{{short description|Sri Lankan actress and producer (born 1947)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{EngvarB|date=July 2016}} {{BLP sources|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Nita Fernando | native_name = නීටා ප්රනාන්දු | image = | imagesize = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age |1947|9|5}} | birth_place = Negombo, Sri Lanka | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Film actress / film producer | years_active = 1965-1975 <br /> 1995–Present | spouse = Elian Perera | awards = Best Actress Award at the 1998 Singapore International Film Festival, <br />Vishwa Kirthie Award, Presidential Award, Critics Award in 1999, <br /> OCIC Award for Best Actress in 2000 }}
Kala Suri '''Nita Fernando''' (born September 5, 1947, නීටා ප්රනාන්දු) in Negombo, Sri Lanka, is an actress in the Sri Lankan cinema. She has starred in films like ''Duhulu Malak'' and ''Pavuru Walalu''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2017/10/12/?fn=sa17101229 |title=I learnt many more from all directors |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=20 October 2017}}</ref>
==Biography== ===Early life=== Nita Fernando was the eldest of four children. She studied at Holy Family Convent Wennappuwa.
===Personal life=== Fernando gave up acting after her marriage to lawyer Elian Perera in 1975 and moved to Canada, where she worked as a receptionist at the Montreal General Hospital.
==Career== <!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:Duhulumalak1.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Ravindra and Nita, a scene at Nuwara Eliya of 1976 film Duhulu Malak.]] --> Nita Fernando made her screen debut in ''Landaka Mahima'' alongside Joe Abeywickrama in 1965. Over the next eight years, she made over 40 films, e.g., ''Duhulu Malak'', ''Lasanda'', ''Hadawath Neththo'', ''Mangala'', ''Wasana'', and ''Shanthi''.<ref name="LKObserver"/>
Fernando obtained her first film role in Gamini Fonseka's ''Parasathu Mal''. She was unable to appear in the film, however, because her parents didn't approve. Discouraged, she toyed with the idea of becoming a teacher before she returned to acting after finishing school. Her interest in film was supported by her uncle.<ref name="LKObserver">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/07/01/spice02.asp|title=Unfading Star of the Silver Screen|access-date=2007-05-19|year=2006|work=Daily News|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930023703/http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/07/01/spice02.asp|archive-date=30 September 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
In 1983, she briefly returned to film, producing and starring in ''Sooriyakantha''. She kept a low profile subsequently until 1998, when she played Violet in the Prasanna Vithanage film ''Pavuru Walalu''.<ref name="SundayTimes">{{cite web|url=http://sundaytimes.lk/040530/tv/5.html|title=Nita's achievements on the Net|access-date=2007-05-19|year=2001|publisher=Sunday Times}}</ref> The role won her international acclaim, netting her a Best Actress Award at the 1998 International Singapore Film Festival.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2017/11/16/?fn=sa1711165 |title=Sri Lankan stars shined at international level |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=17 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121133924/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2017/11/16/?fn=sa1711165 |archive-date=21 November 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the ''Vishwa Kirthie'' award, the Presidential Award, the Critics Award in 1999, and the OCIC Award for Best Actress in 2000 in Sri Lanka.<ref name="SundayTimes"/><ref name="nita1">{{cite news|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2007/10/07/spe04.asp|title=Nita Fernando : Returns to cinema after a sojourn|publisher=Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)|date=7 October 2007|access-date=14 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821113558/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/10/07/spe04.asp|archive-date=21 August 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nita2">{{cite news| url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/980607/plus5.html|title=Boost for Sinhala cinema|publisher=The Sunday Times(Sri Lanka) |issn=1391-0531|date=7 June 1998}}</ref><ref name="nita3">{{cite news| url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/09/05/fea13.asp|title=Stars in jail shocker as Nisala Gira takes to the screen|publisher=Daily News(Sri Lanka)|date=5 September 2007}}</ref>
In 2020, she won the Best Actress award at the 2019 Nice International Film Festival in France.<ref name="nita3-II">{{cite news| url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/interviews/2020/08/27/18520/අපේ-අම්මත්-බබානෝනාගේ-අත්දැකීමට-මුහුණ-දුන්නා|title=Our mother also had the experience of Babanona |publisher=Sarasaviya|date=29 August 2020}}</ref>
