Q'Orianka Kilcher
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| Q'Orianka Kilcher | |
| Born | February 11, 1990 (age 17) Schweigmatt, Germany |
| Notable roles | Pocahontas The New World |
Q'Orianka Waira Qoiana Kilcher (born February 11, 1990) is an American Hollywood actress and singer best known for her role as Pocahontas in the 2005 film The New World.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Kilcher was born in Schweigmatt, Germany; her first language was Spanish, although she also speaks English, a little German and limited Algonquian (which she learned for her part in The New World). She is a Mestiza, of mixed European and indigenous Amerindian ancestry. Her father is a Peruvian artist of Quechua / Huachipaeri descent. Her mother, Saskia Kilcher, a human-rights activist of Swiss descent, was born in Alaska and raised in Switzerland.
Kilcher's maternal grandfather was Ray Genet, a famous Alaskan mountaineer, while her grandmother, Wurtila Kilcher, is the daughter of Yule Kilcher, an Alaskan politician who was also the grandfather of singer Jewel Kilcher (whose father was Wurtila Kilcher's brother),[1] making Jewel and Q'Orianka cousins.
When she was two, her parents moved to Hawaii, where her brother, Kainoa, was born. Her father, from whom she is now estranged, was absent most of the time and her parents often fought. Kilcher was inspired by the local Hawaiian dancers and trained in West African and Hawaiian dance, performing in over 250 dance contests by the age of nine, earning money to support her family.[2]
She subsequently moved with her family to California, where she busked on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. When she was ten, her sound equipment was stolen from the family's van. The story made front page news in Los Angeles and shortly thereafter, Kilcher received new sound equipment plus an audition for the film How the Grinch Stole Christmas, in which she had a role as a background chorus member.
[edit] Career
In 2002, she appeared on Star Search singing "Adagio", but came in second place, with one of the judges, Naomi Judd, commenting that she needed vocal lessons. Although she has had little acting training, she was cast in the leading role of Pocahontas in 2005's Academy Award-nominated motion picture, The New World. The film was released in December 2005 to mixed reviews. [3] It achieved success, despite being shown in 811 theaters worldwide and having a relatively low box office gross. [4] [5]
The film's love scenes between Colin Farrell's character and the then 14-year-old Kilcher caused some controversy, resulting in the film studio deleting several scenes with Farrell to avoid child pornography accusations.[6] Kilcher admitted in several interviews that kissing Farrell during filming was her first kiss.
Kilcher has several projects planned, including charity work, a line of buckskin clothing, and a CD of songs inspired by The New World. She noted in a Canadian interview that she misses singing and would also like to return to the Third Street Promenade.
In summer of 2006, Q'Orianka began filming the independent film "The Power of Few" which she is also producing through her own production company, Entertainment On-Q..[7] She still remains with her original agent Carlyne Grager.
[edit] Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The New World | Pocahontas / Rebecca | |
| 2007 | The Power of Few | ? | Pre-production |
[edit] Awards
[edit] Awards won
- ALMA Awards: Outstanding Actress in a film for The New World in 2006.
- National Board of Review: Breakthrough Performance Actress for The New World in 2005.
[edit] Nominations
- 11th Annual Critics Choice Awards: Best Young Actress in a film for The New World in 2006.
- Broadcast Film Critics Association: Best Young Actress in a film for The New World in 2005.
- Chicago Film Critics Association: Most Promising Performer for The New World in 2005.
- Online Film Critics Association: Breakthrough Performer in a film for The New World in 2005.
- Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards: Best Breakthrough Performance for The New World in 2005.
- Young Artist Awards: Best Performance in a feature film - Leading Young Actress for The New World in 2006.
[edit] References
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Anchorage Daily News. Another Family Star. Retrieved on March 15, 2006.
- ^ Celebrity News. Orianka Kilcher, teen actress' performance puts her on top of "World". Retrieved on March 15, 2006.
- ^ Boxoffice.mojo.com. The New World Box Office Gross.
- ^ Yahoo!movies.com. The New World Critics Rewiews.
- ^ Movies.yahoo.com. The New World: Awards and Nominations.
- ^ The Village Voice. Sex and the Single Squaw. Retrieved on April 11, 2006.
- ^ Variety.com. Kilcher takes more "Power". Retrieved on June 11, 2006.
[edit] External links
- About.com interview (December 25, 2005)
- Q'orianka Kilcher at the Internet Movie Database
- Q'Orianka Online
