Irene Bedard
Encyclopedia
Irene Bedard is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Native American characters in a variety of films. Bedard was born in Anchorage
, Alaska
. Her heritage is Inupiat Inuit
and Métis
.
in the television production Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee
, which depicted the 1970s standoff between police and Native Americans at Wounded Knee
, South Dakota
. She is probably best known as the voice of the eponymous hero in the Disney animated film Pocahontas
and its direct-to-video sequel Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World
. Bedard was also the physical model for the character. She appeared in a different take of the story in the 2005 film The New World, as Pocahontas' mother whose name was Nonoma Winanuske Matatiske. Bedard attended The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA where she studied Musical Theatre.
In 2005, she was cast in the television mini-series Into the West
, portraying the half-Lakota, half-white adult Margaret "Light Shines" Wheeler.
Irene Bedard is known for bringing a powerful emotional presence to her characters. She was chosen as one of People
magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People for 1995.
Wilson responded by filing 49 motions in Greene County, Ohio, forcing Bedard to return to the state and relinquish her son to Wilson's custody. An article on the Native Spirit PR & Entertainment website requests that fans of Bedard and those concerned for her welfare assist her by writing letters to Ohio and Alaska representatives, requesting that her son be returned to her custody, and that the court venue be transferred to Alaska. Supporters of Irene Bedard have requested financial assistance to assist with legal costs, alleging that Wilson still maintains control of her finances and image.
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. Her heritage is Inupiat Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
and Métis
Métis
A Métis is a person born to parents who belong to different groups defined by visible physical differences, regarded as racial, or the descendant of such persons. The term is of French origin, and also is a cognate of mestizo in Spanish, mestiço in Portuguese, and mestee in English...
.
Career
Irene Bedard's first role was as Mary Crow DogMary Crow Dog
Mary Brave Bird, also known as Mary Brave Woman Olguin and Mary Crow Dog is a Brulé Lakota writer and activist who was a member of the American Indian Movement during the 1970s and participated in some of their most publicized events, including the Wounded Knee Incident when she was 20 years...
in the television production Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee
Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee
Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee is a 1994 TNT original movie starring Irene Bedard, Tantoo Cardinal, Pato Hoffmann, Joseph Runningfox, Lawrence Bayne, and Michael Horse and August Schellenberg....
, which depicted the 1970s standoff between police and Native Americans at Wounded Knee
Wounded Knee, South Dakota
Wounded Knee is a census-designated place in Shannon County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 382 at the 2010 census....
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. She is probably best known as the voice of the eponymous hero in the Disney animated film Pocahontas
Pocahontas (1995 film)
Pocahontas is the 33rd animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and was originally released to selected theaters on June 16, 1995 by Walt Disney Pictures...
and its direct-to-video sequel Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World is a 1998 straight-to-video sequel to the 1995 Disney film Pocahontas. The film is inspired by true events in the life of Pocahontas which took place several years after her encounter with John Smith and the founders of Jamestown...
. Bedard was also the physical model for the character. She appeared in a different take of the story in the 2005 film The New World, as Pocahontas' mother whose name was Nonoma Winanuske Matatiske. Bedard attended The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA where she studied Musical Theatre.
In 2005, she was cast in the television mini-series Into the West
Into the West (TV miniseries)
Into the West is a 2005 miniseries produced by Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks, with six two-hour episodes . The series was first broadcast in the U.S. on Turner Network Television on six Fridays starting on June 10, 2005...
, portraying the half-Lakota, half-white adult Margaret "Light Shines" Wheeler.
Irene Bedard is known for bringing a powerful emotional presence to her characters. She was chosen as one of People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People for 1995.
Personal life
She married singer Denny Wilson in 1993. Their son, Quinn Wilson, was born in 2003. In 2010, Bedard left Wilson, alleging physical, sexual, and mental abuse, and fled to Alaska. A letter written by Bedard's niece, Alia Davis, alleged that during their marriage, Wilson maintained control over Bedard's career, and that his abuse had cost her multiple jobs, as she could not work with visible bruises.Wilson responded by filing 49 motions in Greene County, Ohio, forcing Bedard to return to the state and relinquish her son to Wilson's custody. An article on the Native Spirit PR & Entertainment website requests that fans of Bedard and those concerned for her welfare assist her by writing letters to Ohio and Alaska representatives, requesting that her son be returned to her custody, and that the court venue be transferred to Alaska. Supporters of Irene Bedard have requested financial assistance to assist with legal costs, alleging that Wilson still maintains control of her finances and image.
