Shanthi Lekha

Rita Irene Quyn (born 1929) better known as Shanthi Lekha is a Sri Lankan actress. She has played the role of mother in more films than any other actress in Sinhala cinema.

Lekha was born in Kalutara on July 1, 1929. She received her stage name from her first husband Shanthi Viraj. They had first met while she was attending Holy Family Convent in Kalutara and starred in composer D. T. Fernando's play "Shantha Prabha" (1942). She subsquently made a mark as a dancer in plays starring Dommie Jayawardena and Nona Subeda.cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/05/26/artscop08.html|title=Most popular screen mother|accessdate=2008-05-01|date=2004|publisher=The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.]

With Jayawardena, Lekha had her first film role in "Sujatha" (1952). Wearing a bathing suit, she danced along with Jayardena to the song "Pem Rella Nagi." The role came with a payment of Rs. 500 and a contract prohibiting her from doing films for other production companies. The producer K. Gunaratnam would subsqently offer her roles in "Warada Kageda", "Radala Piliruwa" and "Dostara".

Lekha first played a mother in "Sandesaya" (1960). She would play this role in over 350 films that include "Gamperaliya", "Uthumaneni", "Tun Man Handiya", "Eya Den Loku Lamayek", "Amal Biso", "Parithyagaya", "Hithawathiya", "Sasara Chethana" and "Sakvithi Suwaya".

Lekha has won Best Supporting Actress Awards at the Sarasaviya Film Festival for Gamini Fonseka's "Parasathu Mal" (1968) and Mudalinayaka Somaratne's "Binaramali" (1969). She has also won Presidential Awards for "Mayurige Kathawa" and "Ridi Nimnaya".

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