Born on November 21, 1984 in Sparks, Nevada, Jena Malone is an American actress and musician, known for her roles in independent films. Her interest in acting is attributed to her mother, Deborah, who was involved in community theatre. She briefly attended the Professional Children’s School in New York, but lasted only briefly.
Jena Malone’s film debut was in the 1996 film Bastard Out of Carolina, when she was only ten years old. This earned her a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries. She had minor roles in television episodes of Roseanne in 1991, and in Chicago Hope. She was then cast as the child version of Jodie Foster’s character in Contact in 1997. This was followed by a role in 1998’s Stepmom, also starring Susan Sarandon, Ed Harris and Julia Roberts. Also that year, Jena Malone received a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for her performance in the TV movie Hope. She was also seen on several episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street as well as in an episode of Touched by an Angel.
In 2000, Jena Malone starred in another television movie, Cheaters and also co-starred with Jake Gyllenhaal in Donnie Darko the next year. She was also cast as Lucy Whipple in the TV Western drama The Ballad of Lucy Whipple and as Alyssa Beck in Life as a House, both in 2001. She next starred and co-produced 2002’s American Girl, and had a minor role in Cold Mountain. Jena Malone received her first starring role as Mary in the comedy drama Saved! Her professional stage debut was in the 2006 Broadway production of the Tony Award-winning play Doubt. She also voiced the character Lettie in the English version of Hauru no ugoku shiro (Howl’s Moving Castle). She also appeared as Lydia Bennett in 2005’s film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. She was also cast as Amy in 2008’s horror The Ruins. Also a musician, Jena Malone has released her first single under the Social Registry label.