Awards and nominations
| 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 Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee is a 1994 TNT original movie starring Irene Bedard, Tantoo Cardinal, Pato Hoffmann, Joseph Runningfox, Lawrence Bayne, and Michael Horse and August Schellenberg.... |
|
| Western Heritage Awards | Bronze Wrangler - Television Feature Film | |||
| 1999 | Two for Texas | |||
| 2004 | American Indian LA Film and TV Awards American Indian LA Film and TV Awards The American Indian LA Film and TV Awards, first created by Roscoe Pond in 2004, are a collection of film and television awards aimed at Native American actors and productions. The award ceremony is held in Los Angeles... |
Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film | Greasewood Flat | |
| 2006 | NAMIC Vision Awards | Best Dramatic Performance | Into The West Into the West (TV miniseries) Into the West is a 2005 miniseries produced by Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks, with six two-hour episodes . The series was first broadcast in the U.S. on Turner Network Television on six Fridays starting on June 10, 2005... |
|
| Western Heritage Awards | Bronze Wrangler - Television Feature Film | |||
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee is a 1994 TNT original movie starring Irene Bedard, Tantoo Cardinal, Pato Hoffmann, Joseph Runningfox, Lawrence Bayne, and Michael Horse and August Schellenberg.... |
Mary Crow Dog | TV movie |
| Squanto: A Warrior's Tale Squanto: A Warrior's Tale Squanto: A Warrior's Tale is a 1994 theatrical live action Disney adventure film. It was written by Darlene Craviato. Xavier Koller and Christopher Stoia were the directors. It is very loosely based on the actual historical Native American figure Squanto, and his life prior to and including the... |
Nakooma | ||
| 1995 | The Marshal The Marshal The Marshal is an American action-drama television series that aired on ABC for two brief seasons in 1995. The show starred Jeff Fahey as the title character, a United States Marshal charged with pursuing fugitives across the nation... |
Melissa Carey | 1 episode: "Twoslip" |
| Pocahontas Pocahontas (1995 film) Pocahontas is the 33rd animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and was originally released to selected theaters on June 16, 1995 by Walt Disney Pictures... |
Pocahontas Pocahontas (Disney) Pocahontas is one of the main characters of Disney's 1995, thirty-third animated feature, Pocahontas, and its direct-to-video sequel, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World... |
(voice) | |
| 1996 | Grand Avenue | Reyna | TV movies |
| Crazy Horse Crazy Horse (film) Crazy Horse is a 1996 film based on the true story of Crazy Horse directed by John Irvin. It stars Michael Greyeyes as the titular role, Ned Beatty as Dr... |
Black Buffalo Woman | ||
| Adventures from the Book of Virtues Adventures from the Book of Virtues Adventures from the Book of Virtues is an animated television series which originally aired on PBS Kids in the United States for three seasons, beginning in 1996 and ending in 2000. There was a two-year gap in between the second and third seasons. In 2008 the series aired twice daily on qubo... |
Morning Light | (voice); 1 episode: "Honesty" | |
| The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest | Alice Starseer | 2 episodes: "Return of the Anasazi"; "Trouble on the Colorado" | |
| Navajo Blues | Audrey Wyako | ||
| 1997 | Song of Hiawatha | Minnehaha | |
| Profiler Profiler (TV series) Profiler was an American crime drama that aired on NBC from 1996 to 2000. The series follows the exploits of a criminal profiler working with the fictional FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force based in Atlanta, Georgia.... |
Maddy Duvall | 1 episode: "The Sorceror's Apprentice" | |
| Det store flip | Oglala | AKA, Wild Flowers | |
