Parents and family background.
Eleanor’s full name is Eleanor Vaal Nansibo Nabwiso. She is the daughter of Father: Rev. Dr. Kefa Sempangi, a retired politician, religious leader and founder of the Presbyterian Church in Uganda. Her mother is Jane Frances Nakamya, an educated woman who played an important role in shaping Eleanor’s educational and career choices. Eleanor is the third-born in a highly educated family of five children where academic qualifications were considered important. Her father holds a Phd while her mother holds a master’s degree. Eleanor is an actress, filmmaker and producer.
Age and date of birth.
Eleanor is 37 years and was born on 24th February, 1989 at Sir Albert Cook Mengo Hospital.
Education
Eleanor attended Namagunga Boarding Primary School, Seeta High School, Mukono and Sikkim Manipal University, India where she graduated with a degree in Science in Information Technology. Interestingly, she did not study acting, film or theatre at university. In an interview with Africa in Dialogue, Eleanor explained that her parents wanted her to acquire a qualification that could provide financial security, even as she pursued her passion for entertainment.
Husband, marriage and children
Eleanor is married to Matthew Nabwiso whom she met in 2010 as actors and their friendship eventually developed into a romantic relationship while on set of The Hostel. The couple got married in 2014 after dating for some years. Eleanor and Matthew have four children together and have kept them away from excessive public attention.
The Family business
Eleanor and Matthew have a professional partnership as they established Nabwiso films together, a production company through which they have created films and television productions. Matthew serves as the company’s managing director and producer, while Eleanor is its creative director. The company was founded with a vision of using film to educate, entertain and empower communities and their productions often address issues such as gender-based violence, early marriages, health and nutrition,drug abuse, cultural practices, social justice and human rights.
Coming to the big screen: How it all started
Eleanor’s interest in acting started back in primary school, where she actively participated in school plays. In an interview with Africa in Dialogue, she recalled participating in Christmas productions, where she played different characters. She was particularly excited when she was selected to play Mary in a school production.
Her passion continued into secondary school, where she participated in school plays, music festivals and other extracurricular activities. However, her first major television opportunity came during her Senior Six vacation. She was selected to present a weekend television programme called K-Files on WBS TV. After WBS TV closed, Eleanor ventured into theatre productions and auditions, eventually landing a major acting opportunity in The Hostel.
From actress to filmmaker
Eleanor transitioned into film production in 2016 after establishing Nabwiso Films (U) Limited with her husband.
Becoming famous: The Hostel breakthrough
Although Eleanor had already appeared on television as a presenter, The Hostel, a television drama, which aired on NTV Uganda following the lives of university students living together in a hostel, propelled her into the limelight. She played Hope, a born-again Christian girl navigating the temptations and experiences of campus life.
Her biggest achievements and awards
Eleanor has received recognition both as an actress and as a filmmaker with some of her notable achievements including Rain (2016), a film which earned several awards at the Pearl International Film Festival and other international festivals. Eleanor also received recognition for her acting performance, including Best Actress in East Africa at FESTICAB in Burundi, Best Women’s Rights Film at the 2017 London Eye Film Festival, Recognition for the film at the NURAIN Film Festival.
She won Best Actress in a TV Drama (Family,2017) at the 2019 Uganda Film Festival for her performance in the television series. Eleanor directed Bed of Thorns, a film addressing gender-based violence. It was produced with an all-female crew and the production received several awards, including recognition at the Uganda Film Festival and London Arthouse Film Festival.
Interests and passions
Eleanor has a strong interest in health, nutrition and understanding the human body, reading novels and articles, travelling, spending time with friends and family, film and storytelling and public speaking.
Inside her lavish lifestyle and how she maintains it.
Eleanor has previously described herself as someone who enjoys travelling, partying, exploring different restaurants and spending quality time with friends and family and in a 2017 interview with The Independent, she identified travelling and partying as some of her greatest extravagances. She also described her personal fashion style as casual, playful and outspoken. Her wardrobe preferences include jeans, T-shirts, short dresses and sneakers, although she changes her style depending on the occasion.
Eleanor maintains this lifestyle through her ownership and leadership role in Nabwiso Films, acting in television series and films, film production through Nabwiso Films, directing and scriptwriting, television and documentary production, commercial and media projects, brand collaborations and other entertainment-related engagements.
