History Creator / IreneBedard

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/irenebedard.png]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/irene_bedard_640x427.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"Listen with your heart. You will understand."'']]

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' (2012) - Shelly Longshadow (voice)

* ''[[Series/TheStand2020 The Stand]]'' (2020-2021) - Ray Brentner

* AwesomeDearBoy:[[invoked]] She got on the plane to appear as Madam President in the Music/JayZ video for "Family Feud" not knowing what it was even about - all because she wanted to work with Ava [=DuVernay=].

** In ''The New World'' she plays the mother of Pocahontas. What's more is that Christian Bale stars as John Rolfe, when he had voiced Thomas in the Disney version.

** In Irene's first film, ''Lakota Woman'', Russell Means is featured as a character. The real Russell would later voice Pocahontas' father, Chief Powhatan.

* HollywoodHypeMachine: Her Golden Globe nominated performance in ''Lakota Woman'' and voicing Pocahontas caused her to get a lot of hype, being named the most recognisable Native American actress and getting featured on several 'Most Beautiful Women' lists. Sadly, she's still best known as Pocahontas - though she has been working away, so it seems more to do with lack of opportunities for indigenous actresses rather than talent.

** August Schellenberg starred with her in ''Grand Avenue'', ''Lakota Woman'', ''Crazy Horse'' and ''The New World''.

** Irene has a tendency to be cast as spiritual {{Indian maiden}}s. Even ''Film/SmokeSignals'' - which is hardly stereotypical - has her in a ManicPixieDreamGirl–type role that comes close.

* ''Series/TheOuterLimits1995'' (2001) - Episode "In The Blood" - Callie Whitehorse Landau

-> ''"If you listen hard, everything has something to say."''

[[caption-width-right:350:Listen with your heart. You will understand.]]

* HairstyleInertia: She has always had the same black RapunzelHair. She joked in a Q&A that she's occasionally tempted to cut it, but she's kept it long.

Her career started with a bang in ''Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee'' - depicting [[BasedOnATrueStory a real life standoff between the U.S. government and Native Americans at a reservation in Wounded Knee back in the 1970s]]. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for her first role. Her second film was ''Squanto: A Warrior's Tale'', in which she played another lead role. But it's probably her third role that she is best known for.

** Starred with Tantoo Cardinal in ''Lakota Woman'', ''Film/SmokeSignals'', ''Grand Avenue'' and ''The Lost Child''.

** She was announced as directing an adaptation of Velma Wallis' ''Two Old Women'', as Irene was a fan of the novel. However, the project never materialised.

* ''The New World'' (2005) - Nonoma

** She's played many real-life Native American women,- two of whom were activists.

Irene Bedard (b. July 22nd 1967 in Anchorage, Alaska) is an American actress, hailing from Alaska, and has been one of the more prominent Native American actors in recent years.

Disney's 33rd animated film was ''WesternAnimation/{{Pocahontas}}'' - a dramatization surrounding the legend of UsefulNotes/{{Pocahontas}} and John Smith. After a long search, Irene won the title role and was the voice of Disney's first American Princess.[[note]]Although the real Pocahontas is not considered a princess in the European sense, she was presented as such to the English, and is an 'honorary' princess in the franchise, along with WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}.[[/note]] Irene has continued to voice Pocahontas across the Disney franchise - even reprising her role 20 years later in ''WesternAnimation/RalphBreaksTheInternet''.

Irene Bedard (b. July 22nd 1967) is an American actress, hailing from Alaska, and has been one of the more prominent Native American actors in recent years.

Her career started with a bang in ''Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee'' - depicting [[BasedOnATrueStory a real life standoff between the US government and Native Americans at a reservation in Wounded Knee back in the 70s]]. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for her first role. Her second film was ''Squanto: A Warrior's Tale'', in which she played another lead role. But it's probably her third role that she is best known for.

Walt Disney's 33rd animated film was ''{{WesternAnimation/Pocahontas}}'' - a dramatization surrounding the legend of {{UsefulNotes/Pocahontas}} and John Smith. After a long search, Irene won the title role and was the voice of Disney's first American Princess.[[note]]Although the real Pocahontas is not considered a princess in the European sense, she was presented as such to the English, and is an 'honorary' princess in the franchise along with {{WesternAnimation/Mulan}}.[[/note]] Irene has continued to voice Pocahontas across the Disney franchise - even reprising her role twenty years later in ''WesternAnimation/RalphBreaksTheInternet''.

