Alex Rice facts for kids

Alexandrea Kawisenhawe Rice is a talented actress from the Mohawk First Nations. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Alex is well-known for her roles in The Twilight Saga movies (from 2008 to 2012) and in a series of PBS films. These films were based on mystery books by Tony Hillerman.

About Alex Rice

Growing Up

Alex Rice was born on September 16, 1972. She was born on the Kahnawake reserve in Quebec, Canada. Her family is Kanien'kehaka (Mohawk). Alex is very proud of her First Nations background.

Even though she was born on the Kahnawake reserve, Alex spent most of her childhood in Brooklyn, New York. Her father was one of many Mohawk ironworkers who lived in a neighborhood called Boerum Hill. These skilled men helped build tall buildings and bridges. The women in the community helped keep their traditions alive. The Mohawk people called their neighborhood "Little Caughnawaga," which was named after their homeland.

In Brooklyn, Alex went to local schools. She also trained to become a professional dancer. She discovered her love for acting when she got a part in an educational video at her school. She went to Our Lady of Perpetual Help High School in Brooklyn. After her father passed away and she finished high school in 1990, Alex and her mother moved back to Kahnawake. She later studied at Dawson College and Concordia University in Montreal. There, she focused on library science.

Becoming an Actress

In 1996, Alex Rice traveled to California for a modeling event. She got her first job in entertainment working behind the scenes for the Judge Judy TV show. Her first big movie role was in the independent film The Doe Boy (2001). This movie won several awards at film festivals around the world.

Alex is perhaps best known for playing Janet Pete in a series of films. These films were Skinwalkers (2002), Coyote Waits (2003), and A Thief of Time (2004). They were all based on popular mystery novels by Tony Hillerman.

She has also appeared in other movies, including:

• Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West
• On the Corner
• A Thousand Roads
• The IMAX movie Sacagawea
• Johnny Tootall
• The New World

On television, Alex has acted in many popular shows. These include Spin City, CSI, Strong Medicine, and The Sopranos.

One of her most famous roles is Sue Clearwater in The Twilight Saga movies. She appeared in:

• The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (released in 2010)
• The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (released in 2011)
• The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (released in 2012)

Her Awards

Alex Rice has received awards for her acting:

• In 2003, she won Best Actress in the Motion Pictures Awards. This was given by the American Indian Film Institute for her role as Janet Pete in Coyote Waits.
• In 2005, she received the First American Award. This award was given by the First Americans in the Arts Committee for her work in A Thief In Time.