Natalia Tena
| Natalia Tena | |
|---|---|
 Tena in 2012 | |
| Born |
Natalia Gastiain Tena 1 November 1984 London, England, UK |
| Nationality | British, Spanish |
| Education | Bedales School |
| Occupation | Actress, musician |
| Years active | 2001–present |
Natalia Gastiain Tena[1] (born 1 November 1984) is a British actress and musician of Spanish descent. She played Nymphadora Tonks in the Harry Potter film series, and the wildling Osha in the HBO series Game of Thrones.
She is the lead of the British band Molotov Jukebox, as main vocalist and sings while playing the accordion. The band released their debut album Carnival Flower (2014), in Spring 2014, featuring their single "Neon Lights". Their second studio album, Tropical Gypsy (2016), was released on April 15, 2016 and was preceded by its lead single, "Pineapple Girl". It will be promoted on the band's Tropical Gypsy Tour in April and May 2016.
Early life
Natalia Tena was born in London, the daughter of Spanish parents: María, an Extremaduran secretary, and a Basque father, Jesús,[2] who works as a carpenter.[3] She is fluent in Spanish and Basque.[4] She studied at the boarding school, Bedales.[3]
Career
Tena made her professional debut as Ellie in About a Boy (2002), and began acting full-time in 2003. She has played lead roles in stage adaptations of Gone to Earth in 2004, and Nights at the Circus in 2006.
In 2007, Tena appeared in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix playing the character Nymphadora Tonks. Tena reprised this role in its sequels Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, in 2009, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 in 2010 and Part 2 in 2011.
She hosted a behind-the-scenes featurette entitled "Trailing Tonks" for the subsequent DVD and Blu-ray release, and is credited as producer and director of the featurette, in which she also performs an original Christmas-themed blues song on guitar, which she composed while working as a busker on the London Underground.[5]
In 2011 she played a lead role in the Scottish Film You Instead. She also appears as Osha in HBO's Game of Thrones.[6] In March 2013, she starred in the official music video for Lapalux's single "Without You (ft. Kerry Leatham)".[7]
In 2015, Tena starred as the lead, Jennifer Preston, in the British mini-series titles "Residue".
Personal life
Tena was taught the piano by her mother at 5 years old, influenced by Chuck Berry's music.[8] Afterwards, at 18, Tena moved to London and busked in the Tube.[8] While working with a theatre group called KneeHigh, where they were allowed to pick an instrument to play, Tena decided to learn the accordion.[8] Tena dated her fellow band member, Sam Apley, upon getting to know him through their common interest in a book, Neverwhere.[8] Tena was in a band, Nat Jenkins, but later left to form her own band, Molotov Jukebox with her boyfriend.[9] She is close friends with Oona Chaplin.[10]
Credits
Filmography
| Year | Film/TV Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | About a Boy | Ellie | |
| 2005 | Doctors | Amy Emerson | TV, 1 episode |
| The Fine Art of Love: Mine Ha-Ha | Vera | ||
| Mrs Henderson Presents | Peggy | ||
| 2006 | Afterlife | Gemma Taylor | TV, episode 2.5 – "Mirrorball" |
| 2007 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Nymphadora Tonks | |
| 2008 | Lecture 21 | Thomson | |
| 2009 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | Nymphadora Tonks | |
| Womb | Rose | ||
| 2010 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 | Nymphadora Tonks | |
| 2011 | Ways to Live Forever | Annie | |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 | Nymphadora Tonks | ||
| You Instead / Tonight You're Mine | Morello | ||
| 2011–2013, 2016–present | Game of Thrones | Osha | TV, 14 episodes |
| 2012 | Bel Ami | Rachel | |
| Shameless | Brenda | TV, 1 episode | |
| Falcón | Christine Ferrera | TV, 4 episodes | |
| 2013 | Ambassadors | Tanya | TV |
| 2014 | SuperBob | Dorris | |
| 2014 | 10,000 km | Alex | Biznaga de Plata for the Best Actress at Malaga's Film Festival 2014 |
| 2014 | Black Mirror | Jennifer | Feature-length special "White Christmas” |
| 2015 | Residue | Jennifer Preston | TV, 3 episodes |
| 2015 | The Refugees | Emma Oliver | TV, lead role |
Stage
| Year | Production | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Gone to Earth | Hazel | Shared Experience/ UK tour |
| 2005 | Bronte | Cathy/ Bertha Mason | |
| 2006 | Nights at the Circus | Fevvers | Kneehigh Theatre/UK tour |
| 2008 | The Clean House | Matilde | UK tour |
| 2009 | Othello | Desdemona | Royal Shakespeare Company/ UK tour |
References
- ↑ Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.; at ancestry.com
- ↑ "NATALIA TENA EL EMBRUJO DEL FÉNIX" Nuevo Herald – 13 July 2007
- 1 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xASuu44wi0E
- ↑ "Spanish actress lands role in 'Potter' film" 14 July 2007
- ↑ "Trailing Tonks" (2007), a featurette on the DVD release of Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix
- ↑ George R.R. Martin's blog
- ↑ Lapalux's official music video for "Without You (ft. Kerry Leatham)", taken from his debut album Nostalchic
- 1 2 3 4 http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/12/24/harry-potter-and-a-game-of-thrones-natalia-tena-video-interview/
- ↑ Natalia Tena Audio interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xASuu44wi0E
- ↑ Interview with Natalia Tena http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLOy6pcJrdA
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Natalia Tena. |
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