Jena Malone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jena Malone
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Malone in 2015
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Jena Laine Malone
November 21, 1984 Sparks, Nevada, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1995-present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
Jena Laine Malone (born November 21, 1984) is an American actress. She was born in Sparks, Nevada. Jena spent her early years there and in Las Vegas. Her mother was involved in local theater productions, which inspired Jena to become an actress too.
Jena convinced her mother to move to Los Angeles to pursue acting. After many auditions, she got a role in the television film Bastard Out of Carolina (1996). For this role, she received nominations for important awards. She also appeared in the TV film Hope (1997), earning a Golden Globe Award nomination. Later, she starred in the movies Contact (1997) and Stepmom (1998). She won a Saturn Award for her role in Contact.
In the 2000s, Jena Malone starred in the independent thriller Donnie Darko (2001), which became a very popular movie over time. She also appeared in the drama film Life as a House (2001) and the miniseries Hitler: The Rise of Evil (2003). She took on a leading role in the comedy film Saved! (2004). Jena became well-known for her adult roles, especially in the historical drama Pride & Prejudice (2005). Her success continued with films like The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005) and Into the Wild (2007). She also appeared in the horror film The Ruins (2008).
Jena Malone entered the action film genre with Sucker Punch (2011). She gained even more fame playing Johanna Mason in The Hunger Games film series (2013–2015). This role earned her a Teen Choice Award. More recently, she has appeared in various films and television shows, including The Neon Demon (2016) and Nocturnal Animals (2016).
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Early Life and Acting Dreams
Jena Malone was born on November 21, 1984, in Sparks, Nevada. Her mother was an actress in local theater. Watching her mother perform sparked Jena's interest in acting from a young age.
When Jena was a child, she started taking acting classes. She then convinced her mother to move to Los Angeles. This move allowed Jena to pursue her dream of becoming a professional actress. She was homeschooled for some of her school years. Jena has mentioned that her childhood, with its frequent moves, helped her prepare for the traveling lifestyle of an actor.
Acting Career Highlights
Starting in the 1990s
Jena Malone began her professional acting career with the film Bastard Out of Carolina in 1996. Her performance earned her nominations for important awards. In 1997, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her role in the television film Hope. In this film, she played a young girl growing up in a small town during the 1960s.
After Hope, Jena was cast in Robert Zemeckis's science fiction film Contact (1997). She played the younger version of Jodie Foster's main character. For this role, she won a Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor. In 1998, she appeared in the drama Stepmom alongside Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts. This film was very successful at the box office. In 1999, Jena played Heather Aubrey in the movie For Love of the Game, starring Kevin Costner.
Success in the 2000s
Jena Malone took on her first main role in the psychological thriller film Donnie Darko (2001). She played Gretchen Ross, a new girl in town who becomes the girlfriend of Jake Gyllenhaal's character. Even though the film was not a big hit at first, it later became a "cult film," meaning it gained a strong following over time.
In the same year, she had a supporting role in the drama Life as a House (2001). Jena also co-produced the independent comedy-drama American Girl (2002). In 2002, she played a Catholic schoolgirl in The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys. In 2003, Jena appeared in Cold Mountain.
Malone had a leading role in the comedy Saved! (2004). In this film, she played a Christian high school student. The same year, she starred in the independent thriller Corn. Critics praised her performance in Corn.
Jena was then cast as Lydia Bennet in Joe Wright's film Pride and Prejudice (2005), based on the famous book. Critics noted her amusing portrayal of the youngest daughter. She also had a supporting role in the drama The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005).
In 2006, Jena Malone made her Broadway stage debut in the play Doubt. She also appeared in films like Lying (2006) and The Go-Getter (2007). In the biographical drama Into the Wild (2007), she played the sister of Chris McCandless.
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In 2007, Jena Malone started releasing music under the name Jena Malone and the Bloodstains. In 2008, she formed a musical project called The Shoe. She began performing live shows on street corners.
Jena appeared in the horror film The Ruins (2008). The following year, she returned to theater in an off-Broadway play called Mourning Becomes Electra.
Roles in the 2010s
In 2011, Malone played the role of Rocket in Zack Snyder's action film Sucker Punch. After this, she considered focusing on photography and music. However, the success of her next role in the miniseries Hatfields and McCoys brought back her passion for acting.
In 2012, Jena starred in Dakota, a web series. She also had a supporting role in the independent drama In Our Nature (2012).
In 2013, Jena Malone was cast as Johanna Mason in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. This role made her very popular.
In 2014, Jena exhibited 39 photographs she had taken in Myanmar. The exhibition was called "The Holy Other." Proceeds from the exhibition were donated to Girl Determined, an organization supporting girls' education. Also in 2014, Malone had a supporting role in Paul Thomas Anderson's film Inherent Vice. She also continued her role as Johanna Mason in Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) and Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015).
Jena Malone was cast in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Her scenes were not included in the movie's theatrical release. In 2015, she was cast in the horror film The Neon Demon.
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Malone co-starred in the drama film Lovesong (2016). She is also credited as a co-writer and singer on the Foster the People song "Static Space Lover" from their 2017 album. In 2018, she appeared in the film The Public.
Personal Life
In 2000, Jena Malone became legally independent from her mother.
In 2014, Malone began a relationship with photographer Ethan DeLorenzo. Their son was born in May 2016. They announced their engagement in August 2016, but later ended their relationship in 2019. As of 2019, she has been in a relationship with musician Alex Ebert.
In 2022, Jena Malone helped rescue a dog that was in need of help. She also donated to a fundraising campaign for the dog's surgery.
Filmography
Accolades
See also
In Spanish: Jena Malone para niños
