archytele The Vault

Malini Fonseka

Acting Born Apr 30, 1947 Colombo, Sri Lanka 24 credits

Biography

Wanniarachchige Malini Senehelatha Fonseka, popularly as Malini Fonseka (Sinhala:මාලිනී ෆොන්සේකා) (born 30 April 1947, in Kelaniya) is a Sri Lankan film actress and former member of Sri Lanka Parliament, who became known as the "Queen of Sinhalese cinema". Her cinema career that has spanned seven decades began with Tissa Liyansooriya's Punchi Baba in 1968.

She first became widely known when she won the 'Best Actress Award' at the 1969 National State Drama Festival This was followed by Sarasaviya Best Actress Awards for Hingana Kolla in 1980, Aradhana in 1982 and Yasa Isuru in 1983. In 2010, she was named by CNN as one of Asia's 25 greatest film actors of all time.

Ask the Vault

Ask anything about Malini Fonseka.

Full filmography

  • Baddegama (1980) as Punchi Menika
  • Abá (2008) as Baddhakachchana
  • Little Angel (2002) as Sinhala Teacher
  • Bambaru Awith (1978) as Helen
  • Ayu (2025) as Nishmi's Mother
  • Bhavatharana (2021)
  • Changes in the Village (1963)
  • Flowers of the Sky (2008) as Sandya Rani
  • Malaki Duwe Numba (2025) as Grandma
  • Elegy For A Mother (2006) as Sumanawathie
  • Pilot Premnath (1978)
  • Sarigama (2016) as Nun
  • Apeksha (1978)
  • Little Miss Puppet (2020) as School Principal
  • Rebellion (1978) as Bandara Menike
  • The Treasure (1972) as Irene Abeynayake
  • Eya Dan Loku Lamayek (1975) as Katuwalagedera 'Susila' Susilawathie 'Susee'
  • Mansion by the Lake (2002) as Sujata Rajasuriya, the widow
  • Mihidum Sihina (1982)
  • Aradhana (1981)
  • Night of Destiny (1998)
  • The Secret (1971) as Lover
  • Hathdinnath Tharu (1973)
  • Thushara (1973)