Rena Owen (Brett's Mother)

Owen became one of New Zealand's most recognizable Actors on the international film platform following her performance as Beth Heke in Once Were Warriors, Her performance earned her Best Actress Awards at the Montreal, Oporto, Seattle, San Diego Film Festivals, and the Cannes Film Festival's Spirit Award. While in New Zealand she received the Benny Award for Excellence and Contribution to the Industry, and the Toast Master's Communicator of the Year Award.

She began her acting and writing career in London in the 1980s, studied at the Actors Institute, and worked in British Theater. Highlights include, Voices from Prison for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Co-Existences for the Elephant Theater, and Outside In, which debuted at the Edinburgh Festival and played in London. She worked for two years with a London based Theater Company, Clean Break, who produced the first Play written by Rena; Te Awa I Tahuti (The River that Ran Away). Directed by Ann Mitchell, and starring Rena in the lead, it enjoyed a successful London tour. NZ Playmarket later published the play in 1991.

Rena returned to NZ in 1989 and continued to work extensively in Theater and Television. Highlights include Stephen Berkoffs West and Kvetch for Ocean Productions. The Hungry City, which opened the Watershed Theater. Whatungarongaro, which toured NZ and played at the Adelaide Festival in Australia. Daddy's Girl written by, and starring Rena and Wi Kuki Kaa, enjoyed a critically acclaimed Wellington season. Scenes from Daddy's Girl, were later published in an Anthology by Witi Ihimaera.

In 1993 Rena was awarded a Dame Te Atarangikahu (Maori Queen) Literary Award, During this period she also Directed Stage Plays, worked as a Dramaturgy for Playmarket, wrote and read short stories for Radio New Zealand. Rena's lastest Theater credits were starring in a classic NZ play, Haruru Mai, directed by Colin McColl for the International Festival of the Arts, and directing Toa Fraser's, Bare for the AATC in San Francisco.

Television credits include NZ series, Shark in the Park, Betty's Bunch and Coverstory, which earned her a TVNZ Best Actress Nomination. One hour TV dramas include, The Call Up, The Visitation and, Savage Play, a BBC/TVNZ mini series. Rena was principal cast of an Australian Medical TV series for two seasons, Medivac. In 2000, she guest starred in a British TV series, Dark Knight, and in 2001, guest starred in David Kelley's Gideon's Crossing. She also played a lead role in the NZ Aroha Series, Mataora. Rena has also done Voice Over work, and Presented Documentaries for Television.

Rena's first feature film was a supporting role in the Kevin Costner/Kevin Reynolds, Rapa Nui in 1993. Followed by the lead in Once Were Warriors, voted one of Time Magazine's top 10 films in 1994. Other NZ feature films include; Roimata, I'll Make You Happy, What Becomes of the Brokenhearted and When Love Comes. NZ short films include, Her Iliard, Nine Across, and Hinekaro. Australian feature film credits are Vaudeville House and Dance Me to my Song, which was in competition at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival and earned Rena a Best Supporting Actress Nomination at the Australian Film Awards 1999.

2000, Rena set up a base in Los Angeles to learn more about the craft of filmmaking. Acting credits include Taun We in George Lucas's Star Wars Episode 2, Attack of the Clones. A cameo role in Steven Spielberg's A.I, a supporting role in a USA Independent Action Feature, Soul Assassin, shot in Holland, and a supporting role in a Movie of the Week, An All American Girl.

She also played a recurring role in WB's Angel, playing a Demi-Goddess called Dinza. A Hit Woman in a Los Angeles short film, Sidney, a Tibetan Nun gone wrong, in a Martial Arts film for Sunset Studios USA. A Psycho Killer in a NZ/Canadian Co-pro, Nemesis Game, set and shot in Toronto. A pre-colonial Warrior Woman in a feature film shot in Rotuma, The Land Has Eyes, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Senator Nee Alavar in Star Wars Episode 111. Mary the wife of a preacher in Crow 4, Wicked Prayer, and a supporting role as Crazy Norma in The Water Giant, a Canadian family film.

2005/6, Rena played a cameo role as Maria Macintyre in Pledge of Allegiance, Lee the Dp in Freezer Burn, a leading role of a Rock n Roll star gone wrong, Linda, in Horrible Flowers, a Psychic in Iron Man, and an Albanian woman in Ocean of Pearls. All USA Independent features.

2007, Rena played a psychiatrist in a New Line horror/thriller shot in Budapest, Amusement, a Barfly Lush in an LA Independent film, Shattered Glass, and is currently working on a Vincent Ward film. She also continues the on-going development of an epic feature film.

For the last 4 years Rena has been developing an epic New Zealand feature film based on the best selling novel from the1970s called, Behind The Tattooed Face by Heretaunga Baker. She is both writer and creative producer on the project. Her project was selected, and she was awarded a Native Scholarship to attend the Sundance Producers Lab, It was also selected for the European Film Business School, and the first NZ Film Commission Re-Write Workshop. Still based in Los Angeles, Rena continues to study all aspects of filmmaking.

Finally, during the last 12 years, 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, the USA, and Tahitian, Film Festivals. She also serves as a Mentor for Film Independent's (FIND), Project Involve, has been on the Sundance Native Screenplay Selection Panel, and a Keynote Speaker for Berkeley University and other Public Speaking engagements.

Rena's motto ? "Do what you love and do it to the best of your ability!"