Actress • Singer • Songwriter

Marie-Philomène Nga, known professionally as Mâ Nga, is a multidisciplinary artist: actress, singer, and songwriter. She was born and raised in Douala, Cameroon.

From an early age, her first school was that of observation, listening, and mimicry. Growing up in a family home located at a busy crossroads in a cosmopolitan neighborhood rich in cultural activities, she was immersed in a variety of traditions. Her school holidays were spent in her parents' villages, where she connected with her roots and ancestral cultural traditions, a profound source of inspiration. These formative experiences became the foundation of her artistic identity.

Alongside her studies, she began performing with the renowned dance-theatre company Les Génies Noirs de Douala, which brought her to Europe.

After settling in France, she successfully passed the entrance examination to the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Lyon, where she was awarded a First Prize in Diction.

Her career subsequently expanded into theatre (including works by Jean Genet, Wole Soyinka, and Werewere Liking), film, and television, where she has performed numerous memorable roles. She has also developed an extensive voice career, lending her voice to dubbing, documentaries, animated productions, video games, and radio dramas.

A creator and producer of artistic projects, always eager to explore new cultures, she has forged a unique artistic path between Africa, France, and India.

Through residency-based creations such as Zen Oyem, developed in Burkina Faso and later toured throughout Africa, and Afro-Indian Fusion, created and performed in India as a recipient of the prestigious Villa Médicis Hors les Murs fellowship, she has built a distinctive body of work. Her artistic signature is based on cultural fusion, deeply rooted in her African heritage while remaining open to the world.

Mâ Nga:

“Through my travels and encounters, I discovered that beyond the apparent differences between cultures, deeper similarities emerge in more subtle ways, and that the golden thread of humanism can be found at every latitude.”

“My landmarks are here; my roots are there.”

TRAINING

National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, Lyon (France)

• First Prize in Diction

FILM

2023

And Now (Et Maintenant) — Directed by Lucien Jean-Baptiste

2023

Infested (Vermines) — Directed by Sébastien Vaniček

2021

Rumba Therapy (Rumba la Vie) — Directed by Franck Dubosc

2019

OSS 117: From Africa with Love — Directed by Nicolas Bedos

2019

A Dragon in the Clouds — Directed by Sergio Castellitto

2018

The Children of Lies — Directed by Eric Duret

2018

Selfie — Directed by Tristan Aurouet, Thomas Bidegain, Marc Fitoussi, Cyril Gelblat, Vianney Lebasque

2017

He Even Has Your Eyes — Directed by Lucien Jean-Baptiste

2017

Baby Bump(s) — Directed by Noémie Saglio

2016

Welcome to Marly-Gomont — Directed by Julien Rambaldi

2015

The Roommates Party (Le Grand Partage) — Directed by Alexandra Leclère

2014

The Crocodile of Botswanga — Directed by Lionel Steketee & Fabrice Éboué

2014

Bird People — Directed by Pascale Ferran

2013

The Rose City — Directed by Julien Abraham

2013

The Mentor — Directed by Jean-Pierre Mocky

2013

Way Back Home — Directed by Bang Eun-jin

2012

Cheba Louisa — Directed by Françoise Charpiat

2011

The African Family (Case Départ) — Directed by Lionel Steketee, Fabrice Éboué & Thomas Ngijol

2010

Any Which Way You Can (Il reste du jambon ?) — Directed by Anne Depétrini

2010

Thanks Dad, Thanks Mom — Directed by Vincent Giovanni

2010

The Mac — Directed by Pascal Bourdiaux

2009

Neuilly Yo Mama! — Directed by Djamel Bensalah

2008

The Very Very Big Company — Directed by Pierre Jolivet

2008

Client — Directed by Josiane Balasko

2005

Kirikou and the Wild Beasts (Voice of the Mother) — Directed by Michel Ocelot

2003

Storms (Orages) — Directed by Peter Kassovitz

2002

Give Me a Vacation — Directed by Didier Bivel

2001

Veloma — Directed by Marie de Laubier

1996

Bernie — Directed by Albert Dupontel

1988

Bikutsi Water Blues — Directed by Jean-Marie Teno

1987

From Ouaga to Douala via Paris — Directed by Jean-Marie Teno

TELEVISION

• Murders in Font-Romeu — Marion Lallier (2022)
• The Crimson Rivers – Season 3 — Virginie Sauveur (2020)
• César Wagner — Antoine Garceau (2019)
• He Even Has Your Eyes – The Series — Lucien Jean-Baptiste (2019)
• According to Thomas — Thomas Ngijol (2018)
• Almost Perfect — Gabriel Julien-Laferrière (2017)
• A Wonderful Family — Miguel Courtois (2016)
• Falco — Alexandre Laurent (2013)
• Sex, Gombo and Salted Butter — Haroun Mahamat-Saleh (2008)
• Navarro — Philippe Davin (2006)
• State of Grace — Pascal Chaumeil (2006)
• P.J. — Christian Bonnet (2004)
• Juvenile Brigade — Miguel Courtois (2003)
• The Heir — Christian Karcher (2002)
• Lea's Father — Charlotte Brändström (2000)
• High School — Miguel Courtois (2000)
• Mélissol — Jean-Pierre Igoux (1999)
• Maternity Ward — Arnaud Sélignac (1998)
• The City of Larks — Luc Béraud (1997)
• Steffie or Life Half-Time — Joël Séria (1989)

THEATRE

2022

The Last Colony (by Philippe Sands) — Directed by Sophie Picon

2002

The Blacks — Directed by Alain Ollivier

1999

All Nudity Shall Be Punished — Directed by Alain Ollivier

Other Stage Productions

• Zen Oyem — Directed by Dani Kouyaté
• Singue Mura — Werewere Liking
• The Widow's Dilemma — Werewere Liking
• My Memory Remembers — Compagnie Ngamm
• Enough Is Enough — Compagnie Ngamm
• The Dreaming Child — Janine Berdin
• Yoknapatawpha Mississippi — Sylvie Mongin-Algan
• Journey to Ndumbelane — Compagnie Coups de Pilon
• The Lion and the Jewel — Compagnie Coups de Pilon