Rena Owen is a New Zealand actress of Māori descent whose career spans decades of New Zealand and international film and television. She first gained international acclaim for her powerful performance in the 1994 New Zealand film Once Were Warriors, widely regarded as one of the country’s most significant and confronting cinematic achievements, exploring domestic violence within an urban Māori family.
Owen went on to join the Star Wars universe playing Taun We, a Kaminoan cloner overseeing the creation of the clone army, in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, bringing her distinctive presence to one of the prequel trilogy’s key supporting roles. Her career has continued to span both New Zealand-based productions and larger international projects, reflecting the increasingly interconnected nature of the New Zealand film industry following the global success of productions like The Lord of the Rings.
Owen’s combination of a defining, critically acclaimed New Zealand film role and a memorable contribution to the Star Wars saga has made her a respected and distinctive figure among fans of both New Zealand cinema and the wider Star Wars universe, and a valued voice on the convention circuit.