Merab Ninidze

**Merab Ninidze**, a distinguished Georgian actor, is renown for his roles of Walter Redlich in Nowhere in Africa and Oleg Penkovsky in The Courier. Born on *3 November 1965* in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, USSR, to an artistic family. He was introduced music by his grandmother, Zeinab Ghoghoberidze, a renowned music teacher, ensnared by the artform, he studied classical music for seven years. His grandfather, Sergo Akhaladze, a theatre director, inspired him towards theatrical performance. Enlivened by his family’s artistic influence, Ninidze trailed the path toward an acting career by attending Tbilisi Classical Gymnasium from 1972-1982. At the tender age of thirteen, he bagged the role of Prince Edward in Shakespeare's *Richard III,* a play premiered in 1979 at Rustaveli State Academic Theater in Tbilisi. While in college from 1982-85, he studied acting at the prestigious Shota Rustaveli Theater and Georgia State Film University under the expert tutelage of Gizo Jordania, which led then him becoming a full-time member of the Shota Rustaveli Theatre Company. He further strengthened his skill under director Levan Tsuladze and Nana Kvaskhvadze. His very first cinematic role came in Repentance, a deservedly rewarded 1984 film by Tengiz Abuladze, which further opened him to a string of opportunities in Georgian cinema. However, at the age of 25, the Civil War led him to take up the opportunity to work with Austrian director Goran Rebic, leading to his emigration.