Irene Bedard

Irene Bedard, an Alaska Native actor, is renowned for playing primarily Native American lead roles across numerous films. The role that garnered her international fame was 'Suzy Song' in 'Smoke Signals', a 1998 film adapted from Sherman Alexie's collection of short stories. Additionally, she provided the speaking voice of 'Pocahontas' in the 1995 animated film and its direct-to-video sequel, 'Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World' (1998). Bedard reprised her role in 'Ralph Breaks the Internet' (2018) too. Born in Anchorage, Alaska to an Iñupiaq mother and a Cree/French Canadian father, she is a citizen of the Native Village of Koyuk in Alaska. After graduating from Dimond High School, she chose to study musical theater at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

In 1994, Bedard started her acting journey with the television production of 'Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee', earning her a Golden Globe Award nomination and marking her as the first Native American woman to be nominated for an acting award by the Golden Globes. Among Bedard's notable roles is the voice of Pocahontas in several Disney films, creating an indelible stamp on the minds of audiences worldwide. She has also had a successful stint in television with shows like 'Into the West', 'The Mist', and 'FBI: Most Wanted'. Apart from her acting career, Bedard has been active in environmental activism working for the protection of sacred lands. Her personal life saw a turbulent period when her marriage with musician Denny Wilson ended in divorce due to allegations of abuse by Bedard.