Irene Bedard

Last updated
Irene Bedard
Irene Bedard Photo Op GalaxyCon Columbus 2022.jpg
Bedard at GalaxyCon Columbus in 2022
Born (1967-07-22) July 22, 1967 (age 57) [1]
OccupationActress
Years active1994–present
Spouse
Denny Wilson
(m. 1993;div. 2012)
Children1

Irene Bedard (born July 22, 1967) is an American actress, who has played mostly lead Native American roles in a variety of films. She is perhaps best known for the role of Suzy Song in the 1998 film Smoke Signals , [2] an adaptation of a Sherman Alexie collection of short stories, as well as for providing the speaking voice for the titular character in the 1995 animated film Pocahontas . Bedard reprised her role as Pocahontas in the film's direct-to-video follow-up, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998) and for a cameo in Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018).

Contents

Early life

Bedard was born in Anchorage, Alaska, to an Iñupiaq mother and a Cree/French Canadian father. [3] [4] She is an enrolled citizen of the Native Village of Koyuk in Alaska. [5] Bedard graduated from Dimond High School in Anchorage, Alaska in 1985. Bedard attended The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she studied musical theater.[ citation needed ]

Career

In 1994, Bedard appeared in her first role as Mary Crow Dog in the television production of Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee , which depicted the 1970s standoff between the US government and citizens of several Native nations, including many of the Pine Ridge Reservation, at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. For this role, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film. [6] As such, in 1994 she became the first Native American woman to receive an acting award nomination from the Golden Globe Awards. [7]

She is probably best known as the voice of the eponymous heroine in the 1995 Disney animated film Pocahontas , the direct-to-video 1998 sequel Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World and in the 2018 film Ralph Breaks the Internet . She appeared in a different take of the story in Terence Malick's 2005 film The New World , as Pocahontas's mother, Nonoma Winanuske Matatiske.

In 1995, Bedard was chosen as one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People". [8]

In 2001, Irene Bedard hosted the Ninth Annual First Americans in the Arts (FAITA) Awards from the Beverly Hilton Hotel. [9] In 2002, at the Tenth Annual FAITA Awards, Bedard won Outstanding Guest Performance by an Actress in a TV Drama Series for The Agency. [10]

In 2005, she was cast in the television mini-series Into the West as Margaret "Light Shines" Wheeler. [11] Bedard has been very active in environmental groups to protect sacred lands. [12] In 1997, she co-hosted with Floyd Westerman a benefit for the Dine' People of Big Mountain at The Loft Theatre, in Pasadena. In 2015, she appeared in Chloé Zhao's debut feature film, Songs My Brothers Taught Me . In 2016, Bedard announced an agreement with the Catawba Nation of South Carolina to join in a production agreement. [13] In 2017, she appeared as a recurring character in the TV series The Mist . Bedard made an appearance in the music video for Jay-Z's 2017 song "Family Feud". [14] [15]

In the 2017 music video for "Family Feud" (a song by Jay-Z), Bedard plays a Co-President of the United States in the future. [16] [17]

In 2020, Bedard played a recurring character in seasons one and two of the drama series FBI: Most Wanted . She then was a starring cast member in the Paramount+ miniseries The Stand, as Ray Brentner, a gender-swapped version of Ralph Brentner from the 1994 adaptation. [18] [19]

In 2022, she was cast as Yagoda in the Netflix series Avatar: The Last Airbender and as Sylvie Nanmac in Alaska Daily , the mother of a missing indigenous woman. [20] She also appered in the film How to Blow Up a Pipeline.