* ''{{WesternAnimation/Pocahontas}}'' (1995) - Pocahontas (voice)

* ''{{Series/Longmire}}'' (2012-2015) - May Stillwater

* ''{{Series/Westworld}}'' (2018) - Wichapi

** In Irene's first film ''Lakota Woman'', Russell Means is featured as a character. The real Russell would later voice Pocahontas's father Chief Powhatan.

** Irene was twenty-six playing Mary Crow Dog at eighteen in ''Lakota Woman''.
** Although Pocahontas was given an AgeLift so that she wasn't twelve as in real life, she's hinted to be younger than Irene's mid-twenties when she voiced her.

* HollywoodHypeMachine: Her Golden Globe nominated performance in ''Lakota Woman'' and voicing Pocahontas caused her to get a lot of hype, being named the most recognisable Native American actress and getting featured on several 'Most Beautiful Women' lists. Sadly she's still best known as Pocahontas - though she has been working away, so it seems more to do with lack of opportunities for indigenous actresses rather than talent.

* LifeImitatesArt:[[invoked]] After playing a real life Native American activist in ''Lakota Woman'', she was inspired to take more of an interest in campaigning for better representation.
* NonSingingVoice:[[invoked]] Judy Kuhn does Pocahontas's singing. Irene however has been in a band, so she's able to sing.
* PlayingAgainstType:[[invoked]] ''Songs My Brothers Taught Me'' as an alcoholic and neglectful mother whom her son can't wait to escape from.
* ProductionPosse:[[invoked]] Worked with Terence Malik in ''The New World'' and ''Film/TheTreeOfLife''.
* RomanceOnTheSet:[[invoked]] She met her husband Deni Wilson while filming ''Squanto: A Warrior's Tale''.

** Michelle St John had an appearance in ''Film/SmokeSignals'' (not in the same scene as Irene) while also voicing Nakoma in ''{{WesternAnimation/Pocahontas}}''.

** Irene has a tendency to be cast as spiritual {{Indian Maiden}}s. Even ''Film/SmokeSignals'' - which is very unstereotypical - has her in a ManicPixieDreamGirl type role that comes close.
** She's played many real life Native American women - two of which were activists.

** Judy Kuhn was first cast to do Pocahontas's singing, and was told that she would do the speaking if they couldn't find a Native American actress. Irene was ultimately cast.
** She was announced as directing an adaptation of Velma Wallis's ''Two Old Women'', as she was a fan of the novel. However the project never materialised.

Walt Disney's 33rd animated film was ''{{Disney/Pocahontas}}'' - a dramatization surrounding the legend of {{UsefulNotes/Pocahontas}} and John Smith. After a long search, Irene won the title role and was the voice of Disney's first American Princess.[[note]]Although the real Pocahontas is not considered a princess in the European sense, she was presented as such to the English, and is an 'honorary' princess in the franchise along with {{Disney/Mulan}}.[[/note]] Irene has continued to voice Pocahontas across the Disney franchise - even reprising her role twenty years later in ''Disney/RalphBreaksTheInternet''.

* ''{{Disney/Pocahontas}}'' (1995) - Pocahontas (voice)
** ''Disney/PocahontasIIJourneyToANewWorld'' (1998)

** ''Disney/RalphBreaksTheInternet'' (2018)

** Michelle St John had an appearance in ''Film/SmokeSignals'' (not in the same scene as Irene) while also voicing Nakoma in ''{{Disney/Pocahontas}}''.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderman'' (2008) - Jean [=DeWolff=] (voice)

* LifeImitatesArt: After playing a real life Native American activist in ''Lakota Woman'', she was inspired to take more of an interest in campaigning for better representation.
* NonSingingVoice:[[invoked]] Judy Kuhn does Pocahontas's singing. Irene however

* ThoseTwoActors:

* TypeCasting:

Other roles she might be recognized for are ManicPixieDreamGirl Suzy Song in ''Film/SmokeSignals'', Margaret Light Shines of ''Series/IntoTheWest'' or else Kimi Lucero of ''Series/TheMist''. Pocahontas isn't the only In addition to acting, she also has her own production companies - Sleeping Lady Films and Walking Giants Productions - campaigning for better representation of Native Americans in media.