Irene Bedard

{{Infobox person

| name = Irene Bedard

| image = Irene Bedard Photo Op GalaxyCon Columbus 2022.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Bedard at GalaxyCon Columbus in 2022

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|7|22}}{{cite web |title=AAA Native Arts |date=18 February 2017 |url=https://www.aaanativearts.com/irene-bedard-inupiaq-cree-actress |access-date=18 August 2024}}

| birth_place = Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.

| occupation = Actress

| years_active = 1994–present

| spouse = {{marriage|Denny Wilson|1993|2012|reason=divorced}}

| children = 1

}}

Irene Bedard (born July 22, 1967) is an American actress, who has played mostly Native American lead roles in a variety of films. She is perhaps best known for the role of Suzy Song in the 1998 film Smoke Signals,{{Cite web|title=Native American Heritage Month Screening No. 2: 'Smoke Signals'|url=https://www.thepostathens.com/article/2021/11/smoke-signals-review-native-american-heritage-month|access-date=November 9, 2022|website=The Post|language=en-US|date=November 9, 2021|first=Lydia|last=Smith|archive-date=November 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109043120/https://www.thepostathens.com/article/2021/11/smoke-signals-review-native-american-heritage-month|url-status=live}} an adaptation of a Sherman Alexie collection of short stories, as well as for providing the speaking voice for the titular character in the 1995 animated film Pocahontas. Bedard reprised her role as Pocahontas in the film's direct-to-video follow-up, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998) and for a cameo in Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018).

Early life

Bedard was born in Anchorage, Alaska, to an Iñupiaq mother and a Cree/French Canadian father.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aaanativearts.com/irene-bedard-inupiaq-cree-actress|title=Irene Bedard, Iñupiaq-Cree Actress|date=February 18, 2017|website=AAANativeArts.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/07/arts/cover-storycrazy-horse-warrior-and-mystic.html|title=COVER STORY;Crazy Horse, Warrior and Mystic|first=Bridget|last=Byrne|date=July 7, 1996|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 4, 2024|archive-date=April 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404215932/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/07/arts/cover-storycrazy-horse-warrior-and-mystic.html|url-status=live}} She is an enrolled citizen of the Native Village of Koyuk in Alaska.{{cite web|url=https://brightlightsfilm.com/from-the-squaw-man-to-rutherford-falls-the-rise-of-hollywoods-contemporary-native-american-woman/#.YQxQ6YhKh45|title=From The Squaw Man to Rutherford Falls: The Rise of Hollywood's Contemporary Native American Woman|first1=Angela|last1=Aleiss|date=August 5, 2021|work=Bright Lights Film Journal|access-date=August 7, 2021}} Bedard graduated from Dimond High School in Anchorage, Alaska in 1985. Bedard attended The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she studied musical theater.{{Citation needed |date=April 2024}}

Career

In 1994, Bedard appeared in her first role as Mary Crow Dog in the television production of Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee, which depicted the 1970s standoff between the US government and citizens of several Native nations, including many of the Pine Ridge Reservation, at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. For this role, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1995|title=Winners & Nominees 1995|website=Golden Globe Awards|access-date=2021-02-01|archive-date=2023-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613070208/https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1995|url-status=dead}} As such, in 1994 she became the first Native American woman to receive an acting award nomination from the Golden Globe Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/12/lily-gladstone-makes-history-golden-globes-1235662401/|title='Killers Of The Flower Moon's Lily Gladstone Set As Golden Globes' First Indigenous Nominee For Female Actor In A Motion Picture|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=December 11, 2023}}

Bedard is known as the voice of the eponymous heroine in the 1995 Disney animated film Pocahontas, the direct-to-video 1998 sequel Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World and in the 2018 film Ralph Breaks the Internet. She appeared in a different take of the story in Terrence Malick's 2005 film The New World, as Pocahontas's mother, Nonoma Winanuske Matatiske.

In 1995, Bedard was chosen as one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People".{{cite web|url=https://www.people.com/archive/irene-bedard-vol-43-no-18/|title=Irene Bedard|date=May 8, 1995|website=People|author=People Staff|accessdate=December 6, 2022|archive-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207010201/https://people.com/archive/irene-bedard-vol-43-no-18/|url-status=live}}

In 2001, Irene Bedard hosted the Ninth Annual First Americans in the Arts (FAITA) Awards from the Beverly Hilton Hotel.{{Cite web|title=First American in the Arts Awards|url=http://www.studioclub.com/Native%20American/FAITA.htm|access-date=November 9, 2022|website=www.studioclub.com}} In 2002, at the Tenth Annual FAITA Awards, Bedard won Outstanding Guest Performance by an Actress in a TV Drama Series for The Agency.{{Cite web|title=first american in the arts awards 2002|url=http://www.studioclub.com/Native%20American/faita2002.htm|access-date=November 9, 2022|website=www.studioclub.com}}