Personal life

In 1993, Bedard married musician Denny Wilson. [21] Between her films, the pair toured for several years with other musicians in a band called "ID," which came from the initials of their first names, Irene and Deni. In 2012, the couple divorced following Bedard's allegations of Wilson abusing Bedard. [22] [21] [23] Denny, however, denied all these accusations. [21]

In 2020, Bedard was arrested twice in three days. The first arrest was for alleged domestic violence, assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and criminal damaging; the second was for alleged disorderly conduct. [24] In August of 2022, she was again arrested for disorderly conduct in Xenia, Ohio. [25]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994 Squanto: A Warrior's Tale Nakooma
1995 Pocahontas Pocahontas (voice)
1996 Navajo Blues Audrey Wyako
1997Song of HiawathaMinnehaha
Det store flipOglalaAKA, Wild Flowers
19986/29Laura Cooper
Naturally NativeTanya Lewis
Smoke Signals Suzy Song
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World Pocahontas (voice)Direct-to-video
12 BucksBabe
1999 Wildflowers Ruby
2000PussykatUn-produced
2001Your GuardianKatherine 'Kat' Damon
2003ParisSandy
Greasewood FlatAbbey
Edge of AmericaAnnie ShortyTV movie
2005Planting MelvinBillie Lawrence
Miracle at Sage CreekSunny
Love's Long Journey Miriam Red Hawk McClainTV movie
The New World Pocahontas's Mother (Nonoma)
2007Cosmic RadioK.C.
Tortilla Heaven Liberata
The Red ChalkEveShort film
2008 Turok: Son of Stone Catori (voice)Direct-to-video
2011 The Tree of Life Messenger
2013VerticalLucy Mills
2014Ron and Laura Take Back AmericaMrs. Alma
2015 Songs My Brothers Taught Me Lisa Winters
2017Spreading DarknessMarci Gippolin
2018 Ralph Breaks the Internet Pocahontas (voice)
2019The BygoneMrs. Call
2022The HarbingerFloating HawkAlso executive producer
How to Blow Up a Pipeline Joanna
Mending the LineMrs. Redcloud
2023 On Sacred Ground Mary Singing Crow
Hey, Viktor! Irene
2024The Heart StaysAunt Celia

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994 Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee Mary Crow DogTV movie
1995 The Marshal Melissa CareyEpisode: "Twoslip"
1996 Grand Avenue ReynaTV movies
Crazy Horse Black Buffalo Woman
Adventures from the Book of Virtues Morning Light and Sharp Eyes / Chief's Daughter (voice)Episodes: "Honesty" and "Perseverance"
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest Alice Starseer (voice)Episodes: "Return of the Anasazi"; "Trouble on the Colorado"
1997 Profiler Maddy DuvallEpisode: "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"
True Women TobeTV movie
1998 Two for Texas SanaTV movie
1999Blood MoneyNaomi ListerTV movie
1999–2001 Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles General Miriam Redwing (voice)4 episodes
2000The Lost ChildGraceTV movie
2001 The Outer Limits Callie Whitehorse LandauEpisode: "In the Blood"
The Agency Diah SiagianEpisode: "The Year of Living Dangerously"
House of Mouse Pocahontas (voice)Episode: "Thanks to Minnie"
2004 What's New, Scooby-Doo? Cody Long (voice)Episode: "New Mexico, Old Monster"
2005 Higglytown Heroes Forest Ranger Hero (voice)Episode: "Fran Takes a Hike/Mystery at Kip's House"
Into the West Margaret Light ShinesEpisodes: "Hell on Wheels"; "Casualties of War"; "Ghost Dance"
2008–2009 The Spectacular Spider-Man Jean DeWolff (voice)4 episodes
2012 Young Justice: Invasion Shelly Longshadow (voice)1 episode
2012–2015 Longmire May Stillwater3 episodes
2017 The Mist Kimi Lucero9 episodes
Scalped Gina Bad HorsePilot
2018 Westworld WichapiEpisode: "Kiksuya"
2020 FBI: Most Wanted Mary Lou Skye8 episodes
2020–2021 The Stand Ray BrentnerTelevision miniseries
2022–2023 Alaska Daily Sylvie Nanmac6 episodes
2024 Avatar: The Last Airbender Yagoda2 episodes [26]
The Green VeilGlennie Sutton4 episodes

