Awards, 2018 City People Movie Awards |
Early life and education
editLazarus hails from Abia State in Nigeria, a southeastern geographical location of Nigeria predominantly occupied by the Igbo people of Nigeria. Lazarus is specifically from Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State and was born into a family of nine consisting of a mother, a father and six siblings of which she is a twin and one of the last born children of the family alongside her twin brother named Joseph.[6] Lazarus, upon receiving both primary and secondary education and obtaining her First School Leaving Certificate and the West African Senior School Certificate respectively, applied to University of Ibadan in a bid to obtain a university degree. She was accepted and granted admission to study Geography in the institution where she eventually graduated with a 4.4 cumulative grade point average with a B.Sc. degree in Geography.[7][8]
Career
editLazarus, who is popularly known for her roles in diverse Nollywood movies debuted first as a model in 2002 before venturing into the Nigerian movie industry in 2009 with a movie titled “Waiting Years”. She secured a role in the movie through the help of Gbenro Ajibade who introduced her to John Njamah, the director of the movie who eventually assigned her a role.[9] Lazarus made her directorial debut with a movie titled “Dance To My Beat” of which she also produced in 2017.
Lazarus as a model has made appearances in commercials by Airtel and MTN.[10][11]
Influence
editLazarus, in an interview with the Vanguard print media, named Nollywood veteran actresses Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and Joke Silva as her role models in the Nigerian movie industry.[12] Lazarus in another interview with The Punch print media named American actress Kimberly Elise as one who she admires because of her extensive body of work.[9]
Award and nomination
edit| Year | Award ceremony | Prize | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | City People Movie Awards | Most Promising Actress of the Year (English) | Won | [3] |
| Best of Nollywood Awards | Best Actress in a Lead Role - English | Nominated | [4] | |
| 2020 | 2020 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or TV Series - Size 12 | Nominated | [13] |
Personal life
editLazarus comes from a family of nine and is one of the lastborn children of her parents alongside her twin brother. In an interview with The Punch print media she described herself as a fun-loving person.[9]
Selected filmography and TV series
edit- Iron Bar (2024) as Asari
- Saving Onome (2024) as Oreoluwa
- Reversed Game (2023) as Faith
- Bridges of Trust (2023) as Sarah
- Blood Ties (2022) as Karen
- Tainted (2022) as Mara
- Perfect Neighbour (2021) as Amaka
- It takes Two (2021) as Elise
- When Life Happens (2020) as Cindy | with Lota Chukwu, Jimmy Odukoya, Wole Ojo
- My Woman (2019) as Zara | with Seun Akinyele, Ujams C'briel
- Accidental Affair (2019) as Kristen
- Clustered Colours (2019)
- Broken Pieces (2018)
- Homely: What Men Want (2018) as Keji
- Dance To My Beat (2017)
- The Road Not Taken II (2017)
- Love Lost (2017) as Rena
- Girls Are Not Smiling (2016)
- What Makes You Tick (2016) as Ann Okojie
- Okafor's Law (2016) as Kamsi
- Better Than The Beginning (2015)
- Bad Drop (2015)
- Losing Control (2015) as Uche
- Second Chances (2014) as Justina
- Desperate Housegirls (2013)
- Married but Living Single (2012) as Binta
- Waiting Years (2010)
References
edit- ^ "Mary Lazarus 5 Nollywood movies featuring actress". www.pulse.ng. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
- ^ Aileru, Islamiat (2021-10-13). "Actress Mary Lazarus laments bitterly on the tradition of burying people in Igbo culture". Kemi Filani News. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
- ^ a b People, City (2018-09-24). "Winners Emerge @ 2018 City People Movie Awards". City People Magazine. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
- ^ a b "BON Awards 2018: Mercy Aigbe, Tana Adelana shine at 10th edition". Pulse Nigeria. 2018-12-09. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
- ^ "Peace Awards: Mary Lazarus bags Most Peaceful Actress of the Year". Punch Newspapers. 2021-11-15. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- ^ "Actress Mary Lazarus And Twin Brother Celebrate Birthday Today (Pictures) – Nairaland". Nigeria News (News Reader). Retrieved 2019-12-23.
- ^ "8 Things you should know about the starlet". Pulse Nigeria. 2015-08-17. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
- ^ "Many misuse social media –Mary Lazarus". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
- ^ a b c "Modelling prevented me from making a first-class degree — Mary Lazarus". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
- ^ "Mary Lazarus implores government to build cinema houses". Vanguard News. 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
- ^ Legit.ng (2012-10-05). ""Every Part Of My Body Is Sexy"- Actress Mary Lazarus". www.legit.ng. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
- ^ "I don't try to be who I am not - Mary Lazarus". Vanguard News. 2018-02-04. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
- ^ "AMVCA 2020". Africa Magic - AMVCA 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
External links
edit- Mary Lazarus at IMDb