Rena Owen  is an award-winning actor, writer, and director whose career spans theatre, film, and television in Aotearoa and internationally. Best known for her iconic performance as Beth Heke in Once Were Warriors (1994), she has also appeared in international films such as Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Pearl Harbour, as well as portraying a lead role in the biographical film Whina, telling the story of Dame Whina Cooper.

Trained at the Actors Institute in London, Owen has worked extensively in theatre in New Zealand, the UK, the USA, and Australia, as both actor and playwright. Her screen credits also include What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, Rain of the Children, Longmire, East West 101, and the Freeform series Siren.

Her achievements have been recognised with numerous awards, including Best Actress at the Montreal and San Diego International Film Festivals, the New Zealand Film and TV Awards, and an AFI nomination. A trailblazer for Māori and women in the arts, Rena Owen continues to bring powerful stories and characters to the screen and stage worldwide.

📸 https://www.flickr.com/photos/evarinaldiphotography/6795444151/

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