In 2005, she was cast in the television mini-series Into the West as Margaret "Light Shines" Wheeler.{{cite book|first=Alvin H.|last=Marill|title=Movies Made for Television: 2005-2009|date=2010|publisher=Scarecrow Press|page=48|isbn=978-0-8108-7659-0}} Bedard has been very active in environmental groups to protect sacred lands.{{Cite web|url=https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/irenebedard|title=Bedard sinks native roots into creative projects|date=September 5, 2003|first=Jason|last=Kell|website=OnMilwaukee|access-date=February 1, 2021|archive-date=February 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223002150/https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/irenebedard|url-status=live}} In 1997, Bedard and Floyd Westerman co-hosted a benefit for the Dine' People of Big Mountain at The Loft Theatre, in Pasadena. In 2015, she appeared in Chloé Zhao's debut feature film, Songs My Brothers Taught Me. In 2016, Bedard announced an agreement with the Catawba Nation of South Carolina to join in a production agreement.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/article75986347.html|title=Catawba Indians and 'Pocahontas' star announce film production partnership|website=The Herald|date=May 5, 2016|first=Tracy|last=Kimball|access-date=February 1, 2021|archive-date=August 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820020201/https://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/article75986347.html|url-status=live}} In 2017, she appeared as a recurring character in the TV series The Mist. Bedard made an appearance in the music video for Jay-Z's 2017 song "Family Feud", in which she plays a future Madam President of the United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/12/186496/jay-z-beyonce-family-feud-video-recap|title=Jay-Z's New 'Family Feud' Video Reminds Us The Future Is Female|website=Refinery29|date=December 29, 2017|first=Meagan|last=Fredette|accessdate=December 6, 2022|archive-date=April 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420041618/http://www.refinery29.com/2017/12/186496/jay-z-beyonce-family-feud-video-recap|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://refinery29.com/en-us/2017/12/186516/jay-z-family-feud-video-madam-president-actress|title=Everyone Wants To Know Who Played Madam President In Jay-Z's 'Family Feud'|website=Refinery29|date=December 30, 2017|first=Shannon|last=Carlin|accessdate=December 6, 2022|archive-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207003718/https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/12/186516/jay-z-family-feud-video-madam-president-actress|url-status=live}}{{cite web |author=Meagan Fredette |url=http://www.refinery29.com/2017/12/186496/jay-z-beyonce-family-feud-video-recap |title=Celebrities in Jay Z Family Feud Video Recap |publisher=Refinery29.com |access-date=2018-01-08 |archive-date=2018-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420041618/http://www.refinery29.com/2017/12/186496/jay-z-beyonce-family-feud-video-recap |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Shannon Carlin |url=http://www.refinery29.com/2017/12/186516/jay-z-family-feud-video-madam-president-actress |title=Who Plays Female President Jay-Z "Family Feud" Native |publisher=Refinery29.com |access-date=2018-01-08 |archive-date=2018-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108175150/http://www.refinery29.com/2017/12/186516/jay-z-family-feud-video-madam-president-actress |url-status=live }}

In 2020, Bedard played a recurring character in the drama series FBI: Most Wanted. She then was a starring cast member in the Paramount+ miniseries The Stand, as Ray Brentner, a gender-swapped version of Ralph Brentner from the 1994 adaptation.{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-apocalypse-arrives-this-winter-cbs-all-access-conf-1844841600|title=The apocalypse arrives this winter, CBS All Access confirms|website=The A.V. Club|date=August 25, 2020|first=Randall|last=Colburn|accessdate=December 7, 2022|archive-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207141907/https://www.avclub.com/the-apocalypse-arrives-this-winter-cbs-all-access-conf-1844841600|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Fienberg|first=Daniel|date=December 15, 2020|title='The Stand': TV Review|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/the-stand-2020-tv-review-4104954/|access-date=November 9, 2022|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US|archive-date=June 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601173125/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/the-stand-2020-tv-review-4104954/|url-status=live}}

In 2022, she was cast as Yagoda in the Netflix series Avatar: The Last Airbender and as Sylvie Nanmac in Alaska Daily, the mother of a missing indigenous woman.{{Cite web|date=October 14, 2022|title=Alaska Daily Season 1 Episode 3 – IRENE BEDARD|website=Tell-Tale TV|url=https://telltaletv.com/2022/10/preview-alaska-daily-season-1-episode-3-its-not-personal/irene-bedard-2/|access-date=November 9, 2022|language=en-US|first=Sarah|last=Fields|archive-date=August 20, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240820021313/https://telltaletv.com/2022/10/preview-alaska-daily-season-1-episode-3-its-not-personal/|url-status=live}} She also appeared in the film How to Blow Up a Pipeline.

