Zelda Williams
Williams in 2015
Born
Zelda Rae Williams

(1989-07-31) July 31, 1989 (age 34)
New York City, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • director
  • producer
  • writer
Years active1994–present
Parents

Zelda Rae Williams (born July 31, 1989)[1][2] is an American actress, director, producer, and writer. She is the daughter of actor and comedian Robin Williams and film producer and philanthropist Marsha Garces Williams. As a voice actress, she is best known for voicing Kuvira in the Nickelodeon cartoon The Legend of Korra.

Early life

Williams was born in New York City[3] to Robin and Marsha Garces Williams.[4] She was born 10 days after her father's 38th birthday. Her father stated that he named her after Princess Zelda from The Legend of Zelda video game series.[5][6][7][8] Her mother is of Filipino and Finnish descent.[9][10] Zelda, the older of Williams's children by his second wife, has a younger brother, Cody, and an older half-brother, Zachary Pym "Zak" Williams.[11]

Career

She made her acting debut at age 5. At 15, Williams acted in the 2004 film House of D opposite her father and actor Anton Yelchin as the latter's young first love, Melissa Loggia.[4]

In June 2011, both she and her father were featured in a television commercial for the Nintendo 3DS game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D.[12] On October 25, 2011, she was the special guest host at the London Zelda Symphony Concert at the Hammersmith Apollo, marking the 25th anniversary of the Zelda Series.[13] On November 17, 2011, subscribers to Nintendo emails received an email of her and her father playing the new game The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for the Wii console.[14] She appears in an interview with Nintendo representatives in which she says that one of her favorite things to do in her free time is play Super Smash Bros. Melee with her friends, always playing as the character Sheik.[15]

She appeared in People magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People issue for 2007.[4] She appears in the Wynter Gordon music video for "Buy My Love"[16] and has a cameo in the Cobra Starship music video "You Make Me Feel", alongside her father.

In 2018, Williams wrote and directed the short film Shrimp, which she also starred in alongside Conor Leslie, Paulina Singer, Frances Fisher, and Jake Abel. The film depicts the lives of dominatrices in a Los Angeles BDSM den. Williams later entered into a deal with Gunpowder & Sky to develop the short film into a half-hour series.[17]

She directed the 2024 movie Lisa Frankenstein, her feature-length debut.

Personal life

Williams has described herself as an avid athlete[citation needed] and video game player, and a fan of her namesake The Legend of Zelda series. She has stated that The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is her favorite game and had voiced support of its release on the 3DS by supporting Operation Moonfall.[18]

From 2013 to 2016, Williams dated actor Jackson Heywood.[19] She is openly bisexual.[20]

Acting credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1995 Nine Months Little Girl #3 in Ballet Class
2004 House of D Melissa Loggia
2008 Were the World Mine Frankie
2009 Don't Look Up Matya
2010 Luster Victor Curruthers
Detention Sara
See You on the Other Side Zoey Meola Short film
Jezuz Loves Chaztity Chaztity
2011 Stupid Questions Lucy [21]
2012 The Frankenstein Brothers Kelly Martinson Also known as A Beer Tale
Noobz Rickie [22]
2014 Never Nikki [23]
Maddie Moonwater Maddie Short film
2016 Meet Cute Andy
2018 Locating Silver Lake Ella
Shrimp Jess Also director, producer and writer [24]
A Patch of Desert — Short film [25]
2020 A Disagreement About Flies Lydia Short film [26]
2022 Julius Caesar Live! Portia, Soothsayer [27]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1994 In Search of Dr. Seuss Daughter Television film
2012 Checked Out Marissa Main role; 4 episodes
2013–2014 Teen Wolf Caitlin Recurring role; Episodes "Fireflies" and "Illuminated" [28]
2014 Chaotic Awesome Episode: #1.12
The Legend of Korra Kuvira Recurring voice role; 11 episodes
2015–2017 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mona Lisa / Y'Gythgba Recurring voice role; 5 episodes
2016 Dead of Summer Drew Reeves Main role; 10 episodes [29]
Chelsea Herself Talk show [30]
Girl in the Box Janice Hooker Television film [31]
Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed Herself Documentary [32]
2017 Stitchers Zelda Episode: "The Gremlin and the Fixer" [33]
Criminal Minds Melissa Miller Episode: "False Flag" [34][35]
2019 Dark/Web Cheshire Episode: "Chapter Three"; also director, producer and writer [36]
Jane the Virgin Leona Episode: "Chapter Eighty-Seven"
2019–2020 Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Foot Recruit/Cassandra 'Casey' Jones, Female Barista, Sprite Recurring voice role

