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Renée O'Connor
Renée O'Connor's paintings have been exhibited in a show. She usually auctions her paintings via eBay in order to finance her independent projects and raise money for charity.
"Did you see the guy they want me to marry?"
"He looks like a gentle soul, that's rare in a man."
"It's not the gentle part I have a problem with, it's the dull, stupid part."
-- Gabrielle and Xena in "Sins of the Past"
Evelyn Renee O'Connor
15 February 1971, Katy, Texas
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Renée O'Connor (born Evelyn Renée O'Connor; February 15, 1971) is an American actress, producer and director best known for playing the role of Gabrielle on the TV series Xena: Warrior Princess from 1995 to 2001.
O'Connor had her first acting role at age eight as a caterpillar during a Theater on Wheels production. At age twelve, she began studying acting at Houston's Alley Theatre, and later attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. She transferred back to James E. Taylor High School to graduate with her friends.
O'Connor began her television career at the age of sixteen with commercials for McDonald's and Exxon. A string of other commercials followed, as well as a series of odd jobs such as Porky Pig at Astroworld and an aerobics instructor in L.A. In 1989, O'Connor landed a recurring role in a serial called Teen Angel, featured on the "New Mickey Mouse Club." This led to roles in another Disney serial called Match Point, and an episode of Tales from the Crypt (directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger), though her Crypt role was later cut. O'Connor then portrayed an imperiled student on the NBC special "The Flood", Cheryl Ladd's daughter in Danielle Steel's "Changes", a woman captured by Shawnee Indians in ABC's Follow the River, an actress who hires Rockford as her bodyguard in The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise, Julia Wilkes in Disney's "The Adventures of Huck Finn", and the daughter of a murdered couple in an episode of NYPD Blue.
O'Connor first came to the attention of Xena: Warrior Princess executive producers Robert G. Tapert and Sam Raimi with an "over-the-top" audition that won her the role of the young Deianeira in their two-hour "Action Pack" adventure "Hercules and the Lost Kingdom". They were so impressed by her performance opposite Hercules: The Legendary Journeys star Kevin Sorbo that they signed her for a starring role in "Darkman II: The Return of Durant." She was later cast as Gabrielle, and co-starred opposite Lucy Lawless as Xena's companion on Xena: Warrior Princess.
O'Connor was voted #3 of the most intriguing people in 1996, #2 in 1997, and one of the most beautiful people of 1997, by People Online. O'Connor was featured in Maxim magazine in November 1999 with a photo shoot and intimate interview. She made the cover of TV Guide on the July 29, 2000 to August 4, 2000 issue as one of "The Sexiest Stars in the Universe". She was voted #45 on FHM-US and FHM-Australia's 100 Sexiest Women in 2000. In January 2007, O'Connor topped the 2006 annual list of LesbiaNation.com — establishing her as the longest reigning queen of their top-ten list of "Women We Love". O'Connor has a cult following in the lesbian community, stemming from her role as Gabrielle in Xena: Warrior Princess and her ambiguous relationship with her traveling companion Xena. O'Connor has appeared at gay pride events such as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and the 2007 Dinah Shore Weekend in Palm Springs. In June 2007, and again in June 2008, O'Connor was named to the AfterEllen.com Hot 100 List.
After the end of Xena, O'Connor began a film production company, ROC Pictures. Her first independent production was Diamonds and Guns, a romantic comedy about two friends who go to Las Vegas to find true love. It was shot digitally. O'Connor raised funds for the movie by selling autographed photos and a few of her personal paintings on eBay. O'Connor is currently in pre-production (2008) on her second ROC Pictures LLC film which she wrote, will produce and direct. ROC has also produced the short film Words Unspoken. O'Connor recently returned from Dallas, Texas where she starred in the feature film Beyond the Farthest Star which will be released Dec 25, 2010.
O'Connor has attended many Xena and science fiction/fantasy conventions. She was a "Featured Guest" at Fan Expo Canada (formerly the Canadian National Expo) on August 22–24, 2008 in Toronto. Most recently she was the guest star at the first convention of its kind in France: The Musical in Paris August 27, 28, 29th 2010. She is currently a guest star at the Armageddon Expos in Sydney, Australia, February 26 & 27, 2011 and in Adelaide, Australia, March 5 & 6, 2011. Later she will star at the RingCon in Bonn,Germany in October, 2011.
Film Productions; 1987 — Present. Film Making; 1995 — Present. Internet Video Productions; 2008–Present. O'Connor’s Interests lay in new technology, Internet video streaming, film productions and the continuation of her acting career. Her production companies are listed below.
