Biography
Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi(FAR) is a professional actor born in Lagos, Nigeria in the mid 70s. The year 1996 paved way for her first paid role although she had been bit by the acting bug from as early as 8 years old whilst participating in school plays after watching her aunt and veteran actress, Teni Aofiyebi on TV.
FAR lived and schooled in both Nigeria and the U.K. and is a trained actress. She holds a Certificate in Drama and Theater Arts from WESTMINSTER COLLEGE, LONDON, ENGLAND(1992). To further sharpen her skills and steer her career in a specific direction, she took an Intensive Acting Course for TV and Film in 2010 at the prestigious PINEWOOD STUDIOS, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UK.
With over 20 years experience, FUNLOLA has succeeded in carving a niche in TV, Film and Stage Productions. Her first shot at the big screen was opposite industry veterans - Joke Silva, Richard Mofe - Damijo in Amaka Igwe's VIOLATED. The performance earned her a THEMA(The Movie Awards) Best Upcoming Actress Award Nomination. The years that followed came with lead and supporting roles in movies like KEEPING FAITH and The Kunle Afolayan directed feature, FIGURINE (nominated at the Africa Movie Awards Academy (AMAA) for Best Actress in a Supporting Role). Award winning Ghanian Filmmaker - Shirley Frimpong-Manso also entrusted FAR with a lead role in the Drama/Thriller - GREY DAWN. Besides Film, this all round Thespian has participated in several Stage and TV Productions......DOCTORS QUARTERS, PALACE, SOLITAIRE, WETIN DEY, THE MANSION, SHYLOCK and THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES to name a few.
Her longest running appearance on TV, is on the Mnet (Pan African Network) daily soap - Tinsel, where she has for 10 seasons played the Fierce and Memorable VILLAIN, Brenda Mensah ( nominated at the 2010 Nigerian Entertainment Awards, New York (NEA) for Best Actress in a TV Show.
A dance enthusiast, Funlola won the maiden edition of a dance reality show - CELEBRITY TAKES 2 (2007), beating 9 other Nigerian Celebrities to the top spot! This driven bundle of creativity also has some hosting/presentation experience and has plans of producing her original stories in the near future. She attends Film Festivals on a regular basis and has recently been contracted as a goodwill ambassador for both Black Star International Film Festival (Ghana) and Real Time Film Festival (Nigeria).
The last of seven children, Funlola was born on the 24th November to a nurse/entrepreneur mother and a well traveled father. Now married, she lives with her husband and son.
