My daughter and I absolutely adore watching intuitive, profound TV programs together, and both of us waited expectantly for the premiere of Siren on the Freeform network a few weeks ago. We were both overwhelmed by the staggering special effects, the phenomenal acting, and the perceptive writing. We also both fell in the love with the character, Helen. I discovered that an actress by the name of Rena Owen was responsible for breathing life into this extraordinary character, and when she agreed to chat with me about her career and specifically her role in Siren, I was considerably exultant. Indeed, Rena did not disappoint, and I am pleased to bring to my readers my remarkable chat with the engaging, inspirational, and artistic Rena Owen as we enter the third week of this groundbreaking series.

RH: Hello, Rena, thank you so much for agreeing to speak with me today.

RO: Ruth, hello, I’m very happy to speak with you today.

My daughter and I are huge fans of Siren. She’s a teenager, and we watched the premiere together, and she was blown away. She’s not easily impressed, and it beat out her expectations.

That is a huge accolade. I’m with you. Teenagers can be fussy and very hard to please.

She was so impressed by the special effects. She is a very artistic girl, and she was astounded. And, of course, I loved it too. 

That’s so good to hear.

There are several people on the show that I have connections with. In fact, Curtis Lum was actually the first one to tell me about the show. And then Tammy Gillis, I’ve known for quite a while, and she told me about the show soon afterward.

I adore Tammy! I hope that if we do more seasons, I really hope I get to do some scenes with her. I think she is just fabulous and beautiful. And she’s been working with an old friend of mine on the show, Gil Birmingham, who plays the sheriff.

After looking up your credits, I realized you have had an unbelievable career yourself, Rena. I hadn’t realized all the things you had been in. I kept reading and saying to myself, “Oh, she was in that. And oh, she was in that too.” 

{laughs} I like that.

So can you tell me just a little about your journey to becoming an actress?

Yes, and I’ll try to keep it brief because it has been thirty years. So here it is in a nutshell. I was born, like your daughter, very creative. I had a vivid imagination, and I was always in a performing group. I was published when I was eight. As a teenager, I was always involved in the musicals at my high school. I knew as a young person, just like your daughter, that I had found my place in the world, and I knew what I was cut out for. I knew I wasn’t cut out to sit behind a desk nine-to-five. I knew I had to be some kind of creator. But unfortunately, unlike now, back in those days, being creative wasn’t considered a career. And certainly not in New Zealand and probably not around a lot of the world. My career options as a woman were limited. I could be a secretary, a teacher, or a nurse. That is if I wasn’t going to be a housewife, a role for women, which was the norm in the seventies.

I applied for both teaching and nursing, and I got accepted for both. I ended up going for nursing. I was trained at a hospital, and after three years, I qualified as a general obstetric nurse. Then I went on to London for my OE which means my overseas experience. I did have aspirations of going to med school to become a doctor, but I was young, and I did what young people did. I went AWOL. It was my first taste of freedom. And the brief version of this story is I ended up enrolling in a drama school in London. And I remember my dad saying at the time that is was a shame about my medical career. Anyway, I’ve been doing acting ever since.

The first decade of my career was predominantly theater. The great thing about theater is…theater is a place where you really have to learn the nuts and bolts of the job. Theater is a place where it’s not about having your photo on the cover a magazine. Theater is about being a storyteller. In order to do theater, you really have to know the craft and put it into practice because you’re going to do that same show every night of the week, and sometimes matinees. So you’ve gotta have the craft. I set out with the intention of being the best actor I could possibly be, and I highly recommend theater for young people, especially because you learn a respect for the craft. I’ve studied various techniques: Meisner, Peter Hagen and more. I’ve studied all these different approaches, and I think what every creative does, regardless of whether it’s painting or filmmaking or acting or writing, the creative path is pretty similar. You end up taking from each technique you learn and just using what works for you. And that’s what ultimately got me cast in film and theater.

Once Were Warriors

I started to do bit pieces on TV, and that’s what got me cast in my first movie, particularly the one that launched me internationally, Once Were Warriors. I was in my seventh, going into my eighth year as an actor. I was ready for that role. And not only was I ready, but I knew what I was doing. The director saw a lot of people audition for the role, and a lot of people had the right look for the character, but I had the personal strength and more importantly, the craft. That was a heck of a tough role to do, and there were times when we were doing that movie that I wouldn’t wish that up on anybody. We shot over the course of thirty-four days. It was very grueling, an emotional roller coaster. But the thing that kept me going in the back of my head, I kept saying to myself, “This is the role of a lifetime,” and that kept me going. That film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1994, and it opened the international door for me to work in different countries and different mediums.

with George Lucas

And I went on to be the only actress to ever work with both George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. I did a lot of independent movies. I had a recurring role on Angel at one point. I’m a working actor, and you do have long periods where you’re not necessarily on set or on stage acting. But you’re doing what anybody else has to do when you’re self-employed. The amount of people who think I live this leisurely lifestyle in Hollywood…they have no idea. And you’d understand this. If I’d not done what I’ve done, I probably wouldn’t have the career I’ve had. All that work behind-the-scenes…whether you’re going to classes, whether you’re reading scripts, whether you’re working on accents.

