{{short description|Sri Lankan actress}} {{Infobox person | name = Leticia Peiris <br>ලැටීෂියා පීරිස් | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1934|10|18|df=yes}} | birth_name = Meemanage Mary Magdalene Leticia Peiris | birth_place = Kochchikade, Sri Lanka | death_date = {{death date and age|2013|10|31|1934|10|18|df=yes}} | death_place = No. B-16, Raddolugama, Seeduwa <ref name= died>{{cite web | url=http://www.divaina.com/2013/11/02/news20.html | title=Veteran actress Leticia Peiris has passed away | publisher=Divaina| access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref> | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | education = Harischandra National College | years_active = 1941–2008 | other_names = | spouse = Micheal de Silva | children = 2 | father = | mother = | relatives = B. A. W. Jayamanne <small>(brother-in-law)</small> | website = | footnotes = | occupation = Actress }}
'''Meemanage Mary Magdalene Leticia Peiris''' (born 18 October 1934 – died 31 October 2013 as ලැටීෂියා පීරිස්) [Sinhala]), popularly as '''Leticia Peiris''', was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://films.lk/sinhala-cinema-artist-laticia-peiris-454.html | title=Laticia Peiris filmography | publisher=Sinhala Cinema Database| access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref> One of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan film history, Peiris had a career that spanned more than five decades.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lifie.lk/2019/11/15/actresses-who-made-us-laugh/ | title=Artists who smiled and left us - part 2 | publisher=lifie| access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref> She is the last acting link of the Jayamanne lineage.<ref name= lastlink>{{cite web | url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2013/11/07/?fn=sa13110737 | title=The last star of the Jayamanna family came out quietly | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref>
She died on 31 October 2013 with Alzheimer's disease at the age of 80.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://janathamina.blogspot.com/2013/11/blog-post_1.html | title=Veteran actress Leticia Peiris has passed away | publisher=janathamina| access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref>
==Personal life== Peiris was born on 18 October 1934 in Pallansena village, Kochchikade area in Colombo. She completed education from Negambo Dalupotha Vidyalaya and Harischandra National College, Negambo.<ref name="amazing">{{Cite web |title=Laticia Peiris amazed us with Kadawunu Poronduwa (1931 - 2013) |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features-story/2020/12/31/19602/කඩවුණු-පොරොන්දුව-මොහොතින්-ගිලිහුණු-ලැටීෂියා-පීරිස් |access-date=2021-01-01 |website=Sarasaviya}}</ref> Her elder sister Grace Peiris was married to popular actor B. A. W. Jayamanne. Grace met Jayamanne during a film shoot.
Leticia was married to K. Micheal de Silva and wedding was celebrated in December 1957 at the age of 24.<ref name= lastlink /> The couple has two daughters: Chandani and Renukaa.<ref name= peiris>{{cite web | url=http://www.divaina.com/2011/08/21/cineart01.html | title=Leticia Peiris started acting at the age of seven | publisher=Divaina | access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref>
==Career== Peries started her film career with her sister and brother-in-law B.A.W. Jayamanne. She played the role of "Hilda" in the stage play ''Kadawunu Poronduwa'' at the age of 7.<ref name= leticia>{{cite web | url=https://artdescriptions.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_5071.html | title=In the midst of the mistress's treatment, she did not return | publisher=Art Descriptions | access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref> She was one of the earliest child actresses in Sri Lankan drama history. She continued to act as "Hilda" for a record 800 times in 10 consecutive years. But she missed out on her chance to become the first child actress of Sinhala cinema by starring in the first Sinhala film ''Kadawunu Poronduwa'' due to heavy fever.<ref name= lastlink /> Since then she has been a member of the Jayamanne's Minerva Drama Team. She acted in stage plays ''Gehenu Sitha'' and ''Gedara Hatana'' produced by W.M. Perera.<ref name= peiris />
