Niuma Mohamed | |
|---|---|
 Mohamed in 2019 | |
| Born | 20 October 1977 |
| Nationality | Maldivian |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, director, producer |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 1 |
Niuma Mohamed (pronounced [nɪʊˈmaː mʊɦəmːəɖʱ]; 20 October 1977) is a Maldivian film actress, director, and producer. The highest-paid actress in Maldives, Mohamed is the recipient of several awards, including two Gaumee Film Awards, and four Maldives Film Awards. She holds the record for collecting all three Maldives Film Awards for Best Actress in a feature film. In 2011, the Government of Maldives honoured her with the National Award of Recognition.
Mohamed was born in Vaadhoo and raised in Male'. After completing eight years of standard education, she dropped out of school and joined a taxi centre where a customer, a producer of Television Maldives, offered her to make her career debut with the drama series Hithi Thajuribaa (1994). Despite some criticism, she soon received several offers and starred in the horror film Fathis Handhuvaru (1997), which proved to be a breakthrough for her. She went on to act in several more horror films, including Zalzalaa (2000), Ginihila (2003), Dhonkamana (2003), Sandhuravirey 2 (2004), and Handhu Keytha (2005). Mohamed received her first Gaumee Film Award for Best Actress in 2007 with her portrayal of the tolerant second wife in Kalaayaanulaa (2003).
She was later noted for her portrayal of a devoted wife in Hiyani (2006), a schoolteacher in Fathimath Nahula's highest-grossing film, Yoosuf (2008), and in Hiyy Rohvaanulaa (2008), all of which resulted in Gaumee Film Award nominations. She established herself as the most prominent leading actress of Maldivian cinema in 2010 with the film Niuma, which also marked her directorial debut. She was bestowed with her second Gaumee Film Award for Best Actress along with a nomination as Best Director for this production; she won both the awards at 2nd Maldives Film Awards. Mohamed's success continued with the family dramas Maafeh Neiy (2010), Sazaa (2011), Mihashin Furaana Dhandhen (2012), Dhilakani (2013), and Aadheys (2014). Marking her twenty-year-long career, in 2017 she announced her retirement from acting and in 2019, she released the psychological thriller Nivairoalhi, her last onscreen film.