Paranapalliya Guruge Anoja Kanthi Siriwardena (Sinhala:අනොජා වීරසිංහ), popularly as Anoja Weerasinghe (born January 21, 1955), is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. One of the most respected film actresses in Sinhala cinema, Weerasinghe won the Golden Award at New Delhi Film Festival for her critics acclaimed movie Maldeniye Simion. Personal life Born on 21 January 1955 near Badulla, as the seventh of the 12 siblings in the family which includes seven daughters and five sons. Her father was Jeldeen Siriwardena and mother was Wijayasinghe Arachchige Seelavathi. Anoja had older siblings: Shanthi, Sunethra, Asoka, Sunil and Maya Damayanthi. Anura, Shiyan, Lekha, Sandhya, Sudath are younger brothers and sisters. After few years, the family moved to Monaragala due to many political disputes. Her father was a theatre actor who performed in stage dramas such as Barrister Hamu and Hingana Kolla. Her first marriage was celebrated in 1979 and lasted only for twelve years, where she married again to a plantation owner in 1991. With the failure of her second marriage, she faced a number of challenges where she went to commit suicide seven times. Once she swallowed a bunch of sleeping pills due to stress and depression. Career Meanwhile, when Anoja was in grade 9, she acted in the play Anduren Eliyata produced by Newton Gunaratne and Yoga Balasuriya of Mahanama College, Moneragala. Weerasinghe first came to the screen with a minor role in Yasapalitha Nanayakkara's film Tak Tik Tuk. His first main role came through role Surangi of Yasapalitha's film Monarathenna. She appeared in the Australian film Island in 1989. In the film Maldeniye Simieon, she played dual roles, which became her turning point. For the roles, she won the Best Supporting Actress at the 11th New Delhi International Film Festival. Then she established herself in the 1980s in Sinhala cinema, made his mark in popular cinema with the film Obata Diwura Kiyannam. Her popular role in 1980s came through Araliya Mal, Channayi Kello Dennayi, Peraḷikārayō, Mamayi Rajā, Sināsenna Raththaran and Yukthiyaṭa Væḍa. She later won Best Actress award at Sarasaviya, Presidential, OCIC and Swarnasanka awards for her performances in artistic films such as Kelimadala, Gurugedara, Surabidena, Julietge Bhumikawa, Muhudu Lihini, Seilama, Siri Medura and Janelaya. Weerasinghe rose to popularity in cinema and acclaim after winning the Silver Peacock Award for the Best Actress at the New Delhi International Film Festival in 1987 for the film Maldeniye