Rena Owen

Rena Owen

1962-07-22 Bay of Islands, New Zealand 41 Credits

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Rena Owen is a New Zealand actress in film, theatre and television. She is of Maori and Pakeha (European) descent. Owen is most well known in the lead role of Beth in the cult classic movie Once Were Warriors (1994) directed by Lee Tamahori. The role earned Owen a number of awards including Best Actress at the Montreal World Film Festival and San Diego International Film Festival. Owen has also worked with arthouse director Rolf de Heer, one of Australia's...

Known For

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Complete Filmography

Moana

Moana

2026

as Gramma Tala

Acting

In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by Maui reaches the island of an impetuous Chieftain, his willful daughter answers the Ocean's ca...

A Mistake

A Mistake

2024

as Tessa

6.1
Acting

In the midst of a new scheme to publicly report surgeons’ performance, a gifted surgeon’s life is thrown into disarray as her colleagues begin to clos...

Maya

Maya

2023

as Sandy

4.5
Acting

When a 15-year old, seeking an escape from her alcoholic mother's abusive boyfriend, is lured into a sex trafficking scheme by a man she met online, s...

Whina

Whina

2022

as Older Whina Cooper

7.6
Acting

The story of Dame Whina Cooper, the beloved Māori matriarch who worked tirelessly to improve the rights of her people, especially women. Flawed yet re...

Whina

Whina

2022

Associate Producer

7.6
Producing

The story of Dame Whina Cooper, the beloved Māori matriarch who worked tirelessly to improve the rights of her people, especially women. Flawed yet re...

Without a Body

Without a Body

2020

1.0
Acting

After moving into a run-down farmhouse with his two daughters, a skeptical author seeks to uncover a sinister past that haunts the house and terrorize...

Escape and Evasion

Escape and Evasion

2019

as Michelle Pennyshaw

6.2
Acting

After his men are killed in Burma, a lone soldier returns home in search of solace. Hiding a dark secret and confronted by an unrelenting journalist, ...

Out of the Shadows

Out of the Shadows

2017

Writer

7.1
Writing

A newly married detective and his pregnant wife move into their dream home unaware of its dark history. When his wife claims their baby is being torme...

The Last Witch Hunter

The Last Witch Hunter

2015

as Glaeser

6.0
Acting

The modern world holds many secrets, but by far the most astounding is that witches still live among us; vicious supernatural creatures intent on unle...

The Dead Lands

The Dead Lands

2014

as Grandmother

6.1
Acting

Hongi, a Maori chieftain’s teenage son, must avenge his father’s murder in order to bring peace and honour to the souls of his loved ones after his tr...

Once Were Warriors: Where Are They Now?

Once Were Warriors: Where Are They Now?

2014

as Self

7.1
Acting

It's been 20 years snce Once Were Warriors was made. Julian Arahanga aka 'Nig' takes us on a journey to meet the cast and see where they are now.

The Last Survivors

The Last Survivors

2014

as Claire

6.1
Acting

In the near future, society collapses and water becomes scarce. When a greedy water baron starts violently clearing out survivors, Kendal, a 17-year-o...

Absolute Killers

Absolute Killers

2011

Acting

Johnny Graham, raised by the Torino crime family after the death of his parents, is repeatedly torn between loyalty to his adoptive family and his con...

Alyce Kills

Alyce Kills

2011

as Danielle

5.2
Acting

After accidentally knocking her best friend off a roof, Alyce is haunted by guilt and delves into a brutal nightmare wonderland of sex, drugs and viol...

Piece of My Heart

Piece of My Heart

2009

as Kat

6.0
Acting

Adapted from Renee's 1995 novel Does This Make Sense to You?, the TV movie lays bare the pain caused by forced adoptions inflicted on unwed and teenag...

Spout

Spout

2009

as Oma

Acting

A young boy and his grandmother become unlikely serial killers in a quest to eliminate his father's girlfriends, in this boldly original spin on the v...

A Beautiful Life

A Beautiful Life

2009

as Sam

3.3
Acting

A love story about the encounter of two drifting souls. Escaping her abusive past, a woman stays the night with an illegal immigrant friend of a frien...

Veronika Decides to Die

Veronika Decides to Die

2009

as Nurse Josephine

5.9
Acting

After a frantic suicide attempt, Veronika awakens inside a mysterious mental asylum. Under the supervision of an unorthodox psychiatrist who specializ...

Ocean of Pearls

Ocean of Pearls

2008

as Anna Berisha

4.9
Acting

As a Sikh man with a full beard and turban, AMRIT SINGH is often the target of racial profiling. But when he sees his dreams of becoming Chief of Surg...

