Natalie Mendoza

Natalie Mendoza
Born	Natalie Jackson Mendoza 12 August 1978 (1978-08-12) (age 33) Hong Kong
Other names	Natalie Mendoza
Occupation	Film & Theatre actress, Musician
Years active	1995–present

Natalie Jackson Mendoza (born 12 August 1978) is a Hong Kong-born Australian-British-Filipina classical theatre-trained actress and musician. She is best known for her role as one of the main characters, Jackie Clunes in the British TV drama Hotel Babylon and as tough girl Juno in the acclaimed horror thriller The Descent, as well as its sequel, The Descent Part 2.^[1] She was playing Arachne in the Broadway musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark^[2] but was forced to leave the show due to a work related injury.She moved to LA where she embarked on a directing career and is scheduled to release a solo album produced by Glen Ballard and several films in 2012.

Life and career

Mendoza was born in Hong Kong 1978, the daughter of an English/German Australian mother who was a dancer and television personality, and a Filipino jazz pianist and arranger. She is one of 6 artist siblings.^[3][4] She was raised in Sydney, Melbourne and Hong Kong/South East Asia and attended Presentation Star of the Sea Ladies College. She was accepted into Cats the Musical and went on to play roles such as Demeter, Rumpleteazer, Sillabub. In 1995 she understudied Kim in Miss Saigon and played the role of Mimi. She then went on to play a lead soloist in The Music of Lloyd Webber Concert Tour, also understudying Sarah Brightman. She then went onto play the lead dancer in Sweet Charity. Mendoza performed the role of Eponine in the 10th Anniversary Australasian Tour of Les Miserