Dona Girley Grace Gunawardana (ගර්ලි ගුණවර්ධන, [Sinhala]; 15 November 1935 – 11 March 2012), popularly as Girley Gunawardana, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema.[1] She is the mother of popular actress Sabeetha Perera.[2]
Girley Gunawardana ගර්ලි ගුණවර්ධන | |
|---|---|
| Born | Dona Girley Grace Gunawardana 15 November 1935 |
| Died | 11 March 2012 (aged 76) |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Education | Girls High School Mount Lavinia |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1952–1994 |
| Spouse | Stanley Perera (m. 1956) |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | Sabeetha Perera (daughter) |
Personal life
editGunawardana was born on 15 November 1935 in Mount Lavinia as the fifth child of the family. She had three elder brothers - Titus, Lionel, Erwin - and one elder sister and one younger sister, Rose. She was educated at Girls High School Mount Lavinia.[3]
Gunawardana was married to popular film actor Stanley Perera. She identified Stanley through her friends Bhadra Marapana and A.J. De Zoysa. On 21 July 1956, they secretly got engaged.[4] It was a secret, even though both were acting together. The couple have four daughters - Sandya, Sadna and Sabeetha and Chandima.[3] Third daughter Sabeetha Perera is a popular actress in Sinhala cinema, who acted in more than 70 films.[5][4] Sabeetha also won Sarasaviya Award for the best actress in 1985.[2]
She died on 11 March 2012 at the age of 76.[n 1][6] Her remains were kept at no: 286, Sri Jayewardenepura Mawatha, Kottte her residence. The funeral took place at Borella Cemetery at 6.30 pm on 13 March 2012.[7][8]
Career
editDuring school times, she learned drama under Ailean Sarachchandra, wife of popular playwright Ediriweera Sarachchandra. She had the opportunity to dance under Neranjana Devi who taught dance and acting under Ailean.[3] Her first acting in public came through the stage play Dope Aya.[2]
In 1952, there was an advertisement published by Sri Murugan New Art Film Company for a vacancy for an actress for the latest film Prema Tharagaya.[9] She went to the "Sundara" studio in Kandana with two of her friends. She was selected to a minor role in the film under the guidance of Laddy Ranasinghe. She also got a part of a song as a friend of the lead actress Ayesha Weerakoon.[3]
As a result of Prema Tharagaya, Gunawardana was selected for S. M. Nayagam's next production Puduma Leli in 1953 along with Prem Jayanth and Nanda Leelanayake. In the film, she also had a dance scene.[3][9]
She learned a lot from Sirisena Wimalaweera as her acting master during the shooting of popular film Saradiel in 1953.[10] She played a lead role "Thangamma" in the film and it became highly popular.[3][9]
After the secret marriage, Stanley and Girley acted as lovers in the 1956 film Duppathage Dukka.[4] In the film, Stanley played the role "Thilak", a rebellious university youth and Girley played "Nalini". Laddy Ranasinghe played as "Dharma Sri", grandfather of Nalini. There was a scene where "Dharma Sri" slaps "Nalini". The shot came real and Girley had to hospitalized for three days due to the slap.[3]
After the film Duppathage Dukka, she acted in several commercially successful films such as Ganthera, Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe, Sasaraka Hati, Laa Dalu, Hathara Maha Nidhanaya, Iwasana Danaa, Davena Pipasaya, Tom Pachaya and Rasa Rahasak.[2] In 1984, Girley acted together with her own daughter Sabeetha in the film Deweni Gamana, which marked her second journey in the cinema with an adult role for the first time.[3] In the 1967 film Iwasana Danaa, Girley starring with her husband Stanley Perera and her daughter Sabeetha.[9]
She left the cinema after having children.[3] However she appeared in few minor roles hereafter. Her last cinema appearance was in 1994 film Ahas Maliga.[2]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Prema Tharagaya | Dancer | |
| 1953 | Puduma Leli | Dancer | |
| 1954 | Saradiel | Thangamma | |
| 1956 | Duppathage Duka | Nalini | |
| 1957 | Saradama | ||
| 1961 | Gan Thera | ||
| 1964 | Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe | ||
| 1964 | Chandali | ||
| 1964 | Sasaraka Hati | ||
| 1965 | Hathara Maha Nidhanaya | Daisy Dharmawardena | |
| 1965 | Laa Dalu | ||
| 1965 | Sonduru Yuwala | ||
| 1967 | Hathara Kendare | ||
| 1967 | Iwasana Danaa | ||
| 1969 | Hathara Peraliya | ||
| 1971 | Dawena Pipasa | ||
| 1972 | Hathara Wate | ||
| 1977 | Tom Pachaya | Miss Primrose | |
| 1982 | Sandaa | Sanda's mother | |
| 1983 | Samanala Sihina | ||
| 1984 | Adara Geethaya | ||
| 1984 | Deveni Gamana | ||
| 1984 | Podi Ralahami | 1st proposal onlooker | |
| 1987 | Kawuluwa | ||
| 1988 | Rasa Rahasak | ||
| 1992 | Okkoma Kanapita | ||
| 1994 | Ahas Maliga |
References
edit- ^ "Actresses in Sinhala cinema - Girley Gunawardena". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka - 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Remembering Girley Gunawardena". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Thangamma falls in love with John Jayapala". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- ^ a b c "Remembering Stanley Perera". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- ^ "Sabeetha". Life Online. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- ^ "Girly Gunawardena passes away". Daily News. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- ^ "Girlie Gunawardene passed away". lankanstuff. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- ^ "Girly Gunawardena passes away". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Gurley Gunawardena to quit". Divaina. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- ^ "ගර්ලි ගුණවර්ධන ජීවිත සිනමාවෙන් සමු ගනී". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
External links
editNotes
edit- ^ Several newspapers cited she died at the age 70. However leading cinema source Sarasaviya recorded her birthday on 1935 and death on 2012. Therefore she died at the age 76.