Unsung Support
The character actors, the often recognized, but not nearly enough recognition as the leads.
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It took 30 years since it was first predicted, but Conchata Ferrell finally achieved television stardom, albeit of the supporting variety, as the housekeeper "Berta" in the situation-comedy Two and a Half Men (2003). Ferrell originally had been tipped for stardom with her turn as the prostitute "April" in the Norman Lear-produced series Hot l Baltimore (1975), in which she recreated her role in Lanford Wilson's off-Broadway hit. However, what was a hit play in New York turned out to be a flop on national TV and, though she worked steadily ever since, it took her role in support of stars Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer in "Men" to get her the attention her talent richly deserved. For her role as "Berta", Conchata was nominated for an Emmy Award as Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in both 2005 and 2007. She had three Emmy nominations in total, having previously gotten a nod in 1992 for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for L.A. Law (1986).
Conchata Galen Ferrell was born on March 28, 1943 in Charleston, West Virginia, to Mescal Loraine (George) and Luther Martin Ferrell. She attended West Virginia University and Marshall University. Conchata graduated from Marshall with a degree in social studies in education. Eventually, she sought a life in the theater, and achieved success off-Broadway as a member of the Circle in the Square theatrical company in Wilson's "Hot L Baltimore". For her next off-Broadway appearance, as "Gertrude Blum" in Edward J. Moore's "The Sea Horse", Ferrell won Drama Desk, Theatre World and Obie Awards as best actress in 1974. She worked steadily in television and films ever since.
Ferrell was married to Arnie Anderson, and had one daughter.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Terry Keli Chen was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He moved around growing up but was raised mainly in Alberta and on the West coast. After dropping out of the University of Calgary he spent two years traveling throughout Cuba and the Cayman Islands. Terry moved back to Vancouver, British Columbia to pursue his dream of being an actor. In his first year of auditioning, he made his debut in a supporting role as 'Ben Fong-Torres' in the much-lauded film Almost Famous, directed by Cameron Crowe.
Over the last two decades, Terry's had supporting and lead roles alongside the industries best; Memory, The A-Team, and Elysium, to name a few. Terry filmed the ABC drama Combat Hospital as series regular, US Captain Dr. Bobby Trang, as well as recurred in the fan favorite Continuum, and a recurring role in season two of the award-winning series, House of Cards (Netflix). Terry continued his strong work playing the brave father and botanist, Prax, in critics choice series The Expanse on Amazon and as a lead in the second season of Jessica Jones for Marvel/Netflix. He also co-stars in the poignant four-part limited series Chimerica (Channel4).
Terry recently starred opposite Viggo Mortenson in the critically acclaimed feature film, Falling, which premiered at Sundance in 2020. He can also be seen most recently heavily recurring on ABC's A Million Little Things, opposite Grace Park. Terry can be caught next starring as the lead in the inspiring feature film Sight based on the true story of Dr. Ming Wang, who escaped poverty, oppression, and violence to become the world's most influential eye surgeon.
Terry now splits his time between Los Angeles and Vancouver where he continues to seek compelling and unique characters.- Producer
- Actress
- Director
Actor, Writer, Producer, Director Jennifer Podemski is a director, writer, producer and actor. Born and raised in Toronto, Jennifer makes her home in Barrie, Ontario.
Of mixed Anishinaabe (First Nation) and Ashkenazi (Jewish) decent, Jennifer's professional acting career began when she was 17. Her breakout role was Sadie, in Bruce McDonald's iconic film, Dance Me Outside, a performance that garnered critical acclaim, solidifying her place in Canada's film and television canon.
In 1999 Jennifer shifted her focus to producing as a way to address the lack of Indigenous representation in the film and television industry. She launched Big Soul Productions with Laura Milliken becoming Canada's first Indigenous owned and operated, full-service film and television production and post production company. Big Soul Productions produced a variety of documentary television series, scripted short films and the award winning, multi-season, all Indigenous dramatic television series Moccasin Flats for Showcase Television and APTN.
In 2005, Jennifer branched out independently and has been creating, producing, writing and directing content through her production company Redcloud Studios Inc. Her most recent credits include 5 seasons of the paranormal television series The Other Side (APTN), the award winning feature film Empire of Dirt and two seasons of documentary series Future History (APTN) for which she received the 2020 Canadian Screen Award for Best Director Factual.
