Nai Bonet

Nai Bonet, born Christine Shapazian on January 6, 1939, in Saigon, Vietnam, is a producer, screenwriter, actress, singer, and belly-dancer whose career spanned several decades across stage, film, television, and music.

Bonet launched her professional career at the age of 13, headlining as a belly-dancer at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. She transitioned into film work beginning in 1964, frequently cast in roles that drew on her belly-dancing background, while also building a presence in television, commercials, and variety shows. Her image appeared on multiple album covers, and she maintained an active profile as a nightclub headliner throughout this period. In 1966, she released the novelty song "Jelly Belly" and filmed an accompanying music video that was featured on Scopitone video jukeboxes.

In 1972, Bonet appeared on Broadway in the play Lysistrata. Her stage work coincided with a broader shift in her professional focus during the 1970s, when she directed her attention toward acting. Reflecting on that period, she stated in 1978 that she had not been making the progress she sought in film.

Bonet subsequently took on the roles of producer and star in two film projects she had conceived herself: Nocturna in 1979 and Hoodlums in 1980. Both films were commercial failures, and following their release, Bonet stepped away from her career in the entertainment industry.