Q'Orianka Kilcher Biography

Q'Orianka Kilcher
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Q'Orianka Kilcher

Q'Orianka Kilcher in January 2004
Born February 11, 1990 (1990-02-11) (age 19)
Schweigmatt, Germany
Occupation Actress, singer, dancer, public speaker

Q'orianka Waira Qoiana Kilcher (born February 11, 1990) is an American actress and singer, of Indigenous Quechua and Swiss heritage. She is best known for her role as Pocahontas in the 2006 film The New World.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Kilcher was born in Schweigmatt, Germany; she speaks English, some German and some words of the extinct Powhatan language, an Algonquian language (which she learned for her part in The New World). Her name means "Golden Eagle" in Quechua. 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 'Pirate' Genet, a famous Alaskan mountaineer. She is a cousin of singer Jewel Kilcher.1

When she was two, her parents moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where her brother, Kainoa, was born. Her father, from whom she is now estranged, was absent for much of her early life. 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.

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 The film was a critical success, garnering several positive reviews and award nominations, but was shown in only 811 theatres worldwide and yielded a relatively low box office gross.45

The film's love scenes between Colin Farrell 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 has several projects planned, including charity work, a line of buckskin clothing, and a CD of songs inspired by The New World.

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

Activism

In the past, Kilcher has campaigned on behalf of Amnesty International, in particular the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and petroleum industry contamination of the Amazon River Basin.89 Kilcher is a teen celebrity spokesperson for Thursday's Child, a charity for at-risk children, where she has taken it upon herself to address issues concerning children and such topics as anorexia, bulimia, teen suicide, cutting, runaways, teen pregnancy and missing and exploited children.

In addition to public activism, Kilcher is a silent advocate for the environment, driving a Honda FCX Clarity, a hydrogen fuel cell zero-emissions vehicle. Kilcher stated that she had never pumped a single gallon of gasoline.10 On June 11 2009 she visited Lima to support a march in defense of the rights of indigenous peoples by the current problems in the Amazon city of Bagua, Peru.

Filmography

Year Film Role Director Other notes
2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas Little Choir Member Ron Howard
2002 Madison Heights (TV) Maria Betancourt Sharon Miller, Keith Shelton Episode: "Small World"
2005 The New World Pocahontas Terrence Malick
2009 Barbarian Princess Princess Ka'iulani Marc Forby Post-production
A Yellow Raft in Blue Water Christine Taylor Sarah Knight Pre-production, also producer
The Power of Few TBA Leone Marucci In production, also producer
Untitled Q'orianka Kilcher Project Herself N/A Post-production, also producer, Documentary
The People Speak Herself Tony Sacco Post-production, Documentary

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Film Result
2005 NBR Award Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actress The New World Won
WAFCA Award Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated
2006 ALMA Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Won
Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Young Actress Nominated
Critics Choice Award Best Young Actress Nominated
CFCA Award Most Promising Performer Nominated
Online Film Critics Society Awards Best Breakthrough Performance Won
Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actress Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Anchorage Daily News". Another Family Star. http://www.adn.com/life/story/5839782p-5757836c.html. Retrieved March 15 2006. 
  2. ^ "Celebrity News". Orianka Kilcher, teen actress' performance puts her on top of "World". http://vipnews.wordpress.com/2006/01/20/qorianka-kilcher-teen-actress-performance-puts-her-on-top-of-world. Retrieved March 15 2006. 
  3. ^ "Boxoffice.mojo.com". The New World Box Office Gross. http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=newworld.htm. Retrieved 2006. 
  4. ^ "Yahoo!movies.com". The New World Critics Rewiews. http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808589420&cf=critic. 
  5. ^ "Movies.yahoo.com". The New World: Awards and Nominations. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808589420/awards. Retrieved 2006. 
  6. ^ "The Village Voice". Sex and the Single Squaw. http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0551,winter,71142,20.html. Retrieved April 11 2006. 
  7. ^ "Variety.com". Kilcher takes more "Power". http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117944962?categoryId=13&cs=1. Retrieved June 11 2006. 
  8. ^ Ask Amnesty
  9. ^ LA CityBeat - Q'orianka Kilcher
  10. ^ Honda FCX Clarity

External links

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