And now a big part of our lives has been taken over by social media. I never thought I’d ever be one who would get into social media, and then I had to embrace the fact that this is the world we live today. Kids are now growing up on social media, and that’s how shows are advertising and how they get out their news. It made me think about when my grandmother got her first television. While she embraced the television back in those days, this is the world we live in. Once I could see social media as part of my job, I now have embraced it. I spend a certain part of every day doing a tweet–well, I’m just getting into the tweeting. I first just did Facebook and Instagram, and now I’m learning how to do Twitter. You either have to embrace the tools of the world we live in or to a certain degree, you get left behind.

I agree. I was rather resistant to social media at first too. And now I fully embrace it. I had to. 

It’s a very powerful tool. I actually went to a social media class. and the teacher of the class said, “We live in a digital era, and our future is digital, even more so than it is now.  In the past, advertisers would spend millions of dollars making commercials for TV. But now they take an influencer or a person who has millions of followers, and they pay that person a certain fee, and they promote that product for the company.” Using social media is part of the way you can help generate future work.

Before I got involved with Siren, I was trying to make sure to do a theater play once every few years at least. I did one of those in New Zealand. And I did a Vin Diesel movie, The Last Witch Hunter in 2016. I did a New Zealand movie. Then it was pilot season in 2016 when I got to audition for the role of Helen in Siren. Needless to say, I was thrilled to book the pilot, but even more so that we went on to film season one.

Siren Cast

I absolutely love watching shows like this with my daughter. And it was funny. She saw your character, Helen, and she decided that Helen is the smart one in the town. She said some of the other characters in the town are starting to be smart, but my daughter said that the town needs to listen to Helen. 

{laughs} Your girl is very perceptive! She’s intuitively intelligent. And that’s the way it is for most creatives.

I’ve been reading all the press about Siren. According to what I read, this is the biggest show Freeform has had in some time. It’s breaking all these records.

Which is just fantastic! I’m thrilled for everybody. It’s a risqué show and a quantum leap for the network. It’s not a cheap show. No show with all these special effects and shooting on location can achieve that without having a rather large budget. And all these gorgeous billboards. There’s really been a lot invested in the show, heavily invested. So I’m thrilled their efforts have been rewarded with really good ratings. It’s the most successful show for Freeform since the launch of Shadowhunters. I hope it continues bringing good ratings because everyone wants to be a part of that first show before they become a secondary show or a spinoff. Just watch, in six months, you’re going to see a copy or a similar show in that genre.

Everyone wants to be a part of the original Walking Dead or the original Shadowhunters or the original Lost. And when you look at those shows and the crossovers that do well, they dared to be original. They dared to take risks. And they kinda put their money where their mouth was. This was a huge risk for the network. I think it’s a very timely one because this past year and this year has been all about water creatures. The Shape of Water cleaned up at the Oscars. You’ve got Aquaman coming out this year. I wonder what the next thing is after mermaids. We’ve done werewolves, vampires, and The Walking Dead. What haven’t we done yet?

When I was first told about the show, my initial reaction was The Little Mermaid and Ariel. I think a lot of people have those kinds of Disney images in their heads. But then you get past that and realize that is not the kind of mermaids you’re talking about. This is a darker take on mermaids and the myths surrounding sirens. Then I found myself getting intrigued. And I feel the show is timely as well since it’s dealing with ecology and taking care of the ocean properly and treating it with respect. And even the judgments you make about people. 

One of the things I like about it… these are not the kinds of mermaids that people are used to. While this is a Disney show–Disney does own the network Freeform–I’m thrilled for them because they specifically rebranded the network to do original content and more adult content. Siren is one of the first ones out of the gate. They’ve got a few more lined up. It’s a risk they are taking, but I really hope it continues to pay off.

