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APRIL 8, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
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Besides her personality – Beverly – since her arrival in Nollywood few years ago, has been cast in lead roles; some cheeky, others sassy. She, however, said she could not be caught pants down, all in the name of playing a nude role. According to her, this is due to the lasting impression such a role leaves in public mind and its societal connotations. “I don’t think most Africans are ready to see nudity in our films yet“ I Am Not Contented with My Successes streaming stuffs online, watching TV or reading a book. Away from home, she’s either hanging out at the cinema or out for dinner with friends. Beverly is ambitious; a distinctly reserved person, compassionate and an extrovert when in the company of friends. Raised in Britain, Beverly debuted in Nigeria a few years ago in the film, Home in Exile, which earned her Best of Nollywood Awards’s (BON) ‘Most Promising Actor’ 2010 and City People’s ‘Fastest Rising Actress’ in 2011. In the same year, young Naya starred alongside top names in the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) nominated hit film, Alan Poza, produced by Charles Novia. Her performance earned her another nomination for Best Actress in a lead role. In the years to follow, Naya starred in Make A Move, Lotanna, Forgetting June, When Love Happens and Weekend Getaway, by Emem Isong. Beverly Naya also acted in the thought-provoking film, Stripped, opposite veteran actor, Ramsey Noah and acclaimed actor, Joseph Benjamin. She also starred alongside iconic actress, Omotola Ekeinde-Jalade, in the big budget film, Up Creek. She
has starred alongside some of the biggest names in the African film industry including, Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, Hlomla Dandala, Majid Michel and Xolile Shabalala. In 2013, Beverly Naya made her television series debut in Passport, a BET TV series shot entirely in Atlanta, Georgia. Not long after wrapping up the series, Naya got herself a supporting role as the feisty and seductive Yaya Gardia, on M-Net’s number one soap, Tinsel. She’s one of four lead females in the exciting Sex and The City inspired television series, B4-30 as well as the lead in ‘Surulere’ – a film directed by Mildred Okwo and produced by Rita Dominic. The same team behind the award -winning film, The Meeting. The actress is also an activist. An advocate of gender empowerment, she is constantly looking for ways to positively effect change and growth in the society. Amongst other campaigns, Beverly is the founder of her very own campaign, called #FiftyShadesOfBlack, which she started in 2014 to inspire young black girls to love themselves, whatever the colour or shade; whether dark skin, or brown skin, irrespective of their complexions.
Naya and Majid Michel on set