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Rena Owen was born on July 22, 1962 in Bay of Islands, New Zealand, to a Maori father and a pakeha mother in the industrial town of Moerewa. She is the fifth of nine children.
Rena's experience in entertainment began when she was a child, performing traditional Maori song and dance. Through her participation in the college Maori cultural group, she gained roles in college productions. She also performed in church and community plays. After college Rena began a nursing career. She moved to London in 1982 where she decided to pursue drama and acting full time. Rena began her acting career in British theater after training at the Actors Institute in London. She worked for two years with Clean Break, a London based theater company. They produced The River that Ran Away, the first play written by Rena which also starred her in the leading role. The play was directed by Ann Mitchell and enjoyed a successful London tour. It was later published by Playmarket.
Rena returned to New Zealand in 1989 and continued to work extensively acting and writing in theater and television. During this period she also directed stage plays, worked as a dramaturgy for Playmarket, and read short stories for Radio New Zealand. Rena's performance in Once Were Warriors, New Zealand’s most successful film to date, has made her one of New Zealand’s most successful actors, and it’s most recognizable Star on the international film platform. Her performance earned her Best Actress Awards at the Montreal, Oporto, Seattle, and San Diego Film Festivals. In 1995 Rena was awarded the Cannes Film Festival’s Spirit Award. She also received New Zealand's Benny Award for Excellence and Contribution to the Industry and the Toast Master’s Communicator of the Year Award. In 1997 she received a nomination for Best Actress in a Television Drama in New Zealand and in 1998 a nomination for Best Supporting Actress by the Australian Film Institute.
Rena has extensively toured the International Film Festival circuit to promote various films, and also to serve on the jury of the Montreal, Manila, Hawaii, Santa Barbara, and the USA Film Festivals. She has also served as a consultant for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, and been on the Sundance Selection Panel. When time allows, Rena does public speaking, lectures at universities, and teaches drama. In 2002 she moved to Los Angeles where she continues her work. Her motto is 'Do what you love, and do it to the best of your ability'.
Follow title link for more information about the film in the Internet Movie Data Base
The Water Giant
[2003] as Crazy Norma
Nemesis Game
[2003] as Emily Gray
A Thousand Guns
[2002] as The Gypsy
Pledge of Allegiance
[2002] as Maria Macintyre
Sidney
[2002] as Clarissa
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
[2002] as voice of Taun We
Soul Assassin
[2001] as Karina
Artificial Intelligence: AI
[2001] as Ticket Taker
The Mary Kay Letourneau Story: All-American Girl
[2000TV] as Soona Fualaau
Her Iliad
[2000] as Lena
What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?
[1999] as Beth Heke
I'll Make You Happy
[1999] as Mickie
9 Across
[1999] as Joey
When Love Comes
[1998] as Katie Keen
Dance Me to My Song
[1998] as Rix
Savage Play
[1995] as Takiora
Once Were Warriors
[1994] as Beth Heke
Rapa Nui
[1994] as Hitirenga
Follow title link for more information about the television show in the Internet Movie Data Base
Medivac as Macy Fields
Follow title link for more information about the television show in the Internet Movie Data Base
Angel
(Ground State) [2002] as Dinza
Gideon's Crossing
(Flashpoint) [2001] as Tara the Surgeon
Dark Knight
(Golden Bird) [2000] as Rock Witch
The Little Picture Show
[1995] as Herself
Betty's Bunch
[1990] as Shirley
Shark in the Park
[1989] as Ngaire
Voices From Prison as CB
Co-Existences as Susie
The River That Ran Away as Toni
Outside In as Sandi
Fine Dancing as Hina
Haruru Mai as Pearl
West as Sylvia
The Hungry City as Riria
Whatungarongaro as Ruby
Outside In as Di
The Feds
Kvetch as Donna
Te Hokina as Girlie
Daddy's Girl as Rose
Land of Trash as Rahui
No Ordinary Sun
Bare - (theater) Director
The River That Ran Away - (theater) Writer
Te Hara - (theater) Director
In the Wilderness - (theater) Director
Te Whanau a Tuanui Jones - (theater) Director
Daddy's Girl - (theater) Writer
Follow title link for more information about the film in the Internet Movie Data Base
Star Wars: Episode III
as Senator
The Crow: Wicked Prayer
as Mary
KR Actors Agency
New Zealand
64-9-378-9016
Peter Fraser Dunlop
England
44-171-352-7270
Gary Goddard Agency
Canada
416-928-0229
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