Personal life

In 1993, Bedard married musician Denny Wilson, together, they have a son. Between her films, the pair toured for several years with other musicians in a band called "ID," which came from the initials of their first names, Irene and Denny. In 2012, the couple divorced following Bedard's allegations of Wilson abusing her.{{cite web|url=https://newspaperrock.bluecorncomics.com/2010/11/irene-bedard-abused.html|title=Irene Bedard abused|website=Newspsaper Rock|date=November 21, 2010|author=Rob|accessdate=December 6, 2022|archive-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207002738/https://newspaperrock.bluecorncomics.com/2010/11/irene-bedard-abused.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dennywilson.com/about-6|title=About Denny|access-date=2023-07-24|archive-date=2023-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724115046/https://www.dennywilson.com/about-6|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://talentrecap.com/pocahontas-star-irene-bedards-son-begs-for-help-after-she-is-arrested-twice-in-3-days/|title='Pocahontas' Star Irene Bedard's Son Begs For Help After She Is Arrested TWICE In 3 Days|website=Talentrecap.com|date=July 24, 2022|author=Samantha Agate|accessdate=December 2, 2020|archive-date=September 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925003633/https://talentrecap.com/pocahontas-star-irene-bedards-son-begs-for-help-after-she-is-arrested-twice-in-3-days/|url-status=dead}} Wilson, however, denied all these accusations.

=Legal issues=

In 2020, Bedard was arrested twice in three days. The first arrest was for alleged domestic violence, assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and criminal damaging; the second was for alleged disorderly conduct.{{Cite web|date=December 3, 2020|title='Pocahontas' Voice Actor Irene Bedard-Wilson Arrested Twice Earlier This Week|url=https://www.newsweek.com/pocahontas-voice-actor-irese-bedadsilson-arrested-1552226|website=Newsweek.com|first=James|last=Crowley|access-date=February 1, 2021|archive-date=August 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820020155/https://www.newsweek.com/pocahontas-voice-actor-irene-bedard-wilson-arrested-1552226|url-status=live}} In August 2022, she was again arrested for disorderly conduct in Xenia, Ohio.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/pocahontas-irene-bedard-arrested-disney-b2152247.html#Echobox=1661370349|title=Voice of Disney's Pocahontas arrested for disorderly conduct|date=August 25, 2022|first=Inga|last=Parkel|website=The Independent|access-date=August 25, 2022|archive-date=August 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825151803/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/pocahontas-irene-bedard-arrested-disney-b2152247.html#Echobox=1661370349|url-status=live}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

! Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1994

|Squanto: A Warrior's Tale

|Nakooma

1995

|Pocahontas

|Pocahontas (voice)

|{{cite web |title=Irene Bedard (visual voices guide) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Irene-Bedard/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.

1996

|Navajo Blues

|Audrey Wyako

rowspan="2" | 1997

|Song of Hiawatha

|Minnehaha

Det store flip

|Oglala

|AKA, Wild Flowers

rowspan="5" | 1998

|Two for Texas

|Sana

6/29

|Laura Cooper

Naturally Native

|Tanya Lewis

Smoke Signals

|Suzy Song

Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World

|Pocahontas (voice)

|Direct-to-video

12 Bucks

|Babe

1999

|Wildflowers

|Ruby

2000

|Pussykat

|Un-produced

2001

|Your Guardian

|Katherine 'Kat' Damon

rowspan="3" | 2003

|Paris

|Sandy

Greasewood Flat

|Abbey

Edge of America

|Annie Shorty

|Television film

rowspan="4" | 2005

|Planting Melvin

|Billie Lawrence

Miracle at Sage Creek

|Sunny

Love's Long Journey

|Miriam Red Hawk McClain

|Television film

The New World

|Pocahontas's Mother (Nonoma)

rowspan="3" | 2007

|Cosmic Radio

|K.C.

Tortilla Heaven

|Liberata

The Red Chalk

|Eve

|Short film

2008

|Turok: Son of Stone

|Catori (voice)

|Direct-to-video

2011

|The Tree of Life

|Messenger

2013

|Vertical

|Lucy Mills

2014

|Ron and Laura Take Back America

|Mrs. Alma

2015

|Songs My Brothers Taught Me

|Lisa Winters

2017

|Spreading Darkness

|Marci Gippolin

2018

|Ralph Breaks the Internet

|Pocahontas (voice)

|{{Cite web |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |date=July 14, 2017 |title=Wreck-It Ralph Sequel Will Unite the Disney Princesses — and Star Wars! |url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/07/14/wreck-it-ralph-sequel-star-wars-disney-princesses/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |website=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}

