Irene Bedard
Irene Bedard | |
---|---|
![]() Bedard at GalaxyCon Columbus in 2022 | |
Born | [1] Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. | July 22, 1967
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1994–present |
Spouse |
Denny Wilson
(m. 1993; div. 2012) |
Children | 1 |
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).
Early life
[edit]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
[edit]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] 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".[7]
In 2001, Irene Bedard hosted the Ninth Annual First Americans in the Arts (FAITA) Awards from the Beverly Hilton Hotel.[8] In 2002, at the Tenth Annual FAITA Awards, Bedard won Outstanding Guest Performance by an Actress in a TV Drama Series for The Agency.[9]
In 2005, she was cast in the television mini-series Into the West as Margaret "Light Shines" Wheeler.[10] Bedard has been very active in environmental groups to protect sacred lands.[11] 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.[12] 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".[13][14]
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.[15][16]
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.[17] She also appered in the film How to Blow Up a Pipeline.
Personal life
[edit]In 1993, Bedard married musician Denny Wilson.[18] 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.[19][18][20] Denny however, denied all these accusations.[18]
Legal issues
[edit]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.[21] In 2022, she was again arrested for disorderly conduct in Xenia, Ohio.[22]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | Squanto: A Warrior's Tale | Nakooma | |
1995 | Pocahontas | Pocahontas (voice) | |
1996 | Navajo Blues | Audrey Wyako | |
1997 | Song of Hiawatha | Minnehaha | |
Det store flip | Oglala | AKA, Wild Flowers | |
1998 | 6/29 | Laura Cooper | |
Naturally Native | Tanya Lewis | ||
Smoke Signals | Suzy Song | ||
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World | Pocahontas (voice) | Direct-to-video | |
12 Bucks | Babe | ||
1999 | Wildflowers | Ruby | |
2000 | Pussykat | Un-produced | |
2001 | Your Guardian | Katherine 'Kat' Damon | |
2003 | Paris | Sandy | |
Greasewood Flat | Abbey | ||
Edge of America | Annie Shorty | TV movie | |
2005 | Planting Melvin | Billie Lawrence | |
Miracle at Sage Creek | Sunny | ||
Love's Long Journey | Miriam Red Hawk McClain | TV movie | |
The New World | Pocahontas's Mother (Nonoma) | ||
2007 | Cosmic Radio | K.C. | |
Tortilla Heaven | Liberata | ||
The Red Chalk | Eve | Short film | |
2008 | Turok: Son of Stone | Catori (voice) | Direct-to-video |
2011 | The Tree of Life | Messenger | |
2013 | Vertical | Lucy Mills | |
2014 | Ron and Laura Take Back America | Mrs. Alma | |
2015 | Songs My Brothers Taught Me | Lisa Winters | |
2017 | Spreading Darkness | Marci Gippolin | |
2018 | Ralph Breaks the Internet | Pocahontas (voice) | |
2019 | The Bygone | Mrs. Call | |
2022 | The Harbinger | Floating Hawk | Also executive producer |
How to Blow Up a Pipeline | Joanna | ||
Mending the Line | Mrs. Redcloud | ||
2023 | On Sacred Ground | Mary Singing Crow | |
Hey, Viktor! | Irene | ||
2024 | The Heart Stays | Aunt Celia |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee | Mary Crow Dog | TV movie |
1995 | The Marshal | Melissa Carey | Episode: "Twoslip" |
1996 | Grand Avenue | Reyna | TV 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 Duvall | Episode: "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" |
True Women | Tobe | TV movie | |
1998 | Two for Texas | Sana | TV movie |
1999 | Blood Money | Naomi Lister | TV movie |
1999–2001 | Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles | General Miriam Redwing (voice) | 4 episodes |
2000 | The Lost Child | Grace | TV movie |
2001 | The Outer Limits | Callie Whitehorse Landau | Episode: "In the Blood" |
The Agency | Diah Siagian | Episode: "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 Shines | Episodes: "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 Stillwater | 3 episodes |
2017 | The Mist | Kimi Lucero | 9 episodes |
Scalped | Gina Bad Horse | Pilot | |
2018 | Westworld | Wichapi | Episode: "Kiksuya" |
2020 | FBI: Most Wanted | Mary Lou Skye | 8 episodes |
2020–2021 | The Stand | Ray Brentner | Television miniseries |
2022–2023 | Alaska Daily | Sylvie Nanmac | 6 episodes |
2024 | Avatar: The Last Airbender | Yagoda | 2 episodes[23] |
The Green Veil | Glennie Sutton | 4 episodes |
Music video
[edit]Year | Title | Artist(s) | Role |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | "Family Feud" | Jay-Z featuring Beyoncé | Madam President |
Video games
[edit]Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1995 | Animated Storybook: Pocahontas | Pocahontas (voice) |
1996 | Disney's Pocahontas | Pocahontas (voice) |
2021 | Cookie Run: Kingdom | Pocahontas Cookie (voice) |
Awards and nominations
[edit]Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film | Greasewood Flat | Won |
2002 | First Americans in the Arts Awards | Outstanding Guest Performance by an Actress in a TV Drama Series | The Agency | Won |
2006 | NAMIC Vision Awards | Best Dramatic Performance | Into the West | Won |
Western Heritage Awards | Bronze Wrangler - Television Feature Film | Won |
References
[edit]- ^ "AAA Native Arts". Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Irene Bedard, Iñupiaq-Cree Actress". AAANativeArts.com. February 18, 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Winners & Nominees 1995". Golden Globe Awards. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ People Staff (May 8, 1995). "Irene Bedard". People. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ "First American in the Arts Awards". www.studioclub.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ "first american in the arts awards 2002". www.studioclub.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ Marill, Alvin H. (2010). Movies Made for Television: 2005-2009. Scarecrow Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-8108-7659-0.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Fienberg, Daniel (December 15, 2020). "'The Stand': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "About Denny". Archived from the original on 2023-07-24. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
- ^ Rob (November 21, 2010). "Irene Bedard abused". Newspsaper Rock. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
External links
[edit]- Irene Bedard Biography at who2.com
- Irene Bedard at IMDb
- Irene Bedard at AllMovie
- 1967 births
- 20th-century American actresses
- 20th-century Native American women
- 20th-century Native Americans
- 21st-century American actresses
- 21st-century Native American women
- 21st-century Native Americans
- Actresses from Anchorage, Alaska
- Alaska Native women
- American film actresses
- American Inuit women
- American people of Cree descent
- American people of French-Canadian descent
- American television actresses
- American voice actresses
- Inuit actresses
- Inupiat people
- Living people
- Native American actresses
- University of the Arts (Philadelphia) alumni