Sonja O'Hara (born Sonja Kristiansen;) is an Emmy-nominated Canadian writer, director and actress who is represented by Verve and Gotham Group. She is originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and resides in Los Angeles, California.
Her digital series Doomsday (which she created, directed and stars in) was nominated for the 2021 Daytime Emmy Awards under Outstanding Daytime Fiction Program.
She was selected as one of the “10 Filmmakers to Watch” by Independent Magazine, chosen by a jury from MovieMaker Magazine, the Sundance Institute and Austin Film Festival. Past recipients include Barry Jenkins, the Oscar-winning director of Moonlight. O'Hara created the critically acclaimed Amazon series Doomsday, which won Best Series at HBO's ITVFest. A Streamy Nominee (for “Best Indie Series”), O'Hara was presented the “Best Director” award out of 4,000 submissions at The New York Television Festival. She was a guest speaker at SXSW Film Festival on the episodic TV panel. Her upcoming series Astral was greenlit by Adaptive Studios, and she will write and direct all six episodes.
As an actress, she is best known for playing the role of Calpurnia Dylan in the 2015 American film Ovum. In 2007, O'Hara appeared on the New York stage in a production of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Norman Mailer's play The Deer Park as a character based on Marilyn Monroe.[1]
In 2019, O'Hara made her feature film directorial debut helming the live-action adaptation of the popular Japanese video game Root Letter.[2]
Early life
editO'Hara began acting at age ten, appearing in school plays, including a local production of The Nutcracker in which she played Clara. She is the youngest of two siblings. At 17, O'Hara moved to New York City to attend The New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts. In 2006, she was cast as a lead in the New York debut of the recently discovered Tennessee Williams play Pieces of Paradise, directed by Stephan Morrow.[3]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Da Heist | Rachel White | |
| 2010 | In the Hands of God | Eve | |
| 2010 | #1 Cheerleader Camp | Betty | |
| 2011 | Shark Bite | Joanie | |
| 2011 | The Victorville Massacre | Stephanie Storms | |
| 2011 | For the Children | Anabelle | |
| 2012 | Bananazzz | Andenisse Brown | |
| 2013 | Town Red | Lily | |
| 2013 | Rambler | Alice | |
| 2014 | Ovum | Calpurnia Dylan | |
| 2020 | Root Letter | Director | |
| 2022 | Mid-Century | Dr. Kerri Brenan | Actor and Director |
References
edit- ^ Bosworth, Patricia. "Mailer's Movie Madness". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (19 September 2019). "Danny Ramirez to Star in Film Adaptation of 'Root Letter' Video Game (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
- ^ "Pieces of Paradise". Nytheatre.com. 2006-10-23. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
Sources
edit- "Mailer, Monologues, Mind Games Part of March Makor Line-Up". Raleigh.broadwayworld.com. 2013-03-04. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
- Noetzel, Emilie (2011-10-11). "Victorville Massacre, The (2011) Review". Dread Central. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
- Zinoman, Jason. "Three Dollar Bill", The New York Times, Theater Review, December 8, 2005.
- "American Massacre". Tomcat Films LLC. 2013-10-28. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
- The DVD Blu-ray Release Report (2013)[permanent dead link]