Music videos

Year Title Artist Role Ref.
2011 "You Make Me Feel..." Cobra Starship [37]
2013 "I Believed In God" Danko Jones Woman [38]
2014 "Imagine" (UNICEF: World version) Various Herself [39]

Video games

Year Title Voice role Notes
2016 King's Quest - Chapter III: Once Upon A Climb Amaya Blackstone [40]
2022 The Last Worker Emma [41]

Filmmaking credits

Film

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
2018 Shrimp Yes Yes Yes Also actor
2020 Kappa Kappa Die Yes No No
2024 Lisa Frankenstein Yes No No

Music videos

Year Title Artist Role Ref.
2016 "Save My Soul" JoJo Director [42]
2018 "Invisible" Anna Clendening [43]
2019 "Dead End" [44]
2019 "Bend & Break" [45]
2020 "Lonely Hearts" JoJo [46]
"Think About You" [47]

References

  1. ^ Monde, Chiderah. "Robin Williams dead at 63: Actor's daughter Zelda Williams posts heartfelt tribute: 'Only you will have the stars that can laugh'". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  2. ^ "So Jackson Heywood..." Zelda Williams verified Twitter page. July 21, 2014. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014. I turn 25 on the 31st.
  3. ^ "Zelda Rae Williams Biography". entertainment.oneindia.in.
  4. ^ a b c "Generation Next: Look Who's Stepping Out of Hollywood's Spectacular Gene Pool". People. Vol. 67, no. 18. New York City. May 7, 2007. p. 164. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  5. ^ Derschowitz, Jessica (June 16, 2011). "Robin Williams, daughter Zelda star in 'The Legend of Zelda' ad (Video)". CBS News. Archived from the original on February 3, 2012.
  6. ^ "Profile: Robin Williams, actor and comedian". The Scotsman. Edinburgh: Johnston Publishing Ltd. September 25, 2010. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  7. ^ Rosenberg, Jared (June 15, 2011). "Ocarina of Time 3D Commercial Stars Robin Williams". Nintendo World Report. Nintendo World Report LLC. Retrieved August 11, 2014. Sourced from "What Links a Hollywood Legend and his daughter to one of the greatest video game franchises of all time?" (Press release). June 15, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  8. ^ Razak, Matthew (November 28, 2009). "Robin Williams named his daughter after Princess Zelda". Destructoid. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  9. ^ "How Robin Williams remained close to Pinoy family even after divorce with Fil-Am wife". GMA News Online. August 12, 2014.
  10. ^ Giles, Jeff (August 11, 2014). "Robin Williams: Fears of a Clown". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014.
  11. ^ Reid, Joe (October 3, 2015). "Robin Williams' Widow and Children Agree to Settlement of His Estate". Vanity Fair. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  12. ^ Ocarina of Time 3D – Robin Williams Commercial. June 15, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  13. ^ Laith, Waquel (October 26, 2011). "Zelda Williams "Hyrule!" Zelda's 25th Anniversary Symphony London". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  14. ^ "The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword: Robin & Zelda Williams commercial". via YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  15. ^ "[E3 2011] Zelda Williams at the Nintendo Booth". via YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  16. ^ Wynter Gordon - Buy My Love [Official Video] ||| AVAILABLE NOW ON NEON |||, retrieved July 29, 2021
  17. ^ Spangler, Todd (November 9, 2018). "Zelda Williams 'Shrimp' Short About BDSM Scene to Become Half-Hour Series With Gunpowder & Sky". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  18. ^ Williams, Zelda [@zeldawilliams] (August 21, 2011). "So wanted to tweet one out to the @opmoonfall folks. Majora's Mask is my favorite Zelda game, I'd love a 3D version! #FightOnGuys" (Tweet). Archived from the original on November 30, 2017 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ Zelda Williams Live Chat - TORN Tuesdays. March 26, 2014. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2016 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ "Zelda Williams on 'Dead of Summer,' transgender character, her father, Robin Williams". Entertainment Weekly. July 13, 2016.
