Inspirational Women In Hollywood: How Fiona Rene Is Helping To Shake Up The Entertainment Industry
To be honest, I have a folder in my phone of screenshots of quotes that I’m inspired by. I look at them regularly, but the one that keeps coming to me this month is, “The longer you entertain what is not for you, the longer you postpone what is.” I’ve noticed and I continue to believe that when I release the things that aren’t serving me or bringing me real joy, I make room to receive the things that do.
As a part of our series about Inspirational Women In Hollywood, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Fiona Rene.
Multi-faceted, Chinese-American actress, voice artist, immersive director and educator, Fiona Rene will star in her first series regular role in the highly-anticipated Amazon Original series “I Know What You Did Last Summer” which will stream exclusively to 240 countries and territories worldwide on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, October 15th. The Sony Pictures produced series will premiere with the first four episodes premiering at once on October 15th and the remaining four will come out weekly, with the finale episode Friday, November 12th. Written by Sara Goodman (“Gossip Girl”) and executive produced by James Wan (SAW, THE CONJURING), the gory yet sexy series, based on the 1973 novel by Lois Duncan, is a YA mystery thriller series with elements of horror, comedy and drama and is a modern take of the 1998 movie adaptation. In a town full of secrets, a group of teenagers are stalked by a mysterious killer a year after a fatal accident on their graduation night. Rene plays the role of “Lyla”, the police chief of the small town who works to piece together clues to find the killer.
“I Know What You Did Last Summer” TRAILER
Rene is best known for her role as Kara Lee on ABC’s “Stumptown,” her first recurring role in which she played Michael Ealy’s love interest. Her other credits include ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” FOX’s “LA’s Finest,” and The CW’s “Jane the Virgin,” in which she played the role of ‘Celeste,’ a lesbian mother who goes on a playdate with Jane (Rodriguez) and her son. Rene is also a successful voiceover actor in animation, radio, promo, narrative and commercial. She has voiced for the Freeform network’s “The Bold Type” and “Good Trouble” along with several other animation projects. She is also best known for being one of the hosts in LATV’s “Get it Girl” where she dives into fun, culturally relevant, provocative and attention-grabbing conversation. Alongside acting, Rene has worked extensively in theater and animation in addition to voiceover work and has worked as an interactive performance director, creative consultant, and performance manager.
Born in Montana, Rene and her family moved often and lived in many different places growing up. At the age of 13, Rene and her family moved from Michigan to Texas where she eventually graduated from high school at the age of sixteen and attended Austin Community College and then Oklahoma Baptist University. Moving from school to school, she struggled making friends but soon found her calling as an actor through augmented and virtual reality storytelling. She started working at a haunted house and learning prosthetics while teaching acting at the same time. Rene made her directorial debut alongside writing and casting her first immersive show with 13th Floor Entertainment in 2008. After relocating to London, Rene worked as an actor, acting coach and director, directing and casting for Le Manoir de Paris, France for 5 years until she moved to Los Angeles. Since then, she has worked nonstop as an actor and director and has much experience working on long tours as well as abroad. Through the Disney Talent Mentorship program, she became an artist residence at Technicolor where she creates interactive content for their augmentative and virtual reality department.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
THANK YOU!! Kind of a loaded gun, haha! I grew up having to constantly adapt and transition to new environments and communities. My parents and I moved every year to many different cities in Oklahoma, Michigan, Texas, California, Pennsylvania, but to this day I call Shawnee, OK “Homebase.”
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
In the second grade I got to play the lead, “ Stripes, the rainbow-striped zebra,” and an ensemble character, and “Dancing Banana #3” in the play “It’s a Jungle Out There.” Both roles brought me the most memorable joy from my childhood. I felt like I had roots on the stage. Since that show, I said I wanted to be an actor and I never stopped acting since.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Interesting, huh? The most intense maybe…honestly — well, I lived in Europe for quite a while; it’s the longest I’ve lived anywhere actually. In 2016, I was ready for the “big move” to Los Angeles, and a few months later the year I moved here my mother passed from cancer. I had to learn to GRIEVE while learning to LOVE — my mother, myself, my craft, this city, and I discovered how those two things really go hand in hand.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Oh gosh, there are truly so many and to be honest, they still happen, but I do remember one specific time, after an audition, that I thought I just completely blew. I messed up dialogue, I didn’t do what I had planned, and I just felt so…scared after the audition!?! I went out to the parking lot and called my manager, and cried to her for almost an hour…hysterically, really. The next day she contacted the casting director to get some feedback and they said, “Oh, Fiona was great! Thank you. We will be bringing her in again.” I mean, I couldn’t believe it, and that’s the thing about ART. It’s all so subjective — YOUR PERCEPTION OF WHAT HAPPENS IN AN AUDITION ROOM CAN BE SO DIFFERENT THAN SOMEONE ELSES, and your mistakes can be seen as wins in another’s eyes. Let it go and go make your next piece of art.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? Tell us about your role in “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”
I’m working on creating a series of my own right now based upon my actual life working in haunted houses which I’m very excited about; and truly, I just feel so grateful to be able to create character-driven stories that really make me feel connected. Rooted (just like in 2nd grade, haha) and teach me something new about myself. And of course, explore roles like Lyla Kalei who is more like me than I had initially realized. Lyla is always doing her best, but her personal needs sometimes get in the way.
You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
One. You will fail, but it’s up to you to believe that failure is always a trip on the steps up and not a tumble on the steps down. Whatever you believe, it’s true. if you believe that what you want SEEMS impossible, but you know you can do it, that’s true. if you believe anything is possible with focus and passion, that’s true. If you believe you are amazing and SO worthy, that’s true, and if you believe you suck and you’ll never make it, that’s true too.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
- Forgive yourself.
- Do what FEELS right to YOU, not always what others SAY is “good; unless it’s that rare moment where those two things line up.
- Ask for Help.
- Be gentle and kind to yourself.
- Make mistakes. Then 1. Forgive yourself. ❤
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
- Sleep, take care of your body and have a hobby.
- One of my mentors, Sue Hamilton, taught me something that always reminds me to thrive, “HAVE FUN OR QUIT.”
If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I believe in something called my “method for being”. Basically — we are ALL actors. We all put the character of ourselves into many roles every day, mother, sister, friend, teacher, coworker to help tell a BIGGER story — WE’RE ALL ACTORS. And every actor knows, prepare as best as you can, rehearse, practice, and then of course. PLAY — let it all go because eventually, every story comes to an end.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Hands-down, my manager…NICOLE SEYMOUR. She reminds me of what’s important. She not only coaches me as an actor but as a human and I couldn’t be any more grateful.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
To be honest, I have a folder in my phone of screenshots of quotes that I’m inspired by. I look at them regularly, but the one that keeps coming to me this month is, “The longer you entertain what is not for you, the longer you postpone what is.” I’ve noticed and I continue to believe that when I release the things that aren’t serving me or bringing me real joy, I make room to receive the things that do.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them.
No question…JIM CARREY! I’ve not only resonated with his work my entire life, but when everyone gave him so much shit about sounding crazy I was like, “Oh I see you, Jim.”
How can our readers follow you online?
@fionarene on everything…thank you so much!
This was so informative, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