Her maiden cinematic appearance came through 1948 film ''Weradunu Kurumanama'' directed by Jothish Singh. She then acted in 1960 film ''Hadisi Vinischaya'' and portrayed the comic support of Eddie Jayamanne in the film. She also had the privilege of becoming a singer as she sang the song "Adara Swami Kema Kannako" accompany with Eddie Jayamanne.<ref name="amazing" /> She is also the singer who sang with Eddie Jayamanne, the second opposition Virindu song in a Sinhala film. She then portrayed the comic character Bertram Fernando in the movie ''Segawunu Pilithura''.<ref name= finaldays>{{cite web | url=http://www.navaliya.com/2011/01/24/artworld2.html | title=Final years of Leticia Peiris | publisher=Navaliya | access-date=25 January 2020 | archive-date=28 January 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128174131/http://www.navaliya.com/2011/01/24/artworld2.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> After the 1952 film ''Umathu Wishwasaya'', Peiris starred in the 1957 film ''Siriyalatha'' produced by Eddie Jayamanne and produced by Rukmani Devi and directed by Indian filmmaker S. S. Rajan.<ref name="amazing" /> She continued act in many popular films of the early era including, ''Seeye Nottuwa'', ''Kathuru Muwath'', ''Bicycle Hora'', ''Duleeka'', ''Ihatha Athmaya'', ''Wathura Karththaya'' and ''Wasanthaye Dawasak''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/daily-mirror-sri-lanka/20191028/282591674734517 | title=Laticia Peiris remembrance | publisher=Art Descriptions | access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref> She performed excellently in the 1957 film ''Siriyalatha'' opposite to Rukmani Devi.<ref name= lastlink /> In 1988, Peiris received the "Namaskara Pooja' Upahara Pranama Award" at the Sarasaviya Awards.<ref name= peiris />
After the marriage, she quit from the acting and continued to support his husband and children. After her children returning to adulthood, she returned to the stage drama and starred in the play ''Kadawuna Poronduwa'' directed by Mark Samaranayake.<ref name= peiris /> She returned to cinema at the invitation of K.A.W. Perera in 1970 with the film ''Kathuru Muwath''. Since then, Peiris played a comic or horror character in every film made by K.A.W. Perera. She is also a popular radio singer in Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).<ref name="amazing" />
She is also the only member of the Jayamanne family who was fortunate enough to join the television screen. One of her popular television acting came through comedy sitcom ''Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni'' with the role "Premachandra's mother". Some of her popular serials include, ''Asalwasiyo'', ''Pramada Wadi'', ''Gedara Bala'', ''Hangi Hora'' and ''Hingana Kolla''. Her final television serial was ''Wadadiya''. While performing there, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.<ref name= lastlink />
==Death== Since 2008, she had had memory impairment.<ref name="amazing" /> She had been in bed for two months and had not been cured despite her treatment of bed wounds. She also had diabetes.<ref name= lastlink /> She was seriously ill in final years. But none of the artists called to help her or visit her. She died on 31 October 2013 from Alzheimer's disease. Funeral took place at Raddolugama Christian Cemetery without the participation of artists on 2 November 2013 at 3 pm.<ref name= died /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://english.gossiplankanews.com/2013/11/leticia-peiris-funeral-without-artistes.html | title=Leticia Peiris's funeral without artistes | publisher=gossiplankanews | access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Film !! Role !! Ref. |- | 1948 || ''Weradunu Kurumanama'' || || |- | 1950 || ''Hadisi Vinischaya'' || Padmini || |- | 1951 || ''Segawuu Pilithura'' || Leela || |- | 1952 || ''Umathu Wiswasaya'' || Vikata Manika || |- | 1957 || ''Siriyalatha'' || Carolina || |- | 1968 || ''Bicycle Hora'' || || |- | 1969 || ''Pickpocket'' || Pukkala Mudalali's wife || |- | 1971 || ''Kathuru Muwath'' || Kathuru Muwath's lover || |- | 1971 || ''Seeye Nottuwa'' || || |- | 1972 || ''Lokuma Hinawa'' || Regina || |- | 1972 || ''Ihatha Athmaya'' || Hilda || |- | 1973 || ''Aparadaya Ha Danduwama'' || || |- | 1974 || ''Duleeka'' || || <ref>{{cite web | url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2018/07/05/?fn=sa18070523 | title=All about the film "Duleeka" | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=31 December 2019}}</ref> |- | 1975 || ''Kaliyuga Kaale'' || || |- | 1976 || ''Haratha Hathara'' || || |- | 1977 || ''Neela'' || || |- | 1979 || ''Jeewana Kandulu'' || || |- | 1979 || ''Wasanthaye Dawasak'' || Kalu Ethano's shop goer || |- | 1979 || ''Akke Mata Awasara'' || Servant || |- | 1981 || ''Sathweni Dawasa'' || || |- | 1981 || ''Jeewanthi'' || || |- | 1981 || ''Bangali Walalu'' || || |- | 1982 || ''Wathura Karaththaya'' || Garen || |- | 1982 || ''Rail Paara'' || || |- | 1983 || ''Sandamali'' || Nimalawathie 'Nimala' || |- | 1988 || ''Sandakada Pahana'' || Head Nurse || |- | 1996 || ''Mal Hathai'' || || |- | 1999 || ''Ayadimi Samaa'' || Granny || |- | 2002 || ''Onna Babo'' || || |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.dinamina.lk/2019/06/21/විශේෂාංග/75577/අගැයුමක්-නැති-මිනිස්සු?page=1 අගැයුමක් නැති මිනිස්සු] * [http://www.resa.lk/විශේෂාංග/2019/mar/19/9270/සැඟවුණු-පිළිතුරෙන්-පණ-ලැබුණු-‘කුසුමලතා’ සැඟවුණු පිළිතුරෙන් පණ ලැබුණු ‘කුසුමලතා’] * [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5725476/ Laticia Peiris films]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Peiris, Leticia}} Category:2013 deaths Category:Sri Lankan film actresses Category:Sinhalese artists Category:1934 births Category:Radio singers Category:Sri Lankan stage actresses Category:Sri Lankan television actresses