Jennifer has maintained a successful career as an actor, with roles in Degrassi TNG, Republic of Doyle, Take This Waltz, Blackstone, Hard Rock Medical and Cardinal. She is most proud of her starring role in her own film Empire of Dirt which was nominated for 5 Canadian Screen Awards in 2015 including Best Actress (Cara Gee), Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Podemski), Best Editing (Jorge Weisz), Best Film (Jennifer Podemski) and a win for Best Screenplay making Shannon Masters the first Indigenous woman to receive this honor.
In 2020, Jennifer launched The Shine Network, a digital platform designed to amplify the voices of Indigenous women content creators and offer professional development opportunities to Indigenous women.
Redcloud Studios Inc. With veteran producer, Jennifer Podemski, at the helm, Redcloud Studios has produced award-winning and critically acclaimed productions across all platforms and genres for over 15 years.
Redcloud Studios is committed to creating and producing Indigenous content through an Indigenous lens while building capacity and creating opportunities within the screen sector for aspiring Indigenous storytellers. From concept to completion, Jennifer leads the creative on a wide variety of content from dramatic series to documentary, factual and live broadcast.- Actress
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tamara Podemski is a multi-disciplinary artist born and raised in Toronto to an Ojibway mother from Treaty 4 Territory in Saskatchewan and an Ashkenazi father from Israel. She is a graduate of the Claude Watson School for the Performing Arts where she studied theatre, dance and music throughout its 10-year program.
Though she is best known as a screen actress, Tamara's stage career has spanned over 25 years as an actress, singer, dancer and choreographer, most notably starring on Broadway in the musical RENT. She also has independent recording career, having wrote and released 3 albums [2 in Anishinaabemowin and 1 in English under her own record label, Mukwa Music].
Tamara made her biggest mark in Sterlin Harjo's film "Four Sheets to the Wind" when she won the Special Jury Prize for Acting at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, followed by an IFC Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 2008. After returning to the stage, she earned a Jessie Theatre Award nomination for her role in Marie Clements' play "The Edward Curtis Project" and, under the direction of Jani Lauzon, Tamara starred in Colleen Wagner's Governor General's Award-Winning Play "The Monument," which was hailed as one of the "10 Best Theatre Productions of 2018" by the Globe & Mail. Recently, she joined the all-Indigenous cast of Keith Barker's "This is How We Got Here" which won a 2020 Dora Award for Outstanding New Play. Behind the camera, Tamara is the writer and story producer of the documentary TV series Future History (directed and produced by her sister, Jennifer Podemski) and was nominated for Best Writing in a Factual Series at the 2020 Canadian Screen Awards. Tamara recently won an 2021 ACTRA Award for "Outstanding Female Performance" and a 2021 Canadian Screen Award for "Best Supporting Actress - Drama" for her role as Alison Trent in CBC's "Coroner."
As a community worker, she has travelled the globe sharing her cultural and creative experiences through workshops, keynotes and panel discussions. Having grandparents who are both Holocaust survivors and Residential School survivors, she speaks openly about issues of intergenerational trauma, reconciliation, inherited legacies and the importance of creating safe spaces for dialogue, education and collaboration.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Glen Gould is an acclaimed actor with a remarkable career in theater, television, and film. With his exceptional talent and versatility, he has garnered numerous awards and critical acclaim for his performances. From his recent roles in Marie Clements' "Bones of Crows" to his recurring role opposite Sylvester Stallone in Taylor Sheridan's "Tulsa King", and his guest starring role in Season 6 of "Outlander", Glen has consistently impressed audiences and critics alike.
Born and raised on the Membertou First Nation in Nova Scotia, Glen discovered his passion for acting at a young age. He honed his skills in theater, television, and film, laying the foundation for his successful career. With a rich background in theater, Glen Gould developed a commanding stage presence and an ability to bring characters to life.
Glen Gould's filmography is a testament to his talent and range as an actor. He has appeared in a wide variety of films, showcasing his ability to excel in different genres. One notable film is the indie feature "Girl," where he starred opposite Bella Thorne, captivating audiences with his compelling performance. Another remarkable film in his repertoire is the Hollywood blockbuster "Cold Pursuit," which further solidified his presence in the industry.
Glen Gould's outstanding portrayal in the LGBT action-thriller "North Mountain" earned him the prestigious Best Actor award at the 2015 RNCI Awards, showcasing his ability to tackle challenging and diverse roles. His exceptional performance in "Rhymes for Young Ghouls" also garnered critical acclaim, earning him a Best Actor win at the 2014 AIMPA's and a Best Actor Nomination at the 2014 and 2020 RNFCI Festival. Additionally, Glen Gould's role as Avery Paul in the award-winning feature film "Charlie Zone" earned him the esteemed David Renton Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor at the AIFF and the Best Actor at the Dreamspeakers Film Festival.