O'Connor is an active supporter of the Alissa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, working each year at the Southern California Firefighters Burn Relay which benefits the Foundation. She set up The Renée O'Connor Outreach Fund which is designed to raise money for families in need and to support families whose medical bills have become too overwhelming due to serious illness. Renée also works with the Richstone Family Center which was founded to treat child abuse, to strengthen families, and to prevent violence in families, schools and communities. Incorporated in 1974 in Hawthorne, CA by 1977 Richstone served thirty-five families in one program on one site. In 2004, Richstone served over 4,500 children and their families in 13 different programs based at five sites.
O'Connor was born in Katy, Texas, to Walter and Sandra O'Connor. Her mother and stepfather, Sandra and Eddie Wilson, own the restaurant "Threadgill's" in Austin, famous for being the site of Janis Joplin's first performance. She has an older brother named Chris, who is a grocery store manager, and her biological father Walter is a finance manager.
From 1995 to 2001, during the filming of Xena, O'Connor lived in Auckland, New Zealand, where she still owns a home. O'Connor married New Zealand native and restaurant manager Steve Muir on October 14, 2000. They have a son, Miles William Muir (born September 22, 2001). The couple divorced in 2005. O'Connor became involved with Jed Sura, an actor she met while filming Enter in 2003 and later Diamonds and Guns in 2004. She and Sura have a daughter, Iris Sura O'Connor (born March 19, 2006).
Attended High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston, Texas, 1989.
Went to Houston High School of Visual and Performing Arts but transferred back to Taylor High School (Her first H.S.) in order to graduate with her friends.
Engaged to long term boyfriend New Zealander Steve Muir. [February 2000]
Mother - Sandra Wilson; Father - Walter O'Connor; Stepfather - Eddie Wilson; Brother - Chris O'Connor.
Son, Miles William Muir born weighing 8 pounds 8 ounces. [22 September 2001]
Played Lady Macbeth in the Shakespeare by the Sea's production of Macbeth. (Seven locations in the Los Angeles area, June 20 - August 17, 2002)
When the producers of "Xena: Warrior Princess" (1995) became aware of how athletic her body was, it prompted the new costume for season 2. It became a running joke on the show that the costume continued to shrink as the seasons passed.
Had a role in the Arnold Schwarzenegger-directed episode of "Tales from the Crypt" (1989) entitled "The Switch." Her role ended up on the cutting room floor.
She and the other star in "Xena: Warrior Princess" (1995), Lucy Lawless, are good friends.
Favorite movie is The Piano (1993).
Has a cat named Kia Ora, which is Maori for "hello".
Has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.
Her hobbies are rock climbing, kickboxing, horseback riding, and painting.
living. She replied she worked on the Xena set. Not saying she was a co-star. It was only when he introduced her to his friends that one of his friends commented that Renee was Gabrielle.
Daughter, Iris Sura O'Connor (born on March 19, 2006) with boyfriend, Jed Sura. Iris is Renée's second child.
One teacher at Taylor HS (Katy, Texas) realized her potential for acting and got an autograph before Renée graduated, knowing that she'd become a star soon after.
Renée's step-father Eddie Wilson is the former owner of The Armadillo World Headquarters which was located in Austin, Texas. He is currently owner of the original Threadgill's located in north Austin, Texas and its newer second location located in south Austin, Texas. All locations have been venues which many famous musicians have played. One of the first places Janis Joplin started singing was at Threadgill's while attending the University of Texas.
While Lucy only had the one trademark armor that she wore for every episode of "Xena: Warrior Princess" (1995) (except in season 5 when she was pregnant), Renée had a total of seven main costumes -- two of them being used for the first season with a new one introduced for every season after that. As each season went by, each outfit continued to get smaller and more revealing.
Was voted # 3 of the most intriguing people in 1996, # 2 in 1997, and one of the most beautiful people of 1997, by People Online. She made the cover of TV Guide on the July 29, 2000 to August 4, 2000, issue. It was one of eight collector's covers.
Is proficient in several forms of martial arts and the use of martial arts weapons to including the Nunchaku, Bo-Staff and the Sai.
Owns her own film production companies, ROC Pictures and ROC Productions.
At the end of 2006 Reneé was chosen by LesbiaNATION.com as their most loved woman of 2006, a poll that she dominated all year. Her co-star from the "Xena: Warrior Princess" (1995) series, Lucy Lawless, ended up second in the poll.
When she started dating her first husband Steve Muir, he asked her what she did for a
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