Swarnamalya, the famous VJ of 90s got fame because of the 'Illamai Pudhumai' show on Sun TV. The host turned actress with her Kollywood debut in Maniratnam's 'Alaipayuthey', in which she essayed the role of actress Shalini's sister.

It had opened up cinema as an area of interest for her which lead her taking up Diploma in Acting for Camera at the University in California.

The actress did very few movies before tying the knot in 2002 and the couple moved to the United States of America. Swarnamalya moved back to India to pursue her career with in a year after her marriage. Reportedly, that eventually led to their divorce in 2004.
Swarnamalya was caught into many controversies post divorce including her close links with Kanchi Mutt's Jr Aacharya Vijayendirar. Sankararaman Murder case against Jayendirar made her accept her intimacy and close relationship with the Junior Acharya. There were allegations that she acted in adult films and police raised those CDs in Burma bazaar. The actress also came into the limelight for having relationship with actor-producer Prakash Raj during the making of the movie 'Mozhi'.
Controversies apart, the actress because of her interest in dancing and art, pursued Masters in Bharathanatyam and Ph.D in Dance History, which paved strong base to start her own dance school.

Now the actress seldom appears in movies and serials, as she is focusing on her dancing career.