Biography of Yvonne Cherrie – An Overview of Career, Early life, Filmography, and More
Yvonne Cherry Background
Tanzanian actress Yvonne Cherrie (born August 19, 1981, also known as Monalisa) won the “Best Actress” award at the 2010 International Film Festival in Zanzibar. At the 2011 Nigeria Entertainment Awards, she was nominated for Pan African Actress of the Year. She has been a trailblazer in the development of Tanzania’s film industry and is widely regarded as one of the best actresses in the country. She also started the Act With Monalisa initiative, which aims to help young Tanzanian women get started in the acting industry by providing them with guidance and a platform to demonstrate their talents. She also directs (AWAFFEST) the African Women’s Arts and Film Festival.
Education and Early Life
The Muhimbili Hospital in Tanzania is where Cherrie and her family began their lives together on August 19, 1981. Her mom is an actress also; her name is Suzan Lewis.
She started her formal education in Angola’s Luanda, where her dad worked. She continued it at Muungano Primary School in Temeke, Dar Es Salaam, and Zanaki Girls High School before enrolling in the secretarial program at Tanzania Public Service College.
She started learning English in 2002 at the British Council Tanzania’s Pre-Advanced level and then acquired a diploma in mass communication from Wilnag Media Training College in Nairobi.
Career
Her role as a young lady trying to maintain healthy relationships in the 1998 series Mambo Hayo earned her the moniker “Monalisa.” Monalisa made her debut in the feature film industry in 2002’s Girlfriend, playing the role of Tumpale, TID’s Girlfriend who is motivated to change her ways after being banished by her father. Since then, she’s had appearances in movies like She Is My Sister (2006), Binti Nusa, Dilemma (2004), Sabrina (2003), Network and Kwa Heshima Ya Penzi. The 2010 International Film Festival in Zanzibar named her “Best Actress,” and the 2011 Nigeria Entertainment Awards nominated her for “Pan African Actress of the Year” for her performance on Black Sunday.
Yvonne Cherrie Filmography
| S/N | Name | Notes | Role | Year |
| 1 | Sinia | A Dstv Channel: Aired on Maisha Magic Bongo | Rosemary Venus | 2021 |
| 2 | Tanzania Movie Talents | Aired on ITV: An Acting Competition | Judge | 2015
to 2013 |
| 3 | Siri Ya Mtungi | An East Africa Television (EATV) and TV 1 Television
Produced by Media for Development International. |
Lulu | |
| 4 | Mambo Hayo | Cast: Single Mtambalike (Richie), Jacob Steven(Jb), Bishanga, Cathy and Waridi.
An Independent Television Tanzania (ITV). |
Monalisa | 1998 |
Yvonne Cherrie Stage Plays
| S/N | Notes | Names | Year |
| 1 | Russian Cultural Centre (Tanzania) | Don’t Dress For Dinner |
2003 |
| 2 | Little Theatre (Tanzania) | The Song Of Lawino | |
| 3 | Kenya National Theatre | A Man of the people | |
| 4 | Kiu | ||
| 5 | Zanzibar International Film Festival | Zawadi Ya Ushindi | 2002 |
| 6 | Bagamoyo Arts and Culture Festival | The Government Inspector | 2001 To
2000 |
Films
| S/N | Name | Notes | Role | Year |
| 1 | Daddy’s Wedding | Banana Zoro, With Sandra Temu, Raheem, | 2016 | |