Glen's talent extends beyond the silver screen, as he has also made a significant impact in the television industry. One of his most notable roles is Detective Jerry Commanda in the hit CTV series "Cardinal." His portrayal of this complex character captivated audiences, further establishing his versatility and acting prowess. Another memorable television role is that of rancher John Eagle in "Cashing In," showcasing his ability to bring depth and authenticity to his characters.
In addition to these standout performances, Glen has made appearances in various other television shows. From "FBI Most Wanted" to "Tribal," "Mohawk Girls" to "The Strain," his talent has been recognized and celebrated across a wide range of TV series. He has also graced the screens in popular shows like "Blackstone," "Murdoch Mysteries," "DaVinci's City Hall," "DaVinci's Inquest," and "The 4400," among others.
While Glen has achieved remarkable success in film and television, his passion for theater remains unwavering. With his extensive background in theater, he has showcased his talent on stage, captivating audiences with his commanding presence
and exceptional performances. His rich voice has also made him a sought-after talent for voice-overs and narrations in various TV shows, documentaries, and animations.
Glen Gould's career is a testament to his exceptional talent, dedication, and versatility as an actor. From his captivating performances in film, television, and theater to his renowned voice-over work, he continues to leave an indelible mark on the industry. With his numerous accolades and critical acclaim, Glen Gould stands as one of the most accomplished and respected actors of his generation.- Actor
- Music Department
A Canadian actor of Cree and Stoney descent, Gordon Tootosis made his film debut in the western film Alien Thunder (1974) with Donald Sutherland and Chief Dan George. Tootoosis provided memorable performances in television and movies, including the role of 'One Stab' in Legends of the Fall (1994), the role of 'Growling Bear' in the Steven Spielberg produced miniseries Into the West (2005) and the role of 'Chief Red Cloud' in the HBO film Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007). His television credits include guest appearances on Friday the 13th: The Series (1987), MacGyver (1985), Northern Exposure (1990), The X-Files (1993), The Magnificent Seven (1998) and Smallville (2001). Tootoosis provided the voice of 'Kekata' in Disney's animated feature Pocahontas (1995) and Sheriff Gordy in Open Season (2006).- Actress
- Director
- Producer
Actress Tantoo Cardinal is a Member of the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest civilian honors. The order recognizes Cardinal for her contributions to the growth and development of Aboriginal performing arts in Canada.
Arguably the most widely recognized Native Actress of her generation, Cardinal has appeared in numerous plays, television programs, and films, including Legends of the Fall, Dances With Wolves, Black Robe, Loyalties, Luna, Spirit of the Whale, Unnatural & Accidental, Marie-Anne, Sioux City, Silent Tongue, Mothers & Daughters, and Smoke Signals. Recent work includes the films Eden, Maina, Shouting Secrets and From Above.
Her stirring performance in Loyalties earned her a Genie nomination, American Indian Film Festival Best Actress Award, the People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, plus Best Actress Awards at International Film Festivals in Zimbabwe and Portugal.
Cardinal was recently honored with the 2015 ACTRA Award of Excellence; other honors include Best Actress - Elizabeth Sterling Award in Theatre for All My Relations, and First Americans in the Arts Totem Award for her portrayal of the character Katrina in Widows at the Forum Stage in Los Angeles. She won the American Indian Film Festival's Best Actress Award as well as the first Rudy Martin Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Native American in Film for Where the Rivers Flow North, a Gemini Award for North of 60, and a Leo Award for Blackstone.
Her television credits include recurring roles on the series: Blackstone, The Killing, Arctic Air, Strange Empire, The Guard, North of 60, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, The Lightening Field, Street Legal, The Campbell's, Gunsmoke, Tom Stone, Myth Quest, Lonesome Dove, and Renegade Press.com. MOW's include Full Flood, The Englishman's Boy, Dreamkeeper and the PBS documentary Nobody's Girls.