2019

|The Bygone

|Mrs. Call

rowspan="4" |2022

|The Harbinger

|Floating Hawk

|Also executive producer

How to Blow Up a Pipeline

|Joanna

Mending the Line

|Mrs. Redcloud

The Redeemer

|Aponi Nelson

rowspan="2" |2023

|On Sacred Ground

|Mary Singing Crow

|{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=May 11, 2022 |title=Shout! Studios Acquires Cannes-Bound Dakota Pipeline Pic On Sacred Ground Starring William Mapother, David Arquette & Amy Smart |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/david-arquette-amy-smart-drama-on-sacred-ground-acquired-by-shout-studios-1235021127/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

Hey, Viktor!

|Irene

2024

|The Heart Stays

|Aunt Celia

2025

|The Last Rodeo

| Agisa Williams

=Television=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

! Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1994

|Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee

|Mary Crow Dog

|Television film

1995

|The Marshal

|Melissa Carey

|Episode: "Twoslip"

rowspan="4" | 1996

|Grand Avenue

|Reyna

|rowspan="2" | Television film

Crazy Horse

|Black Buffalo Woman

Adventures from the Book of Virtues

|Morning Light, Sharp Eyes (voice)

| 2 episodes

The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest

|Alice Starseer, additional voices

|2 episodes

rowspan="2" | 1997

|Profiler

|Maddy Duvall

|Episode: "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"

True Women

|Tobe

|Television film

1998

|Two for Texas

|Sana

|Television film

1999

|Blood Money

|Naomi Lister

|Television film

1999–2001

|Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles

|Miriam Redwing (voice)

|4 episodes

2000

|The Lost Child

|Grace

|Television film

rowspan="3" | 2001

|The Outer Limits

|Callie Whitehorse Landau

|Episode: "In the Blood"

The Agency

|Diah Siagian

|Episode: "The Year of Living Dangerously"

House of Mouse

|Pocahontas (voice)

|Episode: "Thanks to Minnie"

2004

|What's New, Scooby-Doo?

|Cody Long (voice)

|Episode: "New Mexico, Old Monster"

rowspan="2" | 2005

|Higglytown Heroes

|Forest Ranger Hero (voice)

|Episode: "Fran Takes a Hike"

Into the West

|Margaret Light Shines

|3 episodes

2008–2009

|The Spectacular Spider-Man

|Jean DeWolff (voice)

|4 episodes

2012

|Young Justice

|Shelly Longshadow (voice)

|Episode: "Beneath"

2012–2015

|Longmire

|May Stillwater

|3 episodes

rowspan="2" |2017

|The Mist

|Kimi Lucero

|9 episodes

Scalped

|Gina Bad Horse

|Pilot

2018

|Westworld

|Wichapi

|Episode: "Kiksuya"

2020

|FBI: Most Wanted

|Mary Lou Skye

|8 episodes

2020–2021

|The Stand

|Ray Brentner

|Television miniseries

2022–2023

|Alaska Daily

|Sylvie Nanmac

|6 episodes

rowspan="2" |2024

|Avatar: The Last Airbender

|Yagoda

|2 episodes{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Caleb |date=August 21, 2022 |title='Pocahontas' Voice Actress Irene Bedard Joins 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' on Netflix |url=https://knightedgemedia.com/2022/08/irene-bedard-joins-avatar-the-last-airbender/ |website=Knight Edge Media |access-date=August 25, 2022 |archive-date=August 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825151803/https://knightedgemedia.com/2022/08/irene-bedard-joins-avatar-the-last-airbender/ |url-status=live }}

The Green Veil

|Glennie Sutton

|4 episodes

2025

|American Primeval

|Winter Bird

|5 episodes{{Cite web |last=Mercuri |first=Monica |date=January 11, 2025 |title=Is Netflix's American Primeval Based On A True Story? What’s Fact Vs. Fiction |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicamercuri/2025/01/11/is-netflixs-american-primeval-based-on-a-true-story-whats-fact-vs-fiction/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

=Music video=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

! Year

! Title

! Artist(s)

! Role

2017

| "Family Feud"

| Jay-Z featuring Beyoncé

| Madam President

=Video games=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

! Year

! Title

! Role

1995

|Animated Storybook: Pocahontas

| rowspan="2" |Pocahontas

1996

|Disney's Pocahontas

2021

|Cookie Run: Kingdom

|Pocahontas Cookie

TBA

|Disney Dreamlight Valley

|Pocahontas

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable" ! Year	Award	Category	Film	Result
1995	Golden Globe	Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV	Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee	{{nom}}
1999	Western Heritage Awards	Bronze Wrangler - Television Feature Film	Two for Texas	{{won}}
2004	First Americans in the Arts Awards	Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film	Greasewood Flat	{{won}}
2002	First Americans in the Arts Awards	Outstanding Guest Performance by an Actress in a TV Drama Series	The Agency	{{won}}
rowspan="2" \| 2006	NAMIC Vision Awards	Best Dramatic Performance	rowspan="2" \| Into the West	{{won}}
Western Heritage Awards	Bronze Wrangler - Television Feature Film	{{won}}