Maureen Charuni


Kurukulasuriya Maureen O'Hara Perera, popularly known as Maureen Charuni, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema theater and television. Highly versatile actress who dominated television drama, Charuni usually acts in young motherly roles in many dramas and films.

Personal life

She was born on 19 September 1963 in the village Emibillawatta, in Wadakada, Kurunegala as the eldest of the family. Her father, who was very fond of western cinema, named the first child by the name of American actress Maureen O'Hara. She has one younger brother, Janaka and two younger sisters: Mala and Meena. The family moved to Wennappuwa because her father wanted to send the three girls to a girls' school. Then she studied in Holy Family Girls School, Wennappuwa.
She passed Advanced level with honors in Commerce stream. Meanwhile, she studied sitar under teacher Tharsi Warnakulasuriya and assistant teacher Ansus. Then she completed the exams in Sri Lanka and Visharad part one in India. After obtaining the degree, she worked as a teacher for few years and taught English language, English literature and sitar playing.
She is married to Gihan Ranjith Imbulana, who is involved in the tourism industry. The couple has one daughter.

Acting career

Initially her father strongly opposed her decision to become an actress. She unexpectedly went Colombo with her friend Deepthi and her uncle Piyal Kumaratunga to get an opportunity to be involved in the film Karadiya Kuralla. However, she was finally selected for the film and made her maiden cinematic experience came through film Karadiya Walalla, directed by Cyril Wickramage. But the film Ranmalige Wasanawa screened before the Karadiya Walalla.
Since then, her notable acting came through the role of "Nanda" in Bertram Nihal's blockbuster Gamperaliya teledrama, Tissa Abeysekera's Thunkal Sihinaya and Maya. Later she made motherly roles in many popular tele serials and films such as: Sara, Paba, Sandagalathenna, Chandingeth Chandiya, Golu Muhude Kunatuwak, Trishulaya, Anjalika, Panamankkada, Teacher Amma and Aliya.
She directed the film Hansa Vilapaya in 2000.

Selected television serials

AaliyaAalawanthiAbarthu AthaAkshiAmaaAnaganaAnanthaya AnnAnuhas VijithayaAnuththaraAravinda saha Indu as InduAyomi as MangalikaBatahira AhasaBodhiDangakara TharuDaruwange AmmalaDedunnai AdareDedunu SihinaDedunu YanayaDepath NaiDeveni AmmaDivyadariGamperaliya as NandaGimhana Tharanaya Guwan PalamaHaara KotiyaHeeye Manaya Himi Nethi HadakataHirusanda Maima IrudeniyayaIsuru SangramayaJayathuru SankayaKalu SewanellaKoombiyoKulawanthayoLasa RalaMandaram KathawaMilaMillewa WalawwaMinigandelaNandunana NeyoNethu AddaraOba MageyaPaaraPaata KurulloPanamankadaPoddiPembara Maw SandaRan Bedi MinissuRan Kira SoyaRan SamanalayoRan SevanaliSalmal LandaSamanalayanoSamanala Sihinaya Samanala Yaya Sanda Diya MankadaSandagalathenna as Dingiri MenikaSandagiri PawwaSanda Hiru TharuSapirivaraSaraSaranganaaSaveenaSenehase Nimnaya Sihina Samagama Sihina SiththaraviSihina SithuvamSilSiri Sirimal Siyapayth AramaSnehaye DaasiSudu Paraviyo as IreshaSulangaSuwanda Obai AmmeTeacher Amma ThuththiriVihanga GeethayaWasantha Kusalana
  • ''Yugandaraya''

Selected stage dramas

  • ''Dangamalla''

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1984Ranmalige Wasanawa
1985Du Daruwo
1985Karadiya Walalla
1986Sinha Pataw
1986Asipatha MamaiGamanayake's wife
1986PeralikarayoMaureen
1987SathyagrahanayaOffice 'truth' secretary
1988Chandingeth Chandiya
1989Randenigala SinhayaRekha
1990Veera Udara
1990Sambudu Mahima
1990Jaya Kothanada
1991Asai Bayai
1991Golu Muhude Kunatuwa
1992Sakkara Suththara
1992Sinha Raja
1992Salli Thibunata Madi
1992Rumathiyay NithiyayNeeta
1992Sayanaye Sihinaya
1993Sagara Thilina
1993Trishule
1993Juriya MamaiMary
1994Mawubime Weerayo
1994Shakthi
1997Goodbye Tokyo
2000Hansa Vilapaya
2003IrasmaSonali
2004Gini Kirilli
2006Eka Malaka PethiMahela's mother
2006AnjalikaAnjalika's mother
2010UththaraShanilka's mother
2010Suwanda Denuna JeewitheRashmi's mother
2010SaraSara's mother
2011SinhawalokanayaMagilin, Jangu's mother
2012Sakvithi Dadayama
2014ParawarthanaKusum's mother
2014ParapuraChethana's mother
2014Duwana Muwan
2015Ira SewayaYvonne
2015PravegayaHemal's mother
2016Maya 3DRekha's mother
2016Adaraneeya KathawakPiyavi's mother
2017Hima Tharaka
2018Punchi AndareAndare's mother
2020SoosthiSoosa's mother
2023Uthuru Sulanga
2023Kathuru MithuruSamson's wife
2024Sihina SameekaranaRidmi's mother
Awantha's mother