For her contributions to the Native Artistic community, Cardinal won the Eagle Spirit Award. She has also been honored with the MacLeans' magazine Honor Roll as Actress of the Year, the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Toronto Women in Film and Television, an International Women in Film Award for her lasting contribution to the arts, and induction to the CBC/Playback Hall of Fame.- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Kimberly is a Native American actor who has enjoyed a long career in film, television, and theatre. Some of Kimberly's recent credits include playing "Auntie B" in FX on the hit comedy RESERVATION DOGS, "Katie Clarke" opposite Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer in the lauded Amazon/BBC limited series THE ENGLISH , and the Mom/Head Ranger in Netflix's new animated series SPIRIT RANGERS. Her recent film credits include the critically acclaimed feature, MONTANA STORY, the gritty revenge thriller and winner of the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival Audience Award, CATCH THE FAIR ONE and Julie Taymor's inspirational Gloria Steinem biopic, THE GLORIAS, where Kimberly plays legendary Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller opposite Julianne Moore. On stage, Kimberly originated the role of "Johnna" in Tracy Letts' Tony Award-winning play AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (Chicago, Broadway, London, Sydney) and also starred in MANAHATTA (The Public Theater, NY) and THE FRYBREAD QUEEN (Native Voices, LA). Kimberly serves as the Artistic Director at UC Riverside, where she is an Associate Professor in the department of Theater, Film and Digital Filmmaking. Kimberly is an enrolled member of the Colville Tribes and also has Salish heritage, and is married to composer and musician, Johnny Guerrero. The couple have worked for years in tribal communities mentoring youth and supporting wellness through the creation of original films, online content, and music.- Actress
- Additional Crew
Geraldine Keams was born in Arizona, USA. She is an actress, known for Reservation Dogs (2021), Rutherford Falls (2021) and Dark Winds (2022).- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Georgina Lightning brings a long track record of creative experience in the film industry as an actor, producer, director and acting coach on such projects as: Dreamkeepers, Backroads, Johnny Greyeyes, Christmas in the Clouds, Tecumseh, the Oath and Smoke Signals among countless others. Lightning has also guest starred in T.V. episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger and West Wing.
Lightning's directorial debut Older Than America has won over 23 awards to date and is inspired by stories told to her by many of her family members and friends who attended the Indian Boarding schools. Most recently Lightning co-founded Tribal Alliance Productions, a production company committed to producing media that matters told from a native prospective. A long time advocate of Native Indian advancement in the film industry, Lightning also formed Native Media Network, a group dedicated to the promotion and advancement of Native Indian talent.- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Jana Schmieding is a Mniconjou and Sicangu Lakota actor, writer and comedian known for her work on Rutherford Falls. Formerly a public school teacher in New York City, Jana moved to Los Angeles to further pursue a career in television. Jana was born and raised in rural Oregon, studied theater arts at the University of Oregon and got her Masters in Teaching from Mercy College in New York. She cut her teeth in the improv and sketch comedy scene in New York City where she wrote, performed and directed regularly.- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Sarah Podemski is an award winning Anishinaabe/Ashkenazi multidisciplinary artist from Toronto. She is passionate about recreating the Indigenous narrative that has been misrepresented since the beginning of cinema. She can be seen pulling double duty on television. She stars in the critically acclaimed award-winning series "Reservation Dogs" on FX. Co-created and executive produced by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, Sarah plays Bear's mother 'Rita,' who is on a journey to discover herself and her role as a mom. In the Syfy comedy "Resident Alien" Sarah portrays 'Kayla,' cousin to 'Asta' (Sara Tomko). Kayla is a Lawyer, and Asta's best friend/support system who is in a period of self-reflection while balancing the responsibilities of motherhood.
Sarah began in the performing arts at the tender age of six years old. She booked her first role in the German TV series "Blue Hawk" at 11 and went on to appear in the iconic series "Goosebumps". Sarah's long career also includes roles in CBS' "Bull," Amazon's "Tin Star" and CBC's "The Coroner." Her feature film work includes winning 'Best Supporting Actress' at the American Indian Film Festival for the TIFF Official Selection "Mekko", written and directed by Sterlin Harjo.
Throughout her career, Sarah has been passionate about raising awareness and elevating Indigenous and Jewish narratives in the entertainment industry. In addition to her on-camera presence, she writes and produces alongside her husband James Gadon. They are in the works on a 6-episode "road trip" documentary series that took place during the pandemic in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Included in the documentary are local business owners, visual artists and Indigenous activists who provided a sense of community while the region navigated many Covid-19 related challenges. The series also includes an episode highlighting the first Residential School in Canada.
Beyond her work in film and television, Sarah runs 'Totem Designs', where she makes handmade dream-catchers with a modern twist. In 2019, she was a featured artist at the One of a Kind Show in Toronto and her products have been included in various markets across North America, as well as the 2019 HGTV holiday gift guide.- Actor
- Director
- Additional Crew
Gary Dale Farmer is a character actor with plenty of character. With over 100 Film and TV appearances attached to his resume, and plenty more in the pipeline, Gary has shown he can adapt easily to any genre when necessary. He was born in Ohsweken, Ontario, into the Cayuga nation and Wolf Clan, and studied photography and Film at both the Syracuse University and Ryerson Polytechnic University. He then began a successful career as an actor, first taking small roles in movies such as Police Academy (1984), the John Schlesinger film The Believers (1987) with Martin Sheen, the Matt Dillon vehicle, The Big Town (1987), and Renegades (1989) starring Kiefer Sutherland and Lou Diamond Phillips.
