Entertainment Spotlight: Rena Owen
Rena Owen is an international award-winning actor, and one of only 6 actors in the world to have worked with both George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg during her three decade career. You may recognize her from Freeformās Siren, but sheās starred in dozens of other films and television shows, including the lead inĀ Once Were Warriors, which was voted the number one film of all time in New Zealand in 2014. Rena took some time out of her packed schedule to answer some of our questions.
Is there a specific moment or event that you consider the highlight of your career up to now?
Iāll never forgot when Once Were Warriors premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1994. Ā It received rave reviews and was sold to 66 countries. It became a global success and won numerous international awards. I won 6 international best actress awards, and the film made Time Magazineās Top 10 list of the best films in the world in 1994. Ā The filmās success opened international doors for me and I went onto to work in different mediums in different countries and I became one of only 6 actors, and the only actress, to have worked with both George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg. Ā Having said that, I still get more attention today for my work in Once Were Warriors and as an actor, it is a big time blessing to be in a critically acclaimed and unforgettable film that made a difference, changed peopleās lives, and is a piece of work that I can forever be proud of.
What do you do to get ready for a scene?
The advantage of āmaturingā as an actor is; youāve learned that you just need to bring your best self to imaginary circumstances. Ā The best work comes out of relaxation. Ā Youāve learned to trust the script, your director, your cast mates, and most importantly, yourself, and youāve learned how to totally be in every moment and to relish every beat! Ā Itās like playing an instrument and aiming to create your best music. Needless to say, I do my homework; I prepare, I break down my scenes, I learn my lines, etc, but when I hear the word, āactionāā¦I let it go and it does itself. I trust my emotional intuition.
Whatās the first thing (book, movie, show) that you remember being a fan of?
Once Were Warriors started as a book which I read in 1990. At the end of reading it I remember thinking, whoever wrote this book lived the lifestyle because it was so authentic. I also thought, if this book is ever made into a feature film, the mother is a role to die for! 3 years later I auditioned for Beth Heke and it was a dream come true to be cast in the leading role.
Whatās the most memorable thing thatās ever happened to you on set?
I had just came to LA and Steven Spielberg was doing A.I. in Long Beach. My agent rang me and said, āSteven needs an actor, a really good actor, who can be part of this big flesh scene. We canāt tell you what youāre going to be doing, we donāt know what youāre going to be doing, but heās just finding that, using extras, heās not getting what he needs.ā
My agent said, āThe CD (Casting Director) asked if you would consider doing this, going in there, and really you might just be a little featured background artist or whatever.ā I said, āI donāt care. Itās Steven Spielberg, of course I will do it.ā Listen, Iām going to tell you this and this is a reflection of Steven SpielbergāI go down to Long Beach. I go on set. He comes up to me, he shakes my hand. He says, āI am a huge fan of Once Were Warriors. [Director] Lee Tamahori did a fantastic job.ā I was so impressed that he knew Leeās name and pronounced it well and knew his full name. I mean, I was so impressed by that, because this is a man who I thought wouldnāt know this little film. But itās why they were interested in me. Then the DOP was looking at me sideways and then he goes, āOh my God, I knew you were familiar. Thatās where I know you from, Once Were Warriors.ā Ā Spielberg nudged him and said to him, āYeah, sheās doing me a favor.ā Thatās classic. Iāll never forget it. From Stevenās perspective, I was doing them a favor. The role I ended up doing was being the ticket taker that stops that robotic bear from trying to sneak into the flesh fair.
Is there a subject that you know way too much about?
Mermaids! Ā When I was first cast in Siren, I did a lot of reading online and was amazed by the enormous mermaid fandom going on around the world. I checked out mermaid conventions, listened to mermaid podcasts, and I read mermaid blogs and scientific resources. I can tell you that some societies actually believe humans are descended from mermaids, but most scientific resources believe that mermaids are entirely fictional. Additionally, there is no hard evidence that mermaids actually exist outside folklore, but reports of mermaid sightings around the world continue, and apparently there are four types of mermaids; traditional mermaids, shape shifting mermaids, human form merfolk, and skin-shedding mermaids.
Well, we just started filming Season 3 of Siren, so there is going to be a lot of Helen Hawkins in my immediate future. Ā Looking further out, Iād love to be able to make āBehind the Tattoed Face.ā Itās a sweeping epic that has a very rich world, and is being lovingly referred to as āThe Black Panther from Down Under.ā Ā Sometimes it takes a long time to get a project made, but thatās the one Iām dying to make.
Thanks for taking the time, Rena!Ā
Catch Siren on Thursdays at 8pm on Freeform.
