Professional acting commenced for Natalia Tena in 2002 with the role of Ellie in the feature film About a Boy. Since that entry into the industry, her career has spanned international television series, stage productions, and independent films. Born in London in 1984, she balances dual citizenship between the United Kingdom and Spain.
Early Development and Stage Work
Raised in the United Kingdom, Tena attended Bedales School in Hampshire. Her formal introduction to performance included stage adaptations, specifically Gone to Earth in 2004 and Nights at the Circus in 2006. She moved to London at age 18, where she initially performed as a busker on the London Underground. During her tenure with the theatre company KneeHigh, she adopted the accordion as a primary instrument.
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Tena secured widespread recognition playing Nymphadora Tonks in the Harry Potter film series, appearing in four installments between 2007 and 2011. She also directed and produced the featurette Trailing Tonks for the home media release of the franchise. In television, she portrayed Osha in HBO's Game of Thrones from 2011 to 2016. Her filmography includes the 2011 Scottish production You Instead and a lead role in the 2015 British mini-series Residue, for which she received a Gaudí Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Additional screen credits include the 2014 Black Mirror episode White Christmas, the CBS drama Wisdom of the Crowd, and the YouTube series Origin.
Musical Pursuits
Beyond her screen career, Tena serves as the lead singer and accordionist for the band Molotov Jukebox. The group released their first album, Carnival Flower, in Spring 2014, supported by the single Neon Lights. Their second studio effort, Tropical Gypsy, followed on 15 April 2016, accompanied by a concert tour throughout April and May of that year. Her musical background extends to childhood, having received piano instruction from her mother at age five.
Fast facts
- Born: 1984, London
- Citizenship: Spain, United Kingdom
- Education: Bedales School
- Primary Occupations: Actor, Singer, Screenwriter
- Band: Molotov Jukebox
- Notable Award: Gaudí Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (2015)
- Languages: English, Spanish
Questions readers ask
What is Natalia Tena's musical involvement?
She is the lead singer and accordionist for the band Molotov Jukebox, which released albums in 2014 and 2016.
Which major film franchise included her?
She played the character Nymphadora Tonks in four Harry Potter films released between 2007 and 2011.
Achievements
- Educated at Bedales School
- Worked as actor, stage actor and film actor