By the early 1990s, Gary was starring in more substantial roles. He portrayed Cowboy Dashee in the Robert Redford- produced thriller, The Dark Wind (1991) - again opposite Lou Diamond Phillips- and starred with Corey Feldman and
Jim Jarmusch re-prised Gary's role as the Native American spiritual guide - Nobody - for his next film, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), and Frank Oz cast him alongside Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro in The Score (2001). Gary continues to work steadily as an actor and has also moved behind the camera - he has directed a few projects, including an episode of the Forever Knight (1992) TV series, episode 'Father Figure' (1992).
Gary formed his own band: 'Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers'. They play the blues and have released two CDs.- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Zahn Tokiya-ku McClarnon is an American actor known for his performances in the Western crime drama series Longmire, the second season of Fargo, and the second season of Westworld. In 2022 he plays the lead role in the AMC series Dark Winds. He also features in the 2021 FX on Hulu series Reservation Dogs, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Hawkeye (2021), and Echo (2023).
McClarnon was born in Denver, Colorado, the son of a Hunkpapa Lakota mother and a father of Irish ancestry. He grew up near Browning, Montana, where his father worked at Glacier National Park for the National Park Service. He would often visit the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, where his mother grew up, and often stayed with his maternal grandparents on weekends and for longer visits. His mother lived on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. When his father was relocated to Omaha, Nebraska, for work, the family lived in the Joslyn Castle and Dundee neighborhoods. McClarnon has a fraternal twin brother.- Paulina Alexis was born on 10 September 2000 in Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation Reserve, Alberta, Canada. She is an actress, known for Reservation Dogs (2021), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) and Beans (2020).
- Actress
- Writer
- Director
Devery Jacobs was born and raised in Kahnawa:ke Mohawk Territory and is an award-winning actor and filmmaker. Her breakout leading role in Rhymes for Young Ghouls (2013) landed her a nomination for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. Since then, Jacobs is mainly known for her performances in Taika Waititi's FX Series Reservation Dogs (2021-), Amazon Prime Video/STARZ's American Gods (2019-20), Netflix's The Order (2019-20) CTV's Cardinal (2018) and the Amazon Prime thriller The Lie (2020).
Alongside acting, Jacobs is also an award-winning filmmaker. Her short film Rae (2017) was an official selection of the 2018 Palm Springs Shortfest, and won Best Youth Work at the 2017 imagineNATIVE Film Festival. Jacobs was named one of Canada's Rising Breakout Stars by the Hollywood Reporter and was honored by Telefilm Canada at the 2017 Birks Diamond Tribute, celebrating women in film. Jacobs was also a TIFF Rising Star at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.- Actor
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Ke Huy Quan, also known as Jonathan Ke Quan, is a Vietnamese-born Chinese-American actor and stunt choreographer. Quan played Short Round in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" (1984) and Data in "The Goonies" (1985). In 1990 and 1991, he co-starred as Jasper Kwong in the sitcom "Head of the Class" over two seasons. Quan stopped acting due to a lack of opportunity in the late 1990s, when he received his film degree from USC School of Cinematic Arts. He went on to work as a stunt coordinator and assistant director. He returned to acting as Waymond Wang in the film "Everything Everywhere All at Once" (2022), a role for which he received critical acclaim, and which earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Rena Owen is an international award-winning actress, and one of only six in the world and the only female to date to have worked with both filmmaking legends George Lucas and Steven Spielberg during her illustrious career that spans 35 years working in theater, television, film and voice work.
One of nine children, born and bred in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand (NZ) to a Maori/Welsh father and a European mother, Rena was first published at age eight when she won a national children's poetry contest. Throughout her youth she was active in the Maori Culture Club, high school musical productions, and community theater events. Despite knowing her talents laid in creativity, the arts were not considered a viable career.
At 18, she moved to Auckland to pursue a nursing career, and qualified as a general and obstetric nurse (SRN). In 1983 she went on her overseas experience, a common Kiwi pursuit and landed in London. Awed by the huge city and the bright lights of the entertainment world, the temptations that came with it easily seduced the naive 22-year-old but this life changing period led her back to a creative career.