  21. ^ STUPID QUESTIONS (Starring Zelda Williams), retrieved August 20, 2023
  22. ^ Gencarelli, Mike (January 28, 2013). "Zelda Williams talks about the film "Noobz" and her love for video games". MediaMikes. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  23. ^ Busch, Anita (July 15, 2016). "Zelda Williams' Feature 'Never' Gets August Release Via Indican Pictures". Deadline. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  24. ^ September 27, Dana Schwartz; EDT, 2018 at 10:30 AM. "Zelda Williams exposes the mundane lives of dominatrixes in 'Shrimp'". EW.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ A Patch Of Desert, retrieved August 20, 2023
  26. ^ Shortverse. "A Disagreement About Flies". Shortverse. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  27. ^ Julius Caesar Live!, retrieved August 20, 2023
  28. ^ "Zelda Williams, daughter of Robin Williams, joins 'Teen Wolf' for season 3 : Hypable". Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  29. ^ July 08, Dan Snierson Updated; EDT, 2016 at 04:07 PM. "Zelda Williams on 'Dead of Summer,' her transgender character, and her father, Robin Williams". EW.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ August 17, Nick Maslow Updated; EDT, 2016 at 09:06 PM. "Robin Williams' daughter Zelda opens up about coping with his death". EW.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ August 03, Joey Nolfi Updated; EDT, 2016 at 08:40 PM. "Zelda Williams is a maniacal abductress in 'Girl in the Box' trailer — exclusive". EW.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ "Cast & Crew". Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  33. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Zelda Williams Gets Her Flirt On In 'Stitchers' Sneak Peek | Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. July 13, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  34. ^ "Best Female Guest Star". Criminal Minds Hub. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  35. ^ "The Biggest Mistake Dr. Lewis Ever Made On Criminal Minds". Looper. March 11, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  36. ^ "Dark/Web Trailer Reveals Amazon's Terrifying Tech Age Anthology Series". Collider. July 11, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  37. ^ "Photo Booth Fun In Cobra Starship's New "You Make Me Feel…" Video - Popdust". September 4, 2011. Archived from the original on September 4, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  38. ^ Danko Jones - I Believed In God (Official Music Video), retrieved July 12, 2023
  39. ^ Rowles, Dustin (November 21, 2014). "'Imagine' Gets the Star-Studded 'We Are The World' Treatment for UNICEF". Pajiba. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  40. ^ Saed, Sherif (May 11, 2015). "King's Quest cast includes Back to the Future's Christopher Lloyd, Zelda Williams - watch". VG247. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  41. ^ "The Last Worker adds Zelda Williams to its cast". Pocket Tactics. April 19, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  42. ^ Polanco, Luis (January 8, 2016). "Watch JoJo's Emotional Video for 'Save My Soul,' Directed by Zelda Williams". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  43. ^ Anna Clendening - The Making of "Invisible" with Zelda Williams, retrieved July 12, 2023
  44. ^ Anna Clendening - Dead End (Official Music Video), retrieved July 12, 2023
  45. ^ Anna Clendening - Bend & Break (Official Music Video), retrieved July 12, 2023
  46. ^ West, Rachel (April 27, 2020). "JoJo Releases New Video For Her Song 'Lonely Hearts'". ET Canada. Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  47. ^ JoJo - Think About You [Official Acoustic Video], retrieved July 19, 2023

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