| True Women True Women True Women is a 1993 novel by Janice Woods Windle. The book was adapted into a 1997 CBS miniseries starring Dana Delany, Annabeth Gish, Angelina Jolie, Julie Carmen, Tina Majorino and Rachael Leigh Cook.-Plot summary:... |
Tobe | TV movie | |
| 1998 | 6/29 | Laura Cooper | |
| Naturally Native | Tanya Lewis | ||
| Smoke Signals Smoke Signals (film) Smoke Signals is an independent film directed and co-produced by Chris Eyre and with a screenplay by Sherman Alexie, based on the short story "This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona" from his book Lone Ranger and Tonto: Fistfight in Heaven. It won several awards and accolades, and was... |
Suzy Song | ||
| Two for Texas | Sana | TV movie | |
| Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World is a 1998 straight-to-video sequel to the 1995 Disney film Pocahontas. The film is inspired by true events in the life of Pocahontas which took place several years after her encounter with John Smith and the founders of Jamestown... |
Pocahontas | Direct-to-video; (voice) | |
| 12 Bucks | Babe | ||
| 1999 | Blood Money | Naomi Lister | TV movie |
| Wildflowers Wildflowers (film) Wildflowers is a 1999 drama film directed by Melissa Painter. It stars Clea DuVall, Daryl Hannah, Tomas Arana and Eric Roberts. It features former United States Poet Laureate Robert Hass reading some of his own poetry... |
Ruby | ||
| Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles | General Miriam Redwing | (voice); 4 episodes (1999–2001) | |
| 2000 | Pussykat | ||
| The Lost Child | Grace | TV movie | |
| 2001 | Your Guardian | Katherine 'Kat' Damon | |
| The Outer Limits The Outer Limits (1995 TV series) The Outer Limits is an American television series that originally aired on Showtime,the Sci Fi Channel and in syndication between 1995 and 2002... |
Callie Whitehorse Landau | 1 episode: "In the Blood" | |
| The Agency | Diah Siagian | 1 episode: "The Year of Living Dangerously" | |
| 2003 | Paris | Sandy | |
| Greasewood Flat | Abbey | ||
| Edge of America | Annie Shorty | TV movie | |
| 2004 | What's New, Scooby-Doo? What's New, Scooby-Doo? What's New, Scooby-Doo? is the ninth incarnation of the Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon Scooby-Doo, and a revival of the original show Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!. It was the first time the franchise was revived in over a decade. The animated series was developed and produced by Warner Bros.... |
Cody Long | (voice); 1 episode: "New Mexico, Old Monster" |
| 2005 | Planting Melvin | Billie Lawrence | |
| Higglytown Heroes Higglytown Heroes Higglytown Heroes is a children's television series currently airing on the Disney Junior portion of the Disney Channel, or, on some cable networks, the Playhouse Disney channel... |
Forest Ranger Hero | (voice); 1 episode: "Fran Takes a Hike/Mystery at Kip's House" | |
| Into the West Into the West (TV miniseries) Into the West is a 2005 miniseries produced by Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks, with six two-hour episodes . The series was first broadcast in the U.S. on Turner Network Television on six Fridays starting on June 10, 2005... |
Margaret Light Shines | 3 episodes: "Hell on Wheels"; "Casualties of War"; "Ghost Dance" | |
| Miracle at Sage Creek | Sunny | ||
| Love's Long Journey Love's Long Journey Love's Long Journey is a 2005 Christian Drama made for TV movie based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It was directed by Michael Landon Jr... |
Miriam Red Hawk McClain | TV movie | |
| The New World | Pocahontas' Mother (Nonoma) | ||
| 2007 | Cosmic Radio | K.C. | |
| Tortilla Heaven Tortilla Heaven Tortilla Heaven is an independent comedy film written and directed by Judy Hecht Dumontet. It was first released in theaters on March 16, 2007 in Los Angeles.-Plot:... |
Liberata | ||
| The Red Chalk | Eve | ||
| 2008 | Turok: Son of Stone | Catori | (voice); Direct-to-video |
| The Spectacular Spider-Man | Jean DeWolff | (voice); 4 episodes (2008–2009) | |
| 2011 | Timberwolf | Eleni | Pre-Production |