Rena trained at the Actors Institute of London in the mid-1980s. During her formative years she worked in all aspects of theater. The first play she wrote, The River That Ran Away, was produced by Clean Break and directed by her mentor, award-winning British actress Ann Mitchell, with Rena in the lead role. It enjoyed a successful London tour and was later published by NZ Playmarket (1991). Other UK highlights include Voices from Prison with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the award-winning Outside In, which debuted at the Edinburgh Festival.
Upon her return to NZ in 1989 Rena acted in two one-hour dramas for Television NZ's series, E Tipu, E Rea. A first of its kind, the series was written, acted, directed and produced by Maori people. In constant pursuit of learning and honing her craft, she continued to work extensively in theatre acting, writing, directing and working as a playwright. Rena was a founding member of the reputable Taki Rua Theatre Company.
She wrote and recorded short stories for Radio NZ, wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed stage play Daddy's Girl whilst playing reoccurring roles on NZ TV series Betty's Bunch and Shark in the Park. Rena was a rare recipient of a Dame Te Atairangikaahu (the NZ Maori Queen) Literary Award and Scholarship in 1991.
The Kevin Reynolds/Kevin Costner film Rapa Nui in 1993 was her first film role followed by the leading role in the cult classic NZ film Once Were Warriors. Her electrifying performance garnered her universal rave reviews. David Denby declared, "Owen's performance is classic!" Roger Ebert proclaimed, "You don't often see acting like this in the movies. The two leads bring the Academy Awards into perspective." Ruby Rich called her "The Bette Davis from Down Under" while Thelma Adams wrote, "Owen has the looks of Jeanne Moreau, the raw emotional power of Anna Magnani & a slim athleticism all her own".
Once Were Warriors was voted one of Time Magazine's top 10 films in 1994. It garnered over 30 international awards and screened in 66 countries. Rena won Best Actress awards at the Montreal, Oporto, Seattle, San Diego Film Festivals & the Cannes Film Festival's Spirit Award. While in NZ she was awarded the Benny Award for Excellence in Film and the Toastmasters Communicator of the Year Award.
She returned to the Theater to act in Stephen Berkoff's plays East West and Kvetch. Rena earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role in the NZ TV series Coverstory, was a series regular in the Australian Network 10 TV drama Adrenalin Junkies from 1996-98, played a leading role in Garth Maxwell's When Love Comes and a supporting role in Rolf De Heer's critically acclaimed Dance Me To My Song that was in competition at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival and earned her an Australian Film Institute (AFI) Best Supporting Actress nomination.
In 2000, Rena set up a base in Los Angeles. She played beloved Taun We in George Lucas's Star Wars: Attack of the Clones followed by a cameo role in Steven Spielberg's Artificial Intelligence (A.I). She guest starred on Gideon's Crossing & played a reoccurring role in WB's Angel. Lucas cast her again as Nee Alavar in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. She went on to play supporting & cameo roles in multiple international films. Highlights include An All American Girl, Veronica Decides To Die, Nemesis Game, Alyce Kills, Vincent Ward's acclaimed Rain Of The Children and A Piece Of My Heart.
During 2010-2020, Rena played a 3 month role on NZ's longest running TV series, Shortland Street, and won the Best Supporting Actress Award at the 2011 Aotearoa Film & Television Awards (AFTA). A reoccurring role in the award-winning Australian TV series East West 101 earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Australian Academy of Cinema & Television Arts and a Best Actress nomination at the Monte Carlo International Television Festival in 2012.
Cast as a series regular, Rena played the matriarch opposite Brian Cox's patriarch of a multi-ethnic crime family set in the Torres Strait Islands, Australia for an ABC TV series fondly nicknamed 'The Sopranos in thongs!' The Hollywood Reporter voted The Straits as one of the top 10 TV series to binge watch in 2013. Once Were Warriors, the film that launched her international career was voted the number one film of all time in NZ in 2014. Rena starred in a NZ documentary celebrating the film's 20th anniversary called Where Are They Now?
Rena played a supporting role in the New Zealand film The Dead Lands which enjoyed a Special Presentation Premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, garnered rave reviews, and sold to multiple territories. In the USA she played a supporting role in the indie film The Well, recurring roles for A&E's TV series Longmire and Sundance's TV series The Red Road, the coveted role of Glaeser in Vin Diesel's movie The Last Witch Hunter directed by Breck Eisner, and the ghostly villain in the indie film Without a Body.
