# Swarna Mallawarachchi

Swarna Mallawarachchi (born 1 August 1948: Sinhala: ස්වර්ණා මල්ලවාරච්චි), is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema. Often known as the "Golden star of Sinhalese cinema", Swarna began her acting career whilst still a schoolgirl, starring in the 1966 blockbuster film Sath Samudura directed by Siri Gunasinghe. During a career spanning over 40 years, Swarna has won the 'Best Actress Award' 26 times, most by a Sri Lankan actress.

## Personal life

She was born on 1 August 1, 1948. in Kosgas Junction, Grandpass, Colombo. She completed her education at Vijayaba Maha Vidyalaya, Grandpass.
In a Colombo municipal election, Swarna, along with other communist leaders such as Peter Kehnemann and K. P. de Silva, fielded Abeysena, a candidate from his party in the Northern Grandpass division.
Swarna was married to renowned filmmaker Dharmasiri Bandaranayake that later she got divorced. They have one daughter named Naredra.

## Career

In school, she collaborated with her friend Kanthi Kalyani Atugoda for the handwritten school magazine "Pipena Kumudu." Through the magazine, she showcased her abilities.
Swarna left Sri Lankan cinema for a brief period in the 1970s to live abroad. When she returned after a four-year absence, there was an influx of new actresses. Swarna accepted supporting roles from directors during this period and obtained the Best Actress awards for these roles during these years.
In 1983, she played the main role of 'Ranmali' in the thriller drama film Dadayama directed by Vasantha Obeysekera. After receiving positive reviews by the critics, she won the Best Actress award at the Sarasaviya Awards for the role.
She has been appointed the UNHCR ambassador for women's rights in Sri Lanka since 2004.
Swarna's truly unique role as an actress is evident in films such as Vasantha Obeysekera's Dadayama (The Hunt) and Kadapathaka Chayava (Reflections in the Mirror), Dharmasiri Bandaranayake's Suddhilage Kathawa (The Story of Suddhi) and Bava Duka / Bava Karma, Sumitra Peries' Sagara Jalaya (Letter Written in the Sand) and Prasanna Vithanage's Anantha Rathriya (Dark Night of the Soul).

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1967 | Sath Samudura | Soma |
| 1969 | Hanthane Kathawa | Subhadra |
| 1970 | Thunman Handiya | Yasawathi |
| 1970 | Nim Wallala | |
| 1971 | Samanala Kumariyo Samaga Api Kawadath Surayo | |
| 1973 | Mathara Achchi | Sumithra aka Sumi |
| 1973 | Gopalu Handa | |
| 1973 | Hondama Welawa | |
| 1974 | Ahas Gauwa | Vijitha |
| 1980 | Muwan Palessa 2 | |
| 1980 | Sankhapali | Sugala |
| 1980 | Hewanali Eda Minissu | |
| 1980 | Hansa Vilak | Miranda Ranaweera |
| 1980 | Sinhabahu | Supra |
| 1981 | Anjana | |
| 1981 | Chanchala Rekha | Kamala |
| 1982 | Ridee Nimnaya | Leelawathi |
| 1982 | Kiri Suwanda | |
| 1982 | Kala Mal | |
| 1982 | Biththi Hathara | Samara |
| 1982 | Yahalu Yeheli | Gina |
| 1983 | Dadayama | Rathmali Kekunawela |
| 1983 | Samanala Sihina | |
| 1983 | Muwan Palessa 3 | |
| 1984 | Maya | Kumari's mother |
| 1985 | Suddilage Kathaawa | Suddi |
| 1985 | Doringe Sayanaya | |
| 1985 | Karadiya Walalla | |
| 1986 | Maldeniye Simion | Gunawathi |
| 1987 | Yugayen Yugayata | |
| 1987 | Kawuluwa | |
| 1988 | Sagara Jalaya Madi Haduwa Oba Sanda | Heen Kella |
| 1989 | Kedapathaka Chaya | Nandawathi Bandara |
| 1993 | Madara Parasathu | Chithra |
| 1994 | Mee Haraka | Yamuna Nanayakkara |
| 1995 | Ayoma | Ayoma |
| 1997 | Bawa Duka | Nona Hami |
| 1997 | Bawa Karma | Nona Hami |
| 1998 | Chanda Kinnari | |
| 2001 | Anantha Rathriya | Weerasinghe Arachchige Piyumi |
| 2004 | Premawanthayo | |
| 2014 | Thanha Rathi Ranga | Manorani |
| 2016 | Age Asa Aga | |
| 2023 | Dada Ima | Rohini Kekunawela |
| 2025 | Rani | Manorani Saravanamuttu |

## Awards
### Presidential Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1981 | Hansa Vilak | Best Actress | Won 1984 “ Dadayama” Best Actress |
| 1986 | Suddilage Kathawa | Best Actress | Won |
| 1997 | Bawa Duka | Best Actress | Won |
| 1998 | Channa Kinnari | Best Actress | Won |
| 2017 | Age Asa Aga | Best Actress | Won |
| 2017 | Contribution to Cinema | Lifetime Achievement | Won |

### OCIC Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1982 | Ridi Nimnaya Biththi Hathara Yahalu Yeheli | Best Actress | Won |
| 1983 | Dadayama | Best Actress | Won |
| 1984 | Maya | Best Actress | Won |
| 1985 | Suddilage Kathawa | Best Actress | Won |
| 1988 | Sagara Jalaya | Best Actress | Won |
| 1989 | Kadapathaka Chaya | Best Actress | Won |
| 1996 | Anantha Rathriya | Best Actress | Won |
| 1997 | Bawa Duka | Best Actress | Won |
| 1998 | Channa Kinnari | Best Actress | Won |
| 2017 | Age Asa Aga | Best Actress | Won |

### Sarasaviya Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1983 | Dadayama | Best Actress | Won |
| 1985 | Suddilage Kathawa | Best Actress | Won |
| 1988 | Sagara Jalaya | Best Actress | Won |
| 1997 | Bawa Duka | Best Actress | Won |
| 1998 | Channa Kinnari | Best Actress | Won |
| 2014 | Contribution to Cinema | Lifetime Achievement | Won |

### Swarna Sanka Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1988 | Sagara Jalaya | Best Actress | Won |
| 1989 | Kadapathaka Chaya | Best Actress | Won |

### Hiru Golden Film Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2014 | Contribution to Cinema | Lifetime Achievement | Won |

### Sumathi Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2017 | Contribution to Cinema | Lifetime Achievement | Won |

### Derana Film Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2017 | Age Asa Aga | Best Actress | Won |

### Other Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| – | Contribution to Cinema | Bangladesh Film Development Board Award | Won |
| – | Contribution to Cinema | Zonta Woman of the Year | Won |
| – | Contribution to Cinema | Sanpac Felicitation | Won |