# Nilmini Tennakoon

Thennakoon Pathiranalage Nilmini (born January 23, 1965, as නිල්මිණි තෙන්නකෝන්) [Sinhala]), popularly as Nilmini Thennakoon, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema and television. Highly versatile actress particularly active in television, she is a recipient of Best Actress award multiple times in many local award festivals. She is often referred to as the "tear drop" in Sinhala small screen and also Sri Lankan Madhuri Dixit.

## Personal life

She was born on 23 January 1965 to Piyadasa Thennakoon and Shriyani Thennakoon in Moratuwa. She has two siblings, one elder brother (Late Deleepa Thennakoon) and one younger sister. Her father was a businessman. He died when she was 13 years of age. She completed education from Princess of Wales' College.
She was married to popular singer Madhumadhawa Aravinda, and they have one daughter Swetha Mandakini. She met Madhumadhawa during the teledrama Pini Bindu in 1992. They got married on May 5 in 1996. They divorced in early 2000s.
She faced a horrible car accident in 2007. She sustained grievous bodily injuries in the accident and was rushed to the Ragama hospital's ICU. The accident occurred at Balummahara on March 14 when she was rushing to Kurunegala from Colombo for a Television filming event. Her car was reduced to matchwood although the chauffeur miraculously escaped with minor injuries.

## Career

In 1980s, she started to act in school stage when she was in grade 7 and studied dancing under Mrs. Vajira Chitrasena. Then she attended "Low Country" and Kandyan dancing under a radio artist Mrs. Chitra Kumari Kalubowila at Moratuwa. Under Chithra's guidance, she performed in a ballet Sasara staged in Rupavahini.
She was introduced into the cinema by popular director Roy de Silva and actress Sumana Amarasinghe. She played in the film Hitha Honda Chandiya in a dancing scene with Bandu Samarasinghe. At the same time, D. B. Nihalsinghe used Thennakoon for his TV Commercials and then for the role "Amaravathi" in the play Dimithu Muthu and then in 1991 film Keli Madala. Her major television acting came through Passe Gena Manamali directed by Nalan Mendis. Then she acted in famous tele series Doo Daruwo which was telecast many years on the Rupavahini on Sundays at 8.30 p.m. Her character '"Deepthi" in television serial Doo Daruwo was the major success in her career.
Her maiden cinematic experience came through 1985 film Mawubima Naththam Maranaya, directed by Louie Vanderstraeten with a minor role. Her first major role in cinema came through 1990 film Yukthiyata Wada directed by Sunil Soma Peiris. Some of her popular films are Keli Madala, Nagaran and Le Kiri Kandulu.
In 1992, she won the Sarasaviya award for the Best Upcoming actress for her role in Suranimala. She won the Sarasaviya Award for the Best Actress for the role "Veena" in the film Le Kiri Kandulu. Then she won the Most Popular Teledrama Actress Award for a record six years continuously. In 2008 Raigam Tele'es, Tennakoon won the award for the Best Actress for the role "Tikiri Menika" in serials Handewa directed by Sherly P. Delankawala. In 2016, she won the Sumathi award for the Best Actress for the title role in Amma.
She also participated in the reality program Hiru Mega Stars as the leader of group Shakyans. She also hosted the psychology television program Sith Giman Hala telecast by TV Derana.
She currently has a beauty salon at Nugegoda.

### Selected television serials

* Sikuru Evith
* Abhisamaya as Anupama
* Adaraneeya Amma
* Akwessa
* Amma as Amma (Punna)
* Anduru Sewaneli
* Aswenna
* Blackmail
* Bodima as Nilmini
* Deveni Kamatha as Nirmala
* Diya Ginisilu
* Diya Sithuvam
* Diya Suliya as Sarojini Liyanaarachchi
* Diya Yata Gini
* Doo Daruwo as Deepthi
* Galaboda Hasthiya
* Ganaga Saha Nishshanka as Nadee
* Gimanata Pavana
* Giravi
* Girikula as Dingiri Amma
* Handewa as Tikiri Menika
* Himagira
* Hima Varusa
* Hiru Dahasak Yata
* Hiru Sadu Hamuwee
* Hiruta Muwawen
* Indikadolla
* Isi Daasi
* Isuru Pawura
* Iti Pahan as Some
* Kulavilokanaya as Pabasara Biso
* Kumarayaneni
* Mansala as Devi
* Maya Ranaga as Biula
* Mayavi
* Nethranjali as Nethra
* Nidi Kumari
* Nidikumba Mal
* Parami Pooja
* Pas Mal Pethi
* Passe Gena Manamali
* Pata Sarungal
* Pata Veeduru
* Pinketha as Giravi
* Piyabana Ashwaya
* Raena
* Daam
* Ranagala Watta
* Sagaraya Parada
* Sanda Mediyama
* Sanda Pini Wassa as Maya
* Sasara Saranee
* Sikuru Awith
* Susima
* Thuru Kadauru
* Udawediya Mal
* Uththamavi
* Vishwanthari
* Visirunu Renu
* Chess
* Ralla weralata Adarei
* 1990 Love Born in the Heart
* Sikuru Evith

## Filmography

Key :
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Role |
| 1985 | Mawubima Naththam Maranaya | |
| 1990 | Yukthiyata Wada | Kunchu |
| 1990 | Pem Rajadahana | |
| 1991 | Keli Madala | Sharika |
| 1992 | Suraniamala | |
| 1993 | Wali Sulanga | Nilmini Ranasinghe |
| 1994 | Ekada Wahi | |
| 1995 | Ayoma | |
| 1999 | Nagaran | Soma |
| 2003 | Le Kiri Kandulu | Veena Jayaweera |
| 2016 | Madhura Charika | Guest role |
| 2016 | Hero Nero | Priya Senarathne |
| 2017 | Bandhanaya | Nandawathi |
| 2019 | President Super Star | |
| 2023 | Kadira Divyaraja | |
| 2023 | Thaththa | Ruwan's mother |
| TBA | Akasa Palama † | |
| TBA | Sanda Dadayama † | |
| TBA | Man Hoyanne Premayak † | |

## Awards
### Sarasaviya Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1992 | Suranimala | Best Upcoming Actress | Won |
| 2003 | Le Kiri Kandulu | Best Actress | Nominated |

### Sumathi Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2000 | Isidasi | Best Actress | Won |
| 1995 | Peoples' Vote | Most Popular Actress | Won |
| 2015 | Girikula | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
| 2016 | Amma | Best Actress | Won |

### Raigam Tele'es

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2009 | Hendewa | Best Actress | Won |