Rena was cast as a series regular in Freeform's hit TV series Siren which enjoyed 3 seasons during 2016-2019. During the hiatus she played a military major in the Australian film Escape & Evasion, was a series regular in Stan Australia, and ABC's mini series The Gloaming, and played the recurring role of Heveena in Seth MacFarlane's TV series The Orville.
During the coronavirus lock-down, Rena played the lead in Whina, a NZ film to be released in 2022, a supporting role on the NZ TV series VegasNZ, and also renewed her Star Wars role as Taun We in the Bad Batch. In 2021, she completed work on season 3 of The Orville, and was thrilled to be cast as Sarge in Netflix's animated series Super Giant Robot Brothers (2022).
Throughout her remarkable career besides television and film, Rena continues to work in theater globally, and has served on multiple international film festival juries. She also enjoys being a mentor and public speaker when time permits.
Her motto is "Love what you do and do it to the very best of your ability!"- Actor
- Music Department
- Writer
David Gulpilil is a legendary Yolngu actor, a First Nations person of Northern Australia, born around 1953. The local missionaries gave him his birthdate of July 1, 1953, just as they gave him his Christian name David, although he admits he liked that name from the start. His last name, Gulpilil, was a totem, the kingfisher. He'd never seen a white person until he was 8 when he visited the mission school, but he never really allowed them to teach him anything.
In 1969, the British film director Nicolas Roeg, scouting locations in the Outback, appeared at a mission in the north and asked if anyone knew a boy who can throw a spear, who can hunt, and who can dance, and everyone pointed at David.
David's easy smile made him a natural, and it quickly became obvious that he was unlike anyone the white man had met in the outback. He was not reserved or suspicious of strangers, and carried song on his lips and rhythm in his legs. David Gulpilil was fearless.
Looking back over his career, he tells us in the documentary, My Name is Gulpilil (2021), filmed while dying of terminal lung cancer, that he never acted, that acting wasn't something he had to do because it was natural. "I know how to walk across the land in front of a camera, because I belong there," Standing on stage, before a camera, or before the Queen of England, David felt comfortable in his own skin whether it was barely dressed in a loin cloth, or stuffed into the white man's dinner jacket.
Roeg quickly cast the charismatic Gulpilil in Walkabout (1971), a film based upon Donald G Payne's 1959 novel about a boy who cheerfully leads children to safety. Without really knowing it, Roeg broke new ground in Australian cinema, and redefined the way that Indigenous people were represented in Australian cinema. The film was an international success everywhere but in Australia, where First Nation peoples had been previously portrayed only by white people wearing blackface. And to top it off, the film broke cultural barriers, presenting on the wide screen a sexually attractive young Black man.
David Gulpilli was, overnight, hurled in to high society as an instant, international celebrity and presented before Queen Elizabeth, who found him quite charming and humorous. She in turn introduced David to John Lennon and that was just the beginning. Before long he was soon shaking hands with Muhammad Ali, Marlon Brando, Bruce Lee, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Marley, who would help contribute to David's downfall. David taught Bob Marley to play the didgeridoo. Marley taught David to smoke ganja. But it was while filming Mad Dog Morgan (1976) that he got his crash course in hellraising by Dennis Hopper. Later in his one-man stage show he'd say, "If you're working with people like Dennis Hopper and [John] Meillon, well, you gotta learn all about drinking and drugs."
David enjoyed being in front of the camera, and he well knew the importance of his work because it was history and it would "remember to generation to generation," shining a spotlight on his people who had been murdered, exploited, and corralled into camps. The collective history of his people meant everything to him and these films, he claimed, "Won't rub it out."
He was a dancer, a singer, an artist, and a story teller, and fell lovingly into the role of ambassador of his culture to the white man's world, which ironically would eventually divorce him from his culture, as he took to drink and drugs and wound up in trouble with the law, racking up four drink-driving arrests, and one drunken escapade that landed him in jail again, but this time for assaulting his wife. As he admitted in his biopic, "Left side, my country. Right side, white man's world. This one tiptoe in caviar and champagne, this one in the dirt of my Dreamtime."
When he'd been discovered, he spoke no English, though he knew a few dialects of the First People's language, and he was such a quick learner. He began picking up English while just listening during the making of the film, Walkabout, and afterwards as he travelled about the world.
In his one man show, "Gulpilli," he tells the story of trying to use a knife and fork while sitting next to the queen. He cut and cut but couldn't get any meat as he just moved the plate around the table. He gave up and finally picked it up with his hands. Whether true or not, he tells how the Royal Family joined in, eating their meat as he did.
