Biography for
Delanna Studi More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

4 June 1976, Muldrow, Oklahoma, USA

Height

5' 6½" (1.69 m)

Trivia

Delanna Studi attended and was a mentor at the 2nd annual HatcH audiovisual festival in Bozeman, Montana in October 2005. HatcH is a film and arts festival whose mission is to provide mentorship, education, inspiration, and recognition to the next generation of creative innovators.

Has 2 nephews named Kason and Blayn

Attended Westark Community College (now the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith) and Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and was studying architecture.

Originally from Muldrow, Oklahoma

Actor Wes Studi is her uncle.

Parents' names: Thomas and Carolyn

DeLanna has a sister named Karen.

Performed her One Woman Show entitled "What's An Indian Woman To Do?" in Los Angeles to rave reviews from LA Weekly and the LA Times from June 30 - July 14 2007.

Elected Chairwoman of the President's National Task Force for American Indians of the Screen Actors Guild. (source: http://www.cherokeephoenix.org/21087/Article.aspx).

Personal Quotes

One thing you learn about out here is not to take yourself so seriously. You learn to live in the moment.

I was in a class with Scott Foley, who was in the TV show 'Felicity.' That's where he met Jennifer Garner who got 'Alias.' They were married for awhile. He was in acting for 10 years without a breakthrough. The day he said he was going to quit was when he got 'Felicity.' You can't give up because the next day you'll get offered a role. And you never know where it's going to come from. God works in mysterious ways."

I'm a nerd, really. I love reading and I love breaking down a script. I think it's fun. See, I'm a nerd. But I have found for me that the line I have the most problems with is the key to the scene. The writer has placed in the script these little nuggets that you must uncover. Every word was chosen for a specific reason and effect. There is a reason the character uses the word "latrine" instead of toilet, john, urinal, or bathroom. My job as an actor is to find that out. The audience may never see this, but it makes me know that much more about my character. The trick is to keep the action playable and to not get in your head.

I believe if you are in the public eye (acting, politics, sports, music, writing, etc), you should know that you may be seen as a role model whether you like it or not. It's an unfair responsibility given to many undeserving/ unqualified people. I don't like to think of myself as a role model. There's a lot of responsibility in that title, and I'm afraid of letting someone down. The truth is I work with many youth on a weekly basis. It could be in the realm of possibility that one or two may look up to me. I would hope they would find someone else a lot "cooler" than me to be their role model. But if they do see me in that light I want it to be for the right reasons. To me a role model must give something back to the community. They must be passionate about a cause. They must not be afraid to voice their beliefs. They must use their "celebrity" for good. They must strive to make this world a better place. They must see themselves as part of a larger picture, and not as the center. Wow, I have high standards. I don't think I qualify. It's something I should aspire for.

Actually, I'm often embarrassed to admit that I am an actor. There are too many stereotypes associated with this profession. People hear the word "actor" and think: loud, obnoxious, self-indulgent, difficult, irresponsible... I would like to be a working actor that makes good choices and can pay the bills. I don't need to own four houses and make millions of dollars per picture. I still don't understand the price tag that goes with this profession. I guess it's the price a few pay to give up their privacy. I don't know. I haven't been in their position. I don't know if I would want to. I do know that I want to do good work. If I ever become a household name, I pray it's because people respect my work.

Discussing her role in "DreamKeeper" (2003): They allowed a Native woman to not be the victim. Since we're Cherokee and we're matrilineal, that really spoke to me. I was just so happy to play a strong Native woman because I know so many of them, and yet when Hollywood makes a movie we're never strong women. We're always the victim.

Where Are They Now

(March 2003) working film and television actor in Los Angeles, California.

(January 2010) On national tour, starring in "August: Osage County" (the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play) with Estelle Parsons and Jon DeVries.