Courtesy of NZ On Screen
Actor Rena Owen came to international fame through her role as matriarch Beth Heke in the hard-hitting feature film, Once Were Warriors, based on the Alan Duff novel about a Maori family struggling with domestic violence, gang culture and urban alienation.
She is currently living and working in Los Angeles and and is developing an adaptation of the novel, Behind the Tattooed Face by Heretaunga Pat Baker. Behind the Tattooed Face was the first novel written by a Maori about pre-European M?ori. Owen hopes to return to NZ to film it once the financing is in place.
Owen was back in New Zealand recently to work on Vincent Ward’s Rain of the Children and Fiona Samuel’s upcoming TV drama, Piece of My Heart.
In this interview she talks with Clare O’Leary about:
- her beginnings in theatre as an actor and playwright;
- her many television drama roles and how she got her break on the landmark drama series, E Tipu E Rea;
- her role as Beth in Warriors;
- making a living as a Kiwi actor overseas;
- working on New Zealand stories (Behind the Tattooed Face, Piece of My Heart);
- the significance of working with M?ori creative teams and crew.
Interview by
Clare O'Leary for NZ On Screen. NZ On Screen is the home of New Zealand screen content.