Owen, Rena 1962(?)–

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Owen, Rena 1962(?)–

PERSONAL

Born July 22, 1962 (some sources say 1960), in Bay of Islands, New Zealand (some sources say Moerewa, New Zealand); married Faleolo Alailima (an actor). Education: Earned degree in nursing; trained for the stage at the Actors Institute.

Addresses: Agent—Michael Greene & Associates, 7080 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 1017, Hollywood, CA 90028.

Career: Actress, director, and writer. Performed traditional Maori songs and dances for tourists as a child; worked with Clean Break (a theatre company), London, for two years; worked as a dramaturgy for Playmarket; wrote and read short stories for Radio New Zealand. Served on the juries of the Montreal Film Festival, Manila Film Festival, Hawaii Film Festival, Santa Barbara Film Festival, USA Film Festival; IFP West consultant; Sundance Screenwriters Lab, consultant; Sundance Film Festival Selection Panel, member; appeared as a public speaker at universities; also worked as a drama teacher. Previously worked as a nurse.

Awards, Honors: San Diego International Film Festival Award, best actress, Montreal World Film Festival Award, best actress, 1994, International Fantasy Film Award, best actress, Fantasporto, 1995, Oporto Film Festival Award, best actress, Seattle Film Festival Award, best actress, San Diego Film Festival Award, best actress, all for Once Were Warriors; Australian Film Institute Award nomination, best performance by an actress in a supporting role, 1998, Film Critics Circle of Australia Award nomination, best supporting actor—female, 1999, both for Dance Me to My Song; Spirit Award, Cannes Film Festival; Benny Award, for excellence and contribution to the New Zealand film industry; Communicator of the Year Award, Toast Master; TVNZ Award nomination, best actress, for Coverstory; Prize for Cultural Contribution to the Life of Bay of Islands College.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Voice of Hinekaro, Hinekaro Goes on a Picnic and Blows Up Another Obelisk (short film), Spartan Home Entertainment, 1994.

Beth Heke, Once Were Warriors, Fine Line, 1994.

Hitirenga, Rapa Nui, Warner Bros., 1994.

Takiora, Savage Play, 1995.

Rix, Dance Me to My Song, 1998.

Katie, When Loves Comes (also known as When Love Comes Along,) Jour de Fete Films, 1998.

9 Across (short film), 1999.

Mickie, I'll Make You Happy, 1999.

Beth Heke, What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, REP Distribution, 1999.

Lena, Her Iliad (short film), 2000.

Ticket taker, Artificial Intelligence: AI (also known as A.I. Artificial Intelligence), Warner Bros., 2001.

Karina, Soul Assassin, Universal, 2001.

The gypsy, A Thousand Guns, 2002.

Voice of Miniterial Assistant Taun We, Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones (also known as Star Wars II and Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones), Twentieth Century-Fox, 2002.

Clarissa, sIDney (short film), 2002.

Herself, From Puppets to Pixels: Digital Characters in "Episode II" (documentary; also known as From Puppets to Pixels: Digital Characters in "Star Wars Episode II"), Twentieth Century-Fox Home Entertainment, 2002.

Emily Gray, Nemesis Game, Lions Gate Films, 2003.

Warrior woman, Pear ta ma 'on maf (also known as The Land Has Eyes), Hollywood Wizard, 2004.

Mary, The Crow: Wicked Prayer, Dimension Films, 2005.

Nee Alavar, Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2005.

Crazy Norma, Mee-Shee: The Water Giant, Content-Film, 2005.

Maria Macintyre, Pledge of Allegiance (also known as Red Zone), Belgravia Entertainment, 2005.

Lee, Freezerburn, Brookturn Co., 2005.

Linda, The Horrible Flowers, 2005.

Palm reader, The Iron Man, Karim Movies, 2006.

Television Appearances; Series:

Macy Fields, Medivac (also known as Adrenalin Junkies), Ten Network, 1996–97.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Soona Fualaau, All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story, USA Network, 2000.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Dark Knight, 2000.

Tara the surgeon, "Flashpoint," Gideon's Crossing, ABC, 2001.

Dinza, "Ground State," Angel (also known as Angel: The Series), The WB, 2002.

Television Appearances; Other:

Appeared in New Zealand television productions, including Shark in the Park; Betty's Bunch; Coverstory; The Call Up; The Visitation; Savage Play; Mataora.

Stage Appearances:

Bloody Mary, South Pacific, 1977.

Title role, Calamity Jane, 1978.

Also appeared in Voice from Prison, Royal Shakespeare Company; Co-Existences, Elephant Theater; Outside In, Edinburgh Theatre, then London; The River That Ran Away (also known as Te Awa I Tahutu), Clean Break, London; West and Kvetch, Ocean Productions; The Hungry City, Watershed Theatre, New Zealand; Wha-tungarongaro, New Zealand cities, then Adelaide Festival, Australia; Daddy's Girl; Wi Kuki Kaa; Haruru Mai, International Festival of the Arts.