Amusement

Amusement

2008

as Psychiatrist

5.6
Acting

While being interrogated by a police psychiatrist, the near-catatonic Tabitha tries to explain why she and two of her childhood friends are being hunt...

Rain of the Children

Rain of the Children

2008

as Puhi

6.5
Acting

In Rain of the Children, Ward further explores the subject of his earlier film, In Spring One Plants Alone when, as a young film student he travelled ...

The Horrible Flowers

2006

as Linda

Acting
Mee-Shee: The Water Giant

Mee-Shee: The Water Giant

2005

as "Crazy" Norma

5.2
Acting

A New York City oil company troubleshooter is brought to a remote B.C. lake to look for some lost machinery. Cancelling a trip to Disney World with hi...

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

2005

as Nee Alavar

7.4
Acting

The evil Darth Sidious enacts his final plan for unlimited power – and the heroic Jedi Anakin Skywalker must choose a side.

The Crow: Wicked Prayer

The Crow: Wicked Prayer

2005

as Mary

3.7
Acting

After ex-con Jimmy and his girlfriend are brutally murdered by a biker gang, he is resurrected by the power of The Crow to avenge their deaths and reu...

The Land Has Eyes

The Land Has Eyes

2004

as Warrior Woman

5.6
Acting

Coming of age story about Viki a young pacific islander attempting to escape the stifling conformity of island culture. Inspired by the myth of the Wa...

Nemesis Game

Nemesis Game

2003

as Emily Gray

5.0
Acting

Sara Novak is an introverted college student with a few skeletons in her closet. Shying away from classmates, she prefers to spend time with Vern, an ...

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

2002

as Taun We (voice)

6.6
Acting

Following an assassination attempt on Senator Padmé Amidala, Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi investigate a mysterious plot that could...

Soul Assassin

Soul Assassin

2001

as Karina

4.8
Acting

A security agent at an investment bank uncovers espionage that is linked to his girlfriend's murder. He vows to seek revenge on those responsible.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence

A.I. Artificial Intelligence

2001

as Ticket Taker

7.0
Acting

David, a robotic boy—the first of his kind programmed to love—is adopted as a test case by a Cybertronics employee and his wife. Though he gradually b...

All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story

All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story

2000

as Soona Fualaau

4.7
Acting

A teacher is arrested and jailed for raping her 13-year-old student, and twice gives birth to his child.

What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?

What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?

1999

as Beth Heke

6.6
Acting

Five years have passed and Jake has turned his back on his family. He's still up to his usual tricks in McClutchy's Bar, unaware, as he downs his late...

I'll Make You Happy

I'll Make You Happy

1999

as Mickie

7.0
Acting

Siggy (Jennifer Ward-Lealand) is a teenage "bad girl" who lives and works in a red-light district of Auckland, New Zealand. Just like her fellow stree...

Dance Me to My Song

Dance Me to My Song

1998

as Rix

6.2
Acting

The story of Julia, a disabled woman in a wheelchair and voice synthesizer, who's trapped psychologically by a cruel, manipulative caregiver. After th...

When Love Comes

When Love Comes

1998

as Katie

5.1
Acting

Between getting trashed, tripping, blowing guys off and writing songs, Mark falls for Stephen. Fig and Sally put perform Marks songs between casual se...

9 Across

1998

as The Woman in the Bank

Acting

A story of two prison cellmates, a crossword puzzle, and a dramatic escape.

Savage Play

Savage Play

1995

as Takiora

Acting

During a rugby tour of Britain and Ireland in 1888, a young New Zealander searches for his father who he has never met. While there he falls in love w...

Once Were Warriors

Once Were Warriors

1994

as Beth Heke

7.4
Acting

A drama about a Maori family living in Auckland, New Zealand. Lee Tamahori tells the story of Beth Heke’s strong will to keep her family together duri...

Rapa Nui

Rapa Nui

1994

as Hitirenga

6.4
Acting

Inter-tribal rivalry leads to a competition to erect a huge statue (moai) in record time before Make can take part in the race to retrieve the egg of ...

Hinekaro Goes on a Picnic and Blows Up Another Obelisk

Hinekaro Goes on a Picnic and Blows Up Another Obelisk

1994

as Hinekaro (voice)

Acting

A Maori writer meets a trickster spirit guide and conjures new worlds from the words she inks on a page.

Roimata

1989

as Girlie

4.5
Acting

Roimata, a young Maori woman from the East Coast, travels to the city to meet her half-sister Girlie. Introduced to gang members, the scene is set for...