==Filmography== {{Pending films key}} {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Film !! Role !! Ref. |- | 1965 || ''Landaka Mahima'' || Latha || |- | 1965 || ''Sathutai Kandului'' || || |- | 1966 || ''Layata Laya'' || || |- | 1968 || ''Ruhunu Kumari'' || || |- | 1969 || ''Pickpocket'' || Menika || |- | 1969 || ''Hari Maga'' || Daya || |- | 1969 || ''Mee Masso'' || || |- | 1970 || ''Geetha'' || Champa || |- | 1971 || ''Ran Onchilla'' || || <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features-films/2019/11/07/11979/අපට-කොයින්දෝ-රන්වන්-රං-ඔන්චිල්ලා |title=All about Ran Onchilla |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=23 December 2017}}</ref> |- | 1971 || ''Kesara Sinhayo'' || Shyama || |- | 1971 || ''Bindunu Hadawath'' || || |- | 1971 || ''Samanala Kumariyo'' || || |- | 1972 || ''Sujeewa'' || Suramya || <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features-films-local/2020/07/23/18069/චන්දන-ඇල්ලෙන්-නාලා |title=All about Sujeewa |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=23 July 2020}}</ref> |- | 1973 || ''Matara Achchi'' || Kanthi || |- | 1973 || ''Sunethra'' || Samanthi || |- | 1974 || ''Hadawath Naththo'' || || |- | 1974 || ''Shanthi'' || || |- | 1974 || ''Duppathage Hithawatha'' || Doctor Rupa || <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2020/03/05/16839/දුප්පත්-පොහොසත්-දෙකක්-ඕන-නෑ | title=All about Duppathage Hithawatha | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref> |- | 1974 || ''Lasanda'' || Lasanda || |- | 1974 || ''Wasthuwa'' || || |- | 1974 || ''Sagarika'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Hitha Honda Minihek'' || Film actress || |- | 1975 || ''Raththaran Amma'' || Charitha's girlfriend || |- | 1975 || ''Kaliyudga Kale'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Kohoma Kiyannada'' || Sheela || |- | 1975 || ''Cyril Malli'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Lassana Kella'' || Chitra || |- | 1975 || ''Kokilayo'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Rajagedara Paraviyo'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Jeewana Geethaya'' || || |- | 1976 || ''Wasana'' || Sudam's sister || |- | 1976 || ''Duhulu Malak'' || Nilupa Suraweera || |- | 1976 || ''Asha'' || || |- | 1976 || ''Haaratha Hathara'' || || |- | 1976 || ''Hariyata Hari'' || Kusuma || |- | 1976 || ''Onna Mame Kella Panapi'' || || |- | 1976 || ''Deviyange Theenduwa'' || Shanthi Ranatunga || |- | 1976 || ''Mangala'' || || |- | 1977 || ''Hithuwakkarayo'' || || |- | 1979 || ''Visihathara Peya'' || Sumana || |- | 1981 || ''Sooriyakantha'' || Soba || |- | 1997 || ''Pavuru Valalu'' || Violet || |- | 2000 || ''Saroja'' || Varuni's mother || |- | 2003 || ''Bheeshanaye Athuru Kathawak'' || Mrs. Somadasa || |- | 2006 || ''Samaara'' || || |- | 2007 || ''Nisala Gira'' || Radha || |- | 2010 || ''Bambara Walalla'' || Podi Eka's mother || |- | 2014 || ''Rassa Kale'' || || |- | 2014 || ''Que Sera'' || || |- | 2014 || ''Thanha Rathi Ranga'' || Chandare's mother || |- | 2014 || ''Swaroopa'' || || |- | 2014 || ''Parapura'' || Kanthi || |- | 2016 || ''Paththini'' || Chithrapathi || |- | 2016 || ''Sakkarang'' || || |- | 2017 || ''Kaala'' || Henchman's mother || |- | 2020 || ''Paangshu'' || Babanona || |- | 2022 || ''Praana'' || Nun || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Praana comes in early August |url=https://www.sarasaviya.lk/news-films-local/2022/07/15/23523/%EF%BB%BFප%E2%80%8D්%E2%80%8Dරාණ-අගෝස්තු-මුල |access-date=2022-07-02 |website=සරසවිය}}</ref> |- | 2023 || ''Swara'' || || |- | 2024 || ''Kambili'' || Lalitha Amma || |- | 2025 || ''Theja'' || Theja || <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/news/2020/03/12/17182/තේජා-පූර්ව-ප්%E2%80%8Dරචාරය-අරඹයි |title=තේජා පූර්ව ප්රචාරය අරඹයි |work=Sarasaviya |access-date=13 March 2020}}</ref> |- | {{TableTBA}}|| {{pending film|italic=no| ''Magam Soli'' }} || || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sarasaviya.lk/films-local/2023/12/21/26180/සසර-මඟ-දිගු-කළ-මාගම්සෝලි |title=සසර මඟ දිගු කළ මාගම්සෝලි |work=Sarasaviya |access-date=20 January 2024}}</ref> |}
==Awards== *Vishwa Kirthie Award - Sri Lanka Government * Kala Suri Award- Sri Lanka Government *1998 - Best Actress - International Singapore Film Festival *2018 - Sumathi Life time Award * 2020 - Best Actress Nice Film Festival France * 2020 - Best Actress - Indus Valley International Awards *2019 - Life time Achievement Award 19th Presidential Awards *2019 - Best Actress - 20th Presidential Awards *2019 - Best Actress - 35th Sarasaviya Awards
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=1036480|name=Nita Fernando}} *[http://www.films.lk/ArtistDetails.php?id=24 Nita Fernando's Biography in Sinhala Cinema Database] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20071011010323/http://srilankafilmcorp.com/ Official Website - National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka] *[http://www.infolanka.com/org/srilanka/people/4.htm Infolanka.com: Spotlight - Nita Fernando] *[http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2013/04/25/?fn=sa13042510 පේමක්කා මගේ හිතේ ඉහළම තැනක රැඳී ඉන්නවා]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fernando, Nita}} Category:Living people Category:Sri Lankan film actresses Category:20th-century Sri Lankan actresses Category:21st-century Sri Lankan actresses Category:People from Negombo Category:Kala Suri Category:1947 births