Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1990-02-11
- Born Place: Schweigmatt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Also Known As:
Q'orianka Waira Qoiana Kilcher, کوریانکا کیلچر
Q'orianka Kilcher
Q'orianka Waira Qoiana Kilcher is an American actress, singer, and activist, born on February 11, 1990, in Schweigmatt, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany. Her name, Q'orianka, means "Golden Eagle" in Quechua, reflecting her paternal heritage, which is of Quechua–Huachipaeri background from Peru. Her mother, Saskia Kilcher, is an American human rights activist of Swiss German origin. When Kilcher was two, she and her mother moved to Kapaʻa, Hawaii, where she began hula dancing at age five and later became the first child to study classical voice at the University of Hawaii.Kilcher's acting career began at a young age, with her first film role as a choir member in Ron Howard's How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000). She gained international recognition at the age of 14 for her critically acclaimed portrayal of Pocahontas in Terrence Malick's 2005 film The New World, starring opposite Colin Farrell and Christian Bale. This role earned her the National Board of Review's best breakthrough performance of 2006. She continued to take on significant roles, including the title character in Princess Kaiulani (2009).Her diverse filmography also includes appearances in Sons of Anarchy, Hostiles (2017), The Alienist (2018), Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019), Color Out of Space (2019), and a recurring role as Angela Blue Thunder in the popular Paramount Network show Yellowstone (2020). She is also listed in the cast for the upcoming 2025 Western The Unholy Trinity.Beyond her acting, Q'orianka Kilcher is a dedicated human rights and environmental activist. She has served as a youth ambassador for Amnesty International and Amazon Watch, using her platform to advocate for indigenous rights and environmental sustainability. She has also launched her own youth-driven Human Rights and Environmental Organization and produces social cause-highlighting documentaries through her production house, IQ-Films. Her activism has sometimes led to direct action, such as her arrest in 2010 for protesting outside the White House against then-President Barack Obama's meeting with Peruvian President Alan García.