After his sudden fame in Walkabout, David found his way onto Australian television in episodes of Boney (1972), Homicide (1964), Rush (1974), The Timeless Land (1980), and more, and even got a bit part in The Right Stuff (1983).
He was quickly recognized as the most renowned tribal dancer in Australia, and he choreographed the traditional First People's dance in Crocodile Dundee (1986). His love of dance inspired him to organize dancing troupes and musicians that won the Darwin Australia Day Eisteddfod dance competition four times.
His breakthrough role came in the mid-seventies with Storm Boy (1976), one of David's personal favorites, followed up by a lead role in The Last Wave (1977). In fact, his last appearance as an actor was in the remake of Storm Boy (2019), playing the father of Fingerbone Bill, the character he'd played in the original version.
Despite his fame, his earnings were never substantial and he was subjected to racism from agents and film crews. He was often homeless, sleeping in parks. He wound up living in a corrugated iron hut in the community of Raminginig that had no electricity or running water, where he hunted kangaroos, cooking bush meat over an open fire. "I was brought up in a tin shed. I wandered all over the world - Paris, New York - now I'm back in a tin shed," Gulpilil said.
Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) is the story of Australia's Lost Generations, in which mixed race First Nation children were removed from their families and placed in church-run missions in order to breed the "black" out of them and integrate them into society. Many of the children ran away from these camps and trackers were sent out after them. David Gulpilil played the formidable tracker in Rabbit-Proof Fence, and that led to a leading role in The Tracker (2002), directed by Rolf de Heer. David referred to this role as the best performance in his career. He won best actor at the Australian Film Institute Awards, the Inside Film Awards, and the Film Critics' Circle Awards.
He teamed up with Rolf de Herr a few more times, but their most unique production was the first film scripted entirely in the Yolngu language, called Ten Canoes (2006). Gulpilil narrated the film and it won a Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. It was after this time that David's life took a downhill turn and landed him in prison because of his drinking and assaulting his then partner Miriam Ashley. After his release he went into treatment and got sober.
Clean and sober he went to work again with Rolf de Herr and co-wrote the film Charlie's Country (2013), the true to life story of an ageing man who yearned to return to his cultural roots. Gulpilil gave the performance of his career, winning four best actor awards, including best actor at the Cannes Film Festival. At the Australian Film Critics Association Awards, he shared with Rolf de Heer the best screenplay award.
Released six months before his passing, My Name is Gulpilil (2021) is, as David put it, the story of his story. Though very ill, David gives us insight into his charismatic life and charm as we witness the full spectrum of his talents. We see him dancing, singing, celebrating, and even painting. One of his paintings, "King brown snake with blue tongue lizard at Gulparil waterhole" hangs in The Art Gallery Of South Australia. He spins wool from his hair, something his ancestors handed down that his father taught him. He takes us for a walk through his land, along the rivers, in the shadows of the mountains, and knowing he's dying, he admits he really doesn't yet grasp it, but tells us, "I'm walking like across the desert of the country, a long, long way. Until the time comes . . . for me."- Art Department
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- Actress
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Born in Montana, Gladstone was raised on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and later near Seattle, WA. She graduated with high honors from the University of Montana in 2008 with a BFA in Acting/Directing, and a minor in Native American Studies.
Gladstone was introduced to audiences in Alex and Andrew Smith's adaptation of Winter in the Blood, a NYT best seller and seminal novel by Blackfeet/Gros Ventre author James Welch. Her breakout role came in 2016 from Kelly Reichardt's Certain Women, a performance which earned her the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress, Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well as nominations for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female and Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor.
In 2017 Gladstone joined the Oregon Shakespeare Festival acting company, and in 2020 she stared in the Yale Repertory Theater production of Mary Kathryn Nagle's Manahatta.
In 2019 Gladstone reunited with Reichardt for First Cow. The film won Best Film at the 2020 New York Film Critics Circle Awards, and was named one of the ten best films of 2020 by the National Board of Review.- Actor
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Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman was born on 17 August 1936 in Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, Roberts County, South Dakota, USA. He was an actor and director, known for Dances with Wolves (1990), Hidalgo (2004) and Dharma & Greg (1997). He was married to Rosie. He died on 13 December 2007 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actor
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- Producer
Madi Goff is a queer actor-writer with an extensive background in improvisation from Groundlings Sunday Company and the Impro Theatre Main Company. Madi brings heart to comedy and hope to drama in writing and performance.
Madi grew up on a farm in small town Texas near Austin, played college basketball at Trinity in Texas, and now lives and works in Los Angeles, California.