Born Genevieve Ifunnaya Nnaji on May 3, 1979, in Mbaise region of Imo State, Nigeria. She is the fourth of eight children born to Bernadette and Theophilus Nnaji. Nnaji is a former child actress. She began her acting career in the popular 80’s Nigeria TV soap, ''Ripples'', at the age of 8. Her acting career as an adult kicked off in ''Most Wanted'' (1998). In 2001, Nnaji became the first actress to be awarded in the Best Actress Category at the City People Award. In 2005, she became the first actress to win in the Best Actress Category at the 1st Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). In 2009, Oprah Winfrey, in an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show titled, “Meet the Famous People of The World” featured Nnaji and referred to her as the ''Julia Roberts'' of Africa. In 2011, she was honoured as a Member of the Order of The Federal Republic by the Nigerian Government for her contribution to the Nigerian Film Industry.
Nnaji grew up in Lagos. She attended Methodist Girls College, Yaba, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Art from the University of Lagos. Nnaji is one of the pioneers of the evolving Nigerian Film Industry. Since her introduction in 1998 to 2009, Genevieve ruled the tube with leading roles in films such as ''Ijele'', ''Camouflage'', ''Mark of the Beast'', ''Death Warrant'', ''Love Boat'', ''Power of Love'', ''Fire Dancer'', ''Valentino'', ''Sharon Stone'', ''Runs'', ''Battle Line'', ''Formidable Force'', ''Blood Sister'', ''Church Business'', ''Break-Up'', ''Deadly Mistake'', ''Butterfly'', ''Emotional Tears'', ''Emergency Wedding'', ''For better for Worse'', ''Jealous Lovers'', ''Keeping Faith: Is that Love'', ''Love: Silent Guest House'', ''Bumper to Bumper'', ''Last Weekend'', ''Late Marriage'', ''Not Man Enough'': ''She is Mine'', ''Passion and Pain'', ''Private Sin'', ''Sharon Stone in Abuja'', ''My Only Love'', ''Super Love'', ''Women Affair'', ''The Chosen One'', ''Critical Decision'', ''Dangerous Sister'', ''We Are One'', ''Promise Me Forever'', ''Stand By Me'', ''Games Women Play'', ''Rip-Off'', ''Girls Cot'', ''30 Days'', ''Letters to A Stranger'', ''Keep My Will'', ''Warrior’s Heart'', ''Wind of Glory'', ''Unfinished Business'', ''Beautiful Soul'', ''Broken Tear'', ''Critical Condition'', ''My Idol'', ''River of Tears and Love'', and ''My Way''.
In 2010, Nnaji starred in Chineze Anyaene's ''Ije'', Mahmood Ali Balogun’s ''Tango with Me'', Desmond Elliot and Daniel Ademinokan's ''Bursting Out'', and Obi Emelonye’s ''Mirror Boy''. In 2012, she starred in Desmond Elliot's ''Weekend Getaway''. In 2013, she starred in a supporting role alongside Chinwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, and Anika Noni Rose in Biyi Bandele’s film adaptation of Chimamanda Adichie’s novel, ''Half of A Yellow Sun''. In that same year, she starred alongside Isaiah Washington in Tony Abulu’s film, ''Doctor Bello''.
In 2015, Nnaji made her debut as a producer and starred alongside Oris Erhuero and Majid Michel in ''Road to Yesterday''.
Genevieve Nnaji is single; and a mother to a teenage girl, Chimebuka.
