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| Leonie Kotelawala | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1944 Colombo, British Ceylon |
| Died | (aged 78) Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Burial place | Borella Cemetery |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Awards | 1962 – Best Actress Award - Mehew Lokaya; 1988 – OCIC Best actress award |
Leonie Kotelawala (1944 – 19 June 2022) was a Sri Lankan actress best known for becoming the first Sri Lankan stage actress to win the 1962 Best Actress Award for her performance in the play Mehew Lokaya.
Early Life
Leonie Kolelawala whose maiden name is Weerasinghe was married to Tissa Kotelawala who was a photographer. He passed away in 1999. She had four sons, all of whom lived abroad. She spent most of her time with her grandchildren. She loved their company.
Career
Leonie Kotelawala studied at Good Shepherd Convent and started singing at Radio Ceylon when she was seven years old. She was ranked as an A-grade singer in 1969.
She started acting in 1961 when she was 17 years old.She made her debut as an actress in filmmaker, G. D. L. Perera’s “Sama” followed by roles in dramas like Mehew Lokaya, Rathu Rosa and others. Soon thereafter, G. D. L. Perera made the movie of the same name “Sama” and offered her the lead role. That paved the way for her to act in movies like Chandali Pipena Kumudu, Vajira and Raja Daruwo. In 2012, she acted in a film called Ekamath Eka Ratek where actor, Sanath Gunathilake was directing a film for the first time in his life. By 2012, she had acted in approximately 25 films.
She is best known for her performance in the films Saama (1965), Machan (2008), Ekamath Eka Rataka (2009) and Burning Birds (2016)
In 1982, she was offered her first teledrama role in Somage SihinayaIn. At that point, she was getting several offers in teledrama.
Awards
1962 - Sri Lanka Arts Council award for her role in the drama “Sama”
1962 - Best Actress Award for her performance in the play Mehew Lokaya
1988 - UNDA award for the best teledrama actress for Kumarihamy
1988 - OCIC award for best actress
Death
According to her son, she had been ill for some time and passed away at home in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 19 June 2022.
Filmography
| Actress (9 credits) | ||
| Title | Role | Year |
| Burning Birds (Davena Vihangun) | Grandmother (as Leonie Kotalawela) | 2016 |
| Ekamath eka Rataka | 2009 | |
| A Conditional Truce (Short) | Ajit's mother (as Leonie Kotalawela) | 2008 |
| Machan | Neighbour (as Leoni Kotalawala) | 2008 |
| Scent of the Lotus Pond | Gothami's Mother (as Leoni Kotalawela) | 2004 |
| Mother Teresa: In the Name of God's Poor (TV Movie) | Hospital Nurse (as Leonie Kotalawela) | 1997 |
| Pipena kumudu | 1967 | |
| Saama | 1965 | |
| Chandali | 1964 | |
| Vajira | 1981 |
Teledrama
- Somage Sihinaya
- Kumarihamy
- Charitha Thunak
- Naedaeyo
- Thara Devi
- Hiruta Muwawen
- Charulatha
Stage
- Mehew Lokaya
References
- "Veteran actress Leonie Kotelawala passed away". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- "PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- "PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- Rathanasekara, Sahan (19 June 2022). "Veteran actress Leonie Kothalawala has passed away". NewsWave LK English. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- "PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- "Leonie Kotelawala". IMDb. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- "Online edition of Daily News - Features". archives.dailynews.lk. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- "PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- "Veteran actress Leonie Kotelawala passes away". MSN. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- "Leonie Kotelawala bids adieu | Breaking News". The Sinhala News - Sri Lanka news today | Latest SL News | Sinhala News In English. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- "PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- Rathanasekara, Sahan (19 June 2022). "Veteran actress Leonie Kothalawala has passed away". NewsWave LK English. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- Madushanki, Dilini (19 June 2022). "Veteran actress Leonie Kotelawala passes away at 78 years". Ceylon Today. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- "Leonie Kotelawala". IMDb. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- Burning Birds (2016) - IMDb, retrieved 23 June 2022
- Gunathilake, Sanath (4 June 2009), Ekamath eka Rataka (Drama), S.G. Enterprises, retrieved 23 June 2022
- Machan (2008) - IMDb, retrieved 23 June 2022
- Pipena kumudu (1967) - IMDb, retrieved 23 June 2022
- Perera, G. D. L. (13 May 1965), Saama, Kala Pela Cultural Society, retrieved 23 June 2022
- Chandali (1964) - IMDb, retrieved 23 June 2022
- "Vajira - වජිරා - Sinhala Cinema Database". www.films.lk. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- "Veteran actress Leonie Kotelawala passes away". MSN. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- "Liyoni Kotelawala passes away - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 23 June 2022.