Music video

YearTitleArtist(s)Role
2017"Family Feud" Jay-Z featuring Beyoncé Madam President

Video games

YearTitleRole
1995 Animated Storybook: Pocahontas Pocahontas (voice)
1996 Disney's Pocahontas Pocahontas (voice)
2021 Cookie Run: Kingdom Pocahontas Cookie (voice)

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryFilmResult
1995 Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee Nominated
1999 Western Heritage Awards Bronze Wrangler - Television Feature Film Two for Texas Won
2004 First Americans in the Arts AwardsBest Lead Actress in a Feature FilmGreasewood FlatWon
2002 First Americans in the Arts AwardsOutstanding Guest Performance by an Actress in a TV Drama Series The Agency Won
2006NAMIC Vision AwardsBest Dramatic Performance Into the West Won
Western Heritage Awards Bronze Wrangler - Television Feature FilmWon

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">50 Cent</span> American rapper and actor (born 1975)

Curtis James Jackson III, known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, television producer, businessman, and record executive. Born in South Jamaica, a neighborhood of Queens, Jackson began pursuing a musical career in 1996. In 1999–2000, he recorded his debut album Power of the Dollar for Columbia Records; however, he was struck by nine bullets during a shooting in May 2000, causing its release to be cancelled and Jackson to be dropped from the label. His 2002 mixtape, Guess Who's Back? was discovered by Detroit rapper Eminem, who signed Jackson to his label Shady Records, an imprint of Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records that same year.

<i>Pocahontas</i> (1995 film) 1995 animated film by Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg

Pocahontas is a 1995 American animated musical historical drama film loosely based on the life of Powhatan woman Pocahontas and the arrival of English colonial settlers from the Virginia Company. The film romanticizes Pocahontas's encounter with John Smith and her legendary saving of his life. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irene Papas</span> Greek actress and singer (1929–2022)

Irene Papas or Irene Pappas was a Greek actress and singer who starred in over 70 films in a career spanning more than 50 years. She gained international recognition through such popular award-winning films as The Guns of Navarone (1961), Zorba the Greek (1964) and Z (1969). She was a powerful protagonist in films including The Trojan Women (1971) and Iphigenia (1977). She played the title roles in Antigone (1961) and Electra (1962). She had a fine singing voice, on display in the 1968 recording Songs of Theodorakis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Hunt</span> American actress (born 1945)

Linda Hunt, born Lydia Susanna Hunt is an American actress of stage and screen. She made her film debut playing Mrs. Oxheart in Popeye (1980). Her portrayal of the male character Billy Kwan in The Year of Living Dangerously (1982) won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first person to win an Oscar for portraying a character of the opposite sex. Hunt has also appeared in films such as Dune (1984), Silverado (1985), Kindergarten Cop (1990), Pocahontas (1995), Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998), and Stranger Than Fiction (2006).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosario Dawson</span> American actress (born 1979)

Rosario Isabel Dawson is an American actress. She made her feature-film debut in the 1995 independent drama Kids. Her subsequent film roles include He Got Game (1998), Josie and the Pussycats (2001), Men in Black II (2002), The Rundown (2003), Rent (2005), Sin City (2005), Clerks II (2006), Death Proof (2007), Seven Pounds (2008), Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), Unstoppable (2010), Zookeeper (2011), Trance (2013), Top Five (2014), Zombieland: Double Tap (2019), and Clerks 3 (2022). Dawson has provided voice-over work for Disney/Marvel, Warner Bros./DC Comics, and ViacomCBS's Nickelodeon unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">America Ferrera</span> American actress (born 1984)

America Georgina Ferrera is an American actress, director and television producer. She has received numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to a nomination for an Academy Award. In 2007 and 2024, Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world and in 2023, she was named in BBC's 100 Women list.