It’s a fantastical story, but it’s rooted in the reality that the reason these creatures come to land is that the sea is being stripped. This has happened around the world. It’s happened in New Zealand, and it’s been going on for a long time. Foreign tourists have come in and stripped the seabed. They’ve taken all the seafood, the lobsters, abalone, and it’s sold for a fortune. Abalone now is considered black gold in Asia. It’s considered a delicacy. With the seabeds being stripped, deep sea creatures like our mermaids are forced to swim a little higher than they usually swim in order to find food. Unfortunately, with coming up a bit higher, they get caught in the nets.

And as we found out in episode two, the one who got caught in the net is Ryn’s sister. This taps into something else that’s very relevant. Mermaids do not see color, culture, creed or gender. As you meet future mermaids and our first merman, I think we’ll find out more about this species. It’s a species that doesn’t have color, culture or creed or gender. And this is something our species aspire toward. We may never see it in my lifetime, but we can get past those boundaries that can create so much chaos in our world. The model of this show…a lot of shows have done well when they do deal with issues that are relevant to us and our contemporary society. Sometimes it’s easier for us to see it in those foreign or alien species than to see it in our own backyard. That’s just the human condition and it’s always been that way. And it always will be that way. We just evolve a little bit at a time.

I think back on Once Were Warriors. That film was an in-your-face film about violence and every kind of abuse. People didn’t quite know what to do with it at the time. And now twenty-two years later, the “Me Too” conversation has dominated our society. It’s all been about abuse. That’s just our species. That’s how we evolve. How many generations did it take before they finally believed that the world was round? How many years did it take Edison to invent the lightbulb?

And that’s why I have been pleased with myself that I have embraced social media. We do get stuck if we don’t evolve and accept that this is just the way it is now. For example, if they suddenly got rid of all the cars and we had to catch trains in LA, we would do it ’cause we’d want to get from A to B. We do social media so we can be part of the conversation. I find it fascinating. But I’m going to be honest. I have to start disciplining myself ’cause I’m not getting any of my real work done. {laughs} I find myself getting very distracted by social media because there’s so much out there. I’ve always seen Helen as the old girl on the block so I’m quite thrilled that all the young tweeners out there–the YaYa generation–like Helen.

It was great to have this character Helen, and you knew she knew what was going on. They needed to start listening to her, and I’m very excited to see how her character continues on in these next episodes. I think it’s going to be fascinating to see her journey.

Absolutely. And of course, this trio of Ben, Maddie, and Ryn has been set up, and it’s going to be interesting to see where that goes. You’ve also got the other subplot with Xander the fisherman and Calvin. You know, they’re looking for the military. They want to get their mermaid back. And now it’s really going to start heating up.

You’ve got Tammy…I just love Tammy. For me, she epitomizes, not the teeny bopper and that generation, but the kind of actress that exists in their thirties and forties today.  She’s just great, and she looks fantastic in her uniform. It’s really a great role for her. So you’ve got these strong women in the series. Now the hunt is on. Now the sheriff’s putting one and one together, and they start to create a profile of what this girl looks like who killed this guy. So will Ryn get caught? And then you’ve got the dynamic of my character, Helen, being very protective of Ryn. Then you’ve got Maddie and Ben in her corner who are very interested in her from a marine biologist’s scientific perspective as well as possibly a love interest. As well as Tammy, I love David Cubitt. He was so great in the show Medium, which I loved to watch. He and Gil both are great character actors. We have a distinguished group of exceptional, mature character actors along with our young teensters, so to speak.

One of the scenes my daughter and I really liked from the premiere was when they injected a bit of comedy into the very intense, heavy storyline. We loved when Helen went to the market and bought all the seafood for Ryn. We were both still talking about that scene after the premiere was over. 

with Jaymee Mak

I’m gonna tell you a little secret about that scene. I need to do a little shoutout to the girl who shared that scene with me because she was so fantastic. The young Asian girl, Jaymee Mak, made that scene so enjoyable. That was not a scripted scene. That was a totally improvised scene. What was on the page originally was that we see Helen walk into the shop and then see her walk out of the shop with a bag full of food. One of our secondary showrunners who was also the director {Nick Copus}–he is a fabulous director. He directed episodes two and seven and ten. He knew that they needed some kind of release in there I remember going into the shop, and he said, “Okay, here you are in the shop. We’re gonna see you buying some of the food, so why don’t you chuck in a few little lines in there?” And Jaymee was so good! I really had to keep a straight face. {laughs} And I think that’s the thing with great storytellers in terms of your directors and producers and your showrunners. As they are putting the episode together, they kind of know what they need. They know when we need more drama, tension, and they even know when and where to put those light-hearted moments. I was thrilled that scene remained. And like you said, you kind of needed those lighter moments.

