Natalia Tena
Tena at the Florida Supercon in 2016
Born
Natalia Gastiain Tena

(1984-11-01) 1 November 1984 (age 39)
London, England
Occupation(s)Actress, musician
Years active2001–present
Known for

Natalia Gastiain Tena[1] (born 1 November 1984) is a British actress and musician. She is known for playing Nymphadora Tonks in the Harry Potter film series (2007–2011), and the wildling Osha in the HBO series Game of Thrones (2011–2013; 2016).

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 Tena, a secretary, and Jesús Andrew Gastiain, a carpenter.[2] Her family is of Extremaduran and Basque origin, and she was raised in the United Kingdom.[3] Tena is fluent in English and Spanish. She attended Bedales School in Hampshire.[1][4][5]

Tena was taught the piano by her mother at five years old, influenced by Chuck Berry's music.[6] Afterwards, at 18, Tena moved back to London and busked on the London Underground.[6] While working with a theatre group called KneeHigh, where they were allowed to pick an instrument to play, Tena decided to learn the accordion.[6]

Career

Tena performing in 2013

Tena 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.[7]

In 2007, Tena appeared in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix playing the character Nymphadora Tonks. Tena 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.[8]

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.[9]

In 2011, she played a lead role in the Scottish Film You Instead. She also appeared as Osha in HBO's Game of Thrones.[10][11] In March 2013, she starred in the official music video for Lapalux's single "Without You (ft. Kerry Leatham)".[12]

In 2014, Tena co-starred as a mentally ill woman in the Black Mirror Christmas episode "White Christmas".[13]

In 2015, she starred as the lead, Jennifer Preston, in the British mini-series Residue. In 2017, Tena was cast as Sara Morten in the CBS drama Wisdom of the Crowd.[14][15]

In April 2018, it was announced that Tena was cast in the series regular role of Lana Pierce on the YouTube science fiction series Origin.[16]

Personal life

Tena is close friends with fellow Game of Thrones actress Oona Chaplin.[17]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2002 About a Boy Ellie Credited as Nat Gastiain Tena
2005 The Fine Art of Love Vera
Mrs Henderson Presents Peggy
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
You Instead Morello
2012 Bel Ami Rachel
2014 10,000 km Alex
2015 SuperBob Dorris
2017 Amar Madre de Laura
Anchor and Hope Kat
2020 I Love You, Stupid Raquel
Baby Albinoa [18]
2023 John Wick: Chapter 4 Katia Jovanovich

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Doctors Amy Emerson Episode: "Boundaries"
2006 Afterlife Gemma Taylor Episode 205: "Mirrorball"
2011–2013;
2016 		Game of Thrones Osha Guest star; 16 episodes
2012 Shameless Aparecida Episode: "The Brazilian Effect"
Falcón Christine Ferrera 2 episodes
2013 Ambassadors Tanya Main role
Black Mirror Jennifer Episode: "White Christmas"
2015 Residue Jennifer Preston Main role
The Refugees Emma Oliver
2017–2018 Wisdom of the Crowd Sara Morten
2018 Origin Lana Pierce
2019 The Mandalorian Xi'an Episode: "Chapter 6: The Prisoner"
2021–present Wolfe Val Kinteh Series regular
2022 Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama Rebekah Vardy Main Role

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
2019 Europe Katia Donmar Warehouse

References

  1. ^ a b "The bedales Association and Old Bealian Newsletter 2014" (PDF). Bedales.org.uk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  2. ^ "NATALIA TENA EL EMBRUJO DEL FÉNIX". Nuevo Herald (in Spanish). Miami Herald. 13 July 2007. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  3. ^ natalia tena audio interview (YouTube). 5 October 2009. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  4. ^ Dominic Cavendish. "A story as old as the hills". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  5. ^ Peet, William Gadsby (1 December 2016). "Natalia Tena talks Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and Molotov Jukebox". Essentialsurrey.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Connelly, Brendon (24 December 2010). "Harry Potter And A Game Of Thrones' Natalia Tena Video Interview". Bleeding Cool. Disqus. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  7. ^ Billington, Michael (27 January 2006). "Nights at the Circus". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  8. ^ Bevil, Dewayne (14 December 2017). "Universal: Harry Potter event adds Natalia Tena". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Trailing Tonks" (2007), a featurette on the DVD release of Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix
  10. ^ "Actors, Actors Everywhere". LiveJournal. 17 July 2010. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  11. ^ Belluschi, Fabrizio (19 July 2016). "Molotov Jukebox' Natalia Tena Talks Game Of Thrones And Getting Dumped For The First Time". Fame. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  12. ^ Lapalux (6 March 2013). Lapalux - Without You (ft. Kerry Leatham) (Official Video) (YouTube). Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  13. ^ Handlen, Zack (25 December 2014). "Black Mirror: "White Christmas"". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  14. ^ Pedersen, Erik (14 March 2017). "Wisdom Of The Crowd': Natalia Tena & Jake Matthews Join CBS Drama Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  15. ^ "Natalia Tena". CBS.com. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  16. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (26 April 2018). "'Origin' YouTube Sci-Fi Series Sets Natalia Tena & Tom Felton As Leads, Paul W.S. Anderson As Director". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  17. ^ "Natalia Tena Interview Fashion, Feminism, Music & Game of Thrones". YouTube. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  18. ^ Ide, Wendy (28 November 2020). "Reviews: 'Baby': Tallinn Review". ScreenDaily. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Natalia Tena.
Authority control databases
Categories