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Being raised a Catholic under the shadow of her Maori grandmother gave her a strong spiritual foundation, says well known New Zealand actor Rena Owen.
Her mother Cynthia didn’t fancy calling her Mary, so she got the Maori version of Magdalene – Maria Makarena – instead.
“I’ve always, for as long as I remember, had a concept of God. I don’t believe I would still be here today if I didn’t live a life according to my beliefs and a power that is so much greater than I am.”
Rena was born in 1962 on Mary Magdalene’s day (July 22) in the freezing works town of Moerewa, Northland.
She is the middle child in a family of nine, most of them named after saints.
Rena’s breakthrough performance was as Beth Heke in Once Were Warriors.
She recently returned to Los Angeles after spending time doing theatre in Auckland.
Source
- Stuff.co.nz
- Image: Ryan Cleveland
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