Natalia Tena

Natalia Tena
Tena in June 2012
Born Natalia Gastiain Tena
(1984-11-01) 1 November 1984
London, England
Occupation
  • Actress
  • musician
Years active 2001–present
Known for

Natalia Gastiain Tena[1] (born 1 November 1984) is an English actress and musician. She played Nymphadora Tonks in the Harry Potter film series, and the wildling Osha in the HBO series Game of Thrones.

Tena is the lead singer and accordionist of Molotov Jukebox. The band released their debut album Carnival Flower (2014), in Spring 2014, featuring their single "Neon Lights". Their second studio album, Tropical Gypsy (2016), was released on 15 April 2016 and was preceded by its lead single, "Pineapple Girl". It was promoted on the band's Tropical Gypsy Tour in April and May 2016.

Early life

Natalia Gastiain Tena was born in London the daughter of Spanish parents María Gastiain, a secretary, and Jesús Andrew Gastiain,a carpenter.[2] She is of Extremaduran descent on her mother's side and Basque descent on her father's side.[3] She is fluent in English, Spanish and Basque.[4] She studied at the boarding school, Bedales.[3]

Tena was taught the piano by her mother at five years old, influenced by Chuck Berry's music.[5] Afterwards, at 18, Natalia moved back to London and busked on the London Underground.[5] While working with a theatre group called KneeHigh, where they were allowed to pick an instrument to play, Tena decided to learn the accordion.[5]

Career

Tena performing in 2013

Natalia made her professional debut as Ellie in About a Boy (2002), and began acting full-time in 2003. She has played lead roles in stage adaptations of Gone to Earth in 2004, and Nights at the Circus in 2006.

In 2007, Natalia appeared in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix playing the character Nymphadora Tonks. Natalia reprised this role in its sequels Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, in 2009, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 in 2010 and Part 2 in 2011.

She hosted a behind-the-scenes featurette entitled "Trailing Tonks" for the subsequent DVD and Blu-ray release, and is credited as producer and director of the featurette, in which she also performs an original Christmas-themed blues song on guitar, which she composed while working as a busker on the London Underground.[6]

In 2011 she played a lead role in the Scottish Film You Instead. She also appeared as Osha in HBO's Game of Thrones.[7][8] In March 2013, she starred in the official music video for Lapalux's single "Without You (ft. Kerry Leatham)".[9]

In 2015, Natalia starred as the lead, Jennifer Preston, in the British mini-series Residue. In 2017, Natalia was cast as Sara Morten in the CBS drama Wisdom of the Crowd.[10][11]

Personal life

She is close friends with fellow Game of Thrones actress Oona Chaplin.[12]

Filmography

Film and television

Year Title Role Notes
2002 About a Boy Ellie
2005 Doctors Amy Emerson TV, 1 episode
The Fine Art of Love Vera
Mrs Henderson Presents Peggy
2006 Afterlife Gemma Taylor TV, episode 2.5 – "Mirrorball"
2007 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Nymphadora Tonks
2008 Lecture 21 Thomson
2009 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Nymphadora Tonks
2010 Womb Rose
Ways to Live Forever Annie
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 Nymphadora Tonks
2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Nymphadora Tonks
You Instead Morello
2011–13, 2016 Game of Thrones Osha TV, 16 episodes
2012 Bel Ami Rachel
Shameless Aparecida TV, 1 episode
Falcón Christine Ferrera TV, 4 episodes
2013 Ambassadors Tanya TV mini-series, 3 episodes
2014 10,000 km Alex Biznaga de Plata for the Best Actress at Málaga Film Festival 2014
Nominated - Goya Award for Best New Actress
Black Mirror Jennifer Feature-length special
"White Christmas"
2015 SuperBob Dorris
Residue Jennifer Preston TV mini-series, lead role, 3 episodes
The Refugees Emma Oliver TV, lead role, 7 episodes
2017 Amar Madre de Laura
Anchor and Hope Kat
2017-2018 Wisdom of the Crowd Sara Morten TV, lead role, 13 episodes
2018 Origin Lana In post production - TV, lead role (10 episodes)

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Gone to Earth Hazel Shared Experience/ UK tour
2005 Bronte Cathy/ Bertha Mason
2006 Nights at the Circus Fevvers Kneehigh Theatre/UK tour
2008 The Clean House Matilde UK tour
2009 Othello Desdemona Royal Shakespeare Company/ UK tour

References

  1. ↑ Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.; at ancestry.com
  2. ↑ "NATALIA TENA EL EMBRUJO DEL FÉNIX" Nuevo Herald – 13 July 2007
  3. 1 2 natalia tena audio interview - YouTube
  4. ↑ "Spanish actress lands role in 'Potter' film" 14 July 2007
  5. 1 2 3 Harry Potter And A Game Of Thrones' Natalia Tena Video Interview - Bleeding Cool Comic Book, Movie, TV News
  6. ↑ "Trailing Tonks" (2007), a featurette on the DVD release of Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix
  7. ↑ George R.R. Martin's blog Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ "Molotov Jukebox' Natalia Tena Talks Game Of Thrones And Getting Dumped For The First Time". Famemagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  9. ↑ Lapalux's official music video for "Without You (ft. Kerry Leatham)", taken from his debut album Nostalchic
  10. ↑ "Wisdom Of The Crowd': Natalia Tena & Jake Matthews Join CBS Drama Pilot". Deadline.com. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  11. ↑ "Natalia Tena". CBS.com. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  12. ↑ Interview with Natalia Tena https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLOy6pcJrdA
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