"Colors of the Wind" is a song written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz for Walt Disney Pictures' 33rd animated feature film, Pocahontas (1995). The film's theme song, "Colors of the Wind" was originally recorded by American singer and actress Judy Kuhn in her role as the singing voice of Pocahontas. A pop ballad, the song's lyrics are about animism and respecting nature, finding its roots in indigenous Native American culture, perspectives which have later been adopted in both transcendentalist literature and New Age spirituality.

<i>The New World</i> (2005 film) 2005 film by Terrence Malick

The New World is a 2005 historical romantic drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick, depicting the founding of the Jamestown, Virginia, settlement and inspired by the historical figures Captain John Smith, Pocahontas of the Powhatan tribe, and Englishman John Rolfe. It is the fourth feature film written and directed by Malick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tantoo Cardinal</span> Canadian actress

Rose Marie "Tantoo" Cardinal CM is a Canadian actress. Of Cree and Métis heritage, in 2009 she was made a member of the Order of Canada "for her contributions to the growth and development of Aboriginal performing arts in Canada, as a screen and stage actress, and as a founding member of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Q'orianka Kilcher</span> American actress (born 1990)

Q'orianka Waira Qoiana Kilcher is an American actress. Her best known film roles are Pocahontas in Terrence Malick's 2005 film The New World, and Kaʻiulani in Princess Kaiulani (2009). In 2020, she starred in a recurring role on the Paramount Network show Yellowstone.

<i>Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World</i> 1998 Disney direct-to-video sequel to Pocahontas (1995)

Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World is a 1998 American direct-to-video animated musical adventure film and the sequel to the 1995 Disney film Pocahontas. While the first film dealt with her meeting with John Smith and the arrival of the British settlers in Jamestown, the sequel focuses on Pocahontas's journey to England with John Rolfe to negotiate for peace between the two nations, although her death is omitted from the film's ending.

<i>Lakota Woman</i> Autobiographal book by Mary Brave Bird

Lakota Woman is a memoir by Mary Brave Bird, a Sicangu Lakota who was formerly known as Mary Crow Dog. Reared on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota, she describes her childhood and young adulthood, which included many historical events associated with the American Indian Movement.

Pocahontas is the titular character of Walt Disney Animation Studios' 1995 film Pocahontas, and the seventh addition to the Disney Princess franchise.

<i>Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee</i> 1994 drama TV film

Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee is a 1994 TNT film starring Irene Bedard, Tantoo Cardinal, Pato Hoffmann, Joseph Runningfox, Lawrence Bayne, and Michael Horse and August Schellenberg. The film is based on Mary Crow Dog's autobiography Lakota Woman, wherein she accounts her troubled youth, involvement with the American Indian Movement, and relationship with Lakota medicine man and activist Leonard Crow Dog. The film is notable for being the first American film to feature an indigenous Native American actress in the starring role. Lakota Woman is also the third overall and first sound film with an entirely indigenous cast after In the Land of the Head Hunters and Daughter of Dawn.

Alison Wright is an English actress. She is best known for her starring role as Martha Hanson on the FX period spy drama series The Americans (2013–2017), for which she received critical acclaim and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 2017. She has also acted in the Ryan Murphy limited series Feud: Bette and Joan (2017) and Hollywood (2020).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Ivy Carter</span> American singer (born 2012)

Blue Ivy Carter is an American singer. She is the first-born daughter of musicians Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Two days after her birth, Time dubbed Carter "the most famous baby in the world." That same day, her breathing, cries and coos were featured on the song "Glory", by her father Jay-Z, which earned her a Guinness World Record for being the youngest person to have a charted song on any Billboard chart. She has been the subject of depictions in media, including impersonations on Saturday Night Live and RuPaul's Drag Race.

Michelle St. John is an actress, singer, producer and director who has been involved in creative projects in theatre, film, television and music since the 1980s. Her directorial debut, Colonization Road, is a 2016 feature-length documentary that premiered at imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival.

