Fantastic interview with Renee! Episode 17 of the International Women in Film Podcast
Episode 17 of the International Women in Film Podcast stars, Reneé O’Connor, a successful actress and filmmaker, best known for her role on Xena: Warrior Princess, brings her unparalleled passion to each and every project. Reneé made a name for herself when she resided in Auckland, New Zealand, playing the role of Gabrielle, Xena’s trusted sidekick on the popular series from 1996-2001.
The scene stealing role created a huge worldwide fan base, one still active in countless websites dedicated to the actress and this signature series. She then moved on to launch her own film production company – ROC Productions. Her first independent production under the company is the romantic comedy, Diamonds and Guns which was released on DVD in January 2008. She also starred in several independent films, including Boogeyman 2 opposite Tobin Bell; The Sci Fi Channel’s Monster Ark opposite Tim DeKay and Alien Apocalypse, opposite Bruce Campbell, one of the highest-rated original movies in the cable network’s history. She starred in the action webisode series ARK from Judah/Sacks (executive producers of 90210 and Diary of a Wimpy Kid) and the anticipated Faith Based feature film, Beyond The Farthest Star, due for release in 2016, from Pathlight Entertainment.
Prior to her breakout role, Reneé lived in Texas and began her professional film career at the age of 17, starring in the serial Teen Angel, a regular feature on the Disney Channel’s The Mickey Mouse Club. Other credits include the Disney film, The Adventures of Huck Finn with Elijah Wood, and television movies such as Follow the River with Ellen Burstyn, Danielle Steele’s Changes with Cheryl Ladd, and James Garner’s second Rockford Files reunion movie. Reneé’s talent extends well beyond the big screen or the small screen. Also an acclaimed stuntwoman, Reneé is proficient in several forms of martial arts and the use of martial arts weapons, which includes, the Nunchaku, Bo-Staff, and the Sai. She is a certified teacher of Emotional Awareness for the gifted community by the Rocamora School, and Renee has been an annual nominee for the Women Making A Difference award by the Los Angeles Business Journal since 2010. Renee is involved as co-director for some Los Angeles Film Festivals and teaches the Youth Intensive film lab, an educational laboratory for showcasing local talents. Currently, Renee writes, directs, and produces award winning shows