There are places that get very heavy. That scene where the guy tries to sexually abuse Ryn, and he’s swiftly thrown through the window…that is a heavy scene. You forget how heavy those moments can be in context. There’s honestly a lot going on, so I hope the audience sticks in there because more is revealed every episode. A lot of different things go down. I obviously can’t give too much away, but it’s exciting what evolves to the point by episode ten. Everything’s up in the air. Getting to that point is the way every season wants to end with somewhat of a cliffhanger.

Right. So we can hope for season two.

It’s great when a season is left with questions.

I’m already excited for the rest of the season, and I’m also thinking how I want this show to continue past season one. And I haven’t even seen all of season one yet. I’m just enthralled by the series. Hopefully, viewers will keep watching.

Fingers crossed. If people keep watching us, I think we’ll get to do another season. But as the old Easter saying goes, you can’t count your eggs before they’re hatched.

Orville

So in addition to Siren, is there anything else upcoming that you want to be sure to mention?

You know, last year, and this was a really cool gig, I got cast to play a really juicy role in Seth McFarland’s show Orville. I loved the role, and it was in episode three called  “About A Girl.” It was a story about the Moclan species. Once again, you have a show here in the Orville that deals with subject matter that is very relevant to the human condition, but it’s done in that futuristic sci-fi way. And it’s very clever. The Moclan species is a species that doesn’t have any females because they believe that females are inferior. If a baby is born female, they automatically give the baby a sex change. The Moclans give birth, and the baby comes out a girl, and they want the procedure done by the doctor on the ship, and she refuses to do such a procedure. So in order to build the case in court, Seth McFarland’s character goes looking to find a female Moclan to see if one had ever survived. And I play that character, and I have a very powerful, beautiful monologue in the episode. And there has been talk about me possibly going back for another episode or two, but that’s all gonna come down to timing in terms of schedule.

Escape and Evasion

But the thing I recently wrapped was when I went down to Australia to play a major in a military feature film. The role was originally written for a man, and I have a friend who was producing this movie, and he said that there was no reason why it couldn’t be a woman, and he said that he knew the perfect actress to do the role. I loved playing this role. Very different from Helen. Very military and poker-faced. I think it’s very interesting to play a character that is quite emotionally removed and emotionally detached. And I love being in uniform. I found the uniforms to be very sexy. That film will come out later this year or early next year. That film is called Escape and Evasion. And hopefully, we’ll find out very soon if Siren will go to season two.

I know that’s what we’re hoping for, and I’m sure many fans would be in agreement. So thank you, Rena, for taking the time to speak with me today. I’ve learned so much, and I’m excited to see what Helen and the other cast members are up to for the rest of the season.

Thank you, Ruth, it’s been lovely to talk with you as well. And give my regards to your highly intelligent, very talented daughter. I hope you and all the fans enjoy the rest of the season.

To speak with Rena is to speak with one of the most enlightened women in the business today–at least in my humble opinion. It is safe to assume that Rena has seen and done it all…practically, at least. She is deeply intuitive and phenomenally skilled, and the comparisons to Bette Davis that I have read concerning Rena’s prowess make perfect sense after chatting with her. Sometimes when a person has remained in the business for a while, he or she may tend to become apathetic, surfeited, or even pretentious to a degree. Without hesitation, I can declare that Rena is one of the most dynamically enthusiastic actors with whom I’ve had the honor of conversing, and the energy that emanates from her innermost being is one of the most enchantingly infectious I’ve experienced in quite some time. I would have been flawlessly content to merely bask in her presence and listen to the rise and fall of her voice as she recounted her tales of the business. Trust me, her “story in a nutshell” only whets my appetite for oh so much more! And to think that she utilizes social media more expertly than even a good share of the younger actors I know…I am honestly mesmerized and fascinated with this spectacular woman! And yet she still takes the time to acknowledge her co-workers and even one of her youngest fans (my daughter).

If you have not tuned into Freeform’s hit series Siren, I would invite you to catch up on demand, online, or wherever you can because this is a series that will entice you in a manner that few shows can. Moreover, be sure to tune in Thursday nights to Freeform to catch the rest of the series (we’re almost halfway through the season already) and keep a keen eye out for the enigmatic Helen characterized masterfully and thoroughly by the captivating Rena. Additionally, please visit all of Rena’s links below and consider following her on as many of her social media channels as you are able. This is one woman whose rich, illustrious career is saturated with a wealth of superb roles that provide new meaning to the words “variety” and “diversity.” And I somehow believe Rena will be around for many years to come while turning the world of entertainment on its ear in her most charming, singularly exquisite ways, and I plan to be there to witness this modern-day marvel!

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