Actress Renée O’Connor, best known for playing Xena’s sidekick Gabrielle on Xena, Warrior Princess was born February 15, 1971. This means that Tuesday, February 15, 2022, is her 51st birthday.
From Porky Pig to Teen Angel to Amazon Princess
Renee O’Connor’s first role as a performer was as a dancing Porky Pig at Six Flags Astro/World in Houston, Texas. She was only seventeen when she made her screen debut as the late Nancy Nichols on Teen Angel. After co-starring in Hercules and the Lost Kingdom with Kevin Sorbo {Dylan Hunt, Andromeda} as Hercules’ wife, Deianira, she impressed producers Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert sufficiently that she was cast as Gabrielle, the young would-be bard who became Xena’s protégé and sidekick.
The duo would go on to become one of the most iconic couples in television history. The scene stealing role created a huge worldwide fan base, one still active in countless websites dedicated to the actress and this signature series.
Geek Cred
Performing in Xena, Warrior Princess, where she did most of her own stunts, is not Renée’s Geek Cred.
In 1995 she played Laurie Brinkman in Darkman II: The Return of Durant . In Alien Apocalypse (2005), she played Lt. Kelly Lanaman. In 2007, Renee O’Connor starred in the horror movie Boogeyman 2. In Monster Ark (2008), she played Dr. Ava Greenway. She was producer of Watch the Sky, as well as playing Shannon.
Producer and Director
Renée O’Connor then moved on to launch her own film production company – ROC Pictures: www.ROCPictures.com Her first independent production under the company is the romantic comedy, Diamonds and Guns which was released on DVD in January 2008. She wrote, directed, and produced the award winning short film, Words Unspoken in 2010.
She produces a Video Subscription Channel for her company with the vision of bridging the internet community to sustainable personal awareness by means of entertainment. It is located on her website www.ReneeOConnor.net.
Renée has starred in several independent films including this year’s Beyond The Farthest Star, the anticipated release from Pathlight Entertainment, an American Beauty’ style family drama.
Also in 2011 is the supernatural feature film, Deadrise, by Michigan Filmmaker of the year, Rich Brauer.
Prior to her breakout role, Renée lived in Texas and began her professional film career at the age of 17, starring in the serial Teen Angel, a regular feature on the Disney Channel’s The Mickey Mouse Club. Other credits include the Disney film, The Adventures of Huck Finn with Elijah Wood; television movies such as Follow the River with Ellen Burstyn, Danielle Steele’s Changes, and co-starring with James Garner in his second Rockford Files reunion movie to name a few.
Reneé’s talent extends well beyond the big screen or the small screen. Also an acclaimed stuntwoman, Reneé is proficient in Tae Kwon Do. Additionally, she is a talented artist and has auctioned off paintings for charities as well as to help finance projects under her production company.
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.
Gods, I think I would’ve been even more in love with Gabi if she’d been a redhead like she is now LOL