| 2 | Umuhimu Wako | Suzan Lewis, With Rose Ndauka, Raheem, | 2015 | |
| 3 | Damian | Casts with Jemedari Gwatwambilileghe (Damian), Hashim Kambi (Dr.ambi), | Monalisa |
2014 |
| 4 | Network | With Charles Rom, Simon Mwakafamba, Brian Ibrick, Shikunzi Haonga, | Detective Elizabeth | |
| 5 | Bana Congo | With Salum Haji (Mboto) | ||
| 6 | Daladala | Casts with Amri Athuman (King Majuto), Suleiman Barafu, |
2013 |
|
| 7 | Dakika Ya Mwisho | Cast with Niva | ||
| 8 | Sistahili Kusamehewa | Cast with Mohamed Fungafunga , Alex Wasponga, Patcho Mwamba, Suleiman Barafu, | ||
| 9 | Five Girls | Cast with Hashimu Kambi and Grace Mapunda. | ||
| 10 | Mwisho Wa Siku | With Victor Mwikala, Lucy Komba, Jennifer Kakolaki, | ||
| 11 | In Between | Cast with Salum Haji (Mboto), Suzan Lewis, | ||
| 12 | Hidden Treasure | Cast with Mohammed Yondo, Bad Boy, | ||
| 13 | Ujinga Wangu | Cast with Salum Haji (Mboto) and Hemedi Suleiman | Ritha |
2012 |
| 14 | Tell Me The Truth | |||
| 15 | Uyoga | Cast with Single Mtambalike | ||
| 16 | Chai Moto | Mussa Banzi, Jeniffer Mgendi, Juma Mtima & Christina Matai | ||
| 17 | The trial, Pastor Myamba, | Emmanuel Myamba, | Sarah | 2011 |
| 18 | 38 Weeks | Cast with Salum Haji (Mboto) | ||
| 19 | Maza House | Cast with Deogratius Shida, Suzan Lewis, |
2010 |
|
| 20 | Binti Nusa 2& 3 | Cast with Elizabeth Chijumba, Suzan Lewis, Hashim Kambi, | Malaika | |
| 21 | Payback | Cast with Steven Kanumba and Yusuph Mlela | Rebecca | |
| 22 | Black Sunday | Cast with Aunty Ezekiel, Steven Kanumba, Yusuph Mlela, | Sharon | |
| 23 | Cellular | Cast with Thea,Sajuki | 2009 | |
| 24 | Wrong Number | Cast with Hemedi Suleiman, Riyama Ally, Gadner Habash, | Rehema | |
| 25 | Jeraha La Ndoa | Cast with Bakari Makuka, Haji Adam, | ||
| 26 | Kaburi Moja | Cast with Hemedi Suleiman |
2008 |
|
| 27 | Behind The Scenes | Cast with Blandina Chagula, Vincent Kigosi, Suzan Lewis, | Carey | |
| 28 | Binti Nusa part 1 | Cast with Hashimu Kambi, Suzan Lewis, | Malaika | |
| 29 | Chanzo Ni Mama | Cast with Suzan Lewis, Deogratiua Shija, | 2007 | |
| 30 | Kwa Heshima Ya Penzi | Cast with Mtambalike and Single Jacob Steven | Miranda | |
| 31 | She Is My Sister | Cast with Mercy Johnson, Steven Kanumba, Nkiru Sylvanus. | Rose | 2006 |
| 32 | Dilemma | 2004 | ||
| 33 | Sabrina | Sabrina | 2003 | |
| 34 | Girlfriend | Cast: AY, Nina, Crazy Gk and TID, | Tumpale | 2002 |
Yvonne Cherry Nominations and Awards
| S/N | Recipient | Event | Result | Prize | Year |
| 1 | Herself | The African Prestigious Awards (Ghana) | Won | Best Female Movie Star | 2018 |
| 2 | Filamonata (With Suzan Lewis) | Tanzania Film Awards | Nominated | Tribute Award(Media) |
2015 |
| 3 | Daddy’s Wedding | Nominated | Best Actress In A Leading Role | ||
| 4 | Black Sunday | 2011 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Nominated | Pan African Actress Of The Year | 2011 |
| 5 | Binti Nusa | Filamu Central Best Of 2010 | Won | Best Actress | 2010 |
| 6 | Black Sunday | Zanzibar International Film Festival | Won | Best Actress | |
| 7 | Herself | Kiu Media Awards | Won | Queen Of Bongo Movies | 2008 |
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