"Family Feud" is a song by American rapper Jay-Z featuring American singer Beyoncé. It is taken from Jay-Z's thirteenth studio album 4:44 (2017) and was produced by No I.D. The song was released to British contemporary hit radio on January 26, 2018, as the album's third single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vera Starbard</span> Alaska Native editor, TV Writer, and playwright (born 1982)

Vera Starbard is a Tlingit/Dena'ina television writer, author, playwright, and editor based in Douglas, Alaska, and current Alaska State Writer Laureate.

References

  1. "AAA Native Arts" . Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  2. Smith, Lydia (November 9, 2021). "Native American Heritage Month Screening No. 2: 'Smoke Signals'". The Post. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  3. "Irene Bedard, Iñupiaq-Cree Actress". AAANativeArts.com. February 18, 2017.
  4. Byrne, Bridget (July 7, 1996). "COVER STORY;Crazy Horse, Warrior and Mystic". The New York Times . Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  5. Aleiss, Angela (August 5, 2021). "From The Squaw Man to Rutherford Falls: The Rise of Hollywood's Contemporary Native American Woman". Bright Lights Film Journal . Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  6. "Winners & Nominees 1995". Golden Globe Awards. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  7. Grobar, Matt (December 11, 2023). "'Killers Of The Flower Moon's Lily Gladstone Set As Golden Globes' First Indigenous Nominee For Female Actor In A Motion Picture".
  8. People Staff (May 8, 1995). "Irene Bedard". People . Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  9. "First American in the Arts Awards". www.studioclub.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  10. "first american in the arts awards 2002". www.studioclub.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  11. Marill, Alvin H. (2010). Movies Made for Television: 2005-2009. Scarecrow Press. p. 48. ISBN   978-0-8108-7659-0.
  12. Kell, Jason (September 5, 2003). "Bedard sinks native roots into creative projects". OnMilwaukee. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  13. Kimball, Tracy (May 5, 2016). "Catawba Indians and 'Pocahontas' star announce film production partnership". The Herald. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  14. Fredette, Meagan (December 29, 2017). "Jay-Z's New 'Family Feud' Video Reminds Us The Future Is Female". Refinery29. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  15. Carlin, Shannon (December 30, 2017). "Everyone Wants To Know Who Played Madam President In Jay-Z's 'Family Feud'". Refinery29. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  16. Meagan Fredette. "Celebrities in Jay Z Family Feud Video Recap". Refinery29.com. Archived from the original on 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  17. Shannon Carlin. "Who Plays Female President Jay-Z "Family Feud" Native". Refinery29.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  18. Colburn, Randall (August 25, 2020). "The apocalypse arrives this winter, CBS All Access confirms". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  19. Fienberg, Daniel (December 15, 2020). "'The Stand': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  20. Fields, Sarah (October 14, 2022). "Alaska Daily Season 1 Episode 3 – IRENE BEDARD". Tell-Tale TV. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  21. 1 2 3 "About Denny". Archived from the original on 2023-07-24. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  22. Rob (November 21, 2010). "Irene Bedard abused". Newspsaper Rock. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  23. Samantha Agate (July 24, 2022). "'Pocahontas' Star Irene Bedard's Son Begs For Help After She Is Arrested TWICE In 3 Days". Talentrecap.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  24. Crowley, James (December 3, 2020). "'Pocahontas' Voice Actor Irene Bedard-Wilson Arrested Twice Earlier This Week". Newsweek.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  25. Parkel, Inga (August 25, 2022). "Voice of Disney's Pocahontas arrested for disorderly conduct". The Independent . Archived from the original on August 25, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  26. Williams, Caleb (August 21, 2022). "'Pocahontas' Voice Actress Irene Bedard Joins 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' on Netflix". Knight Edge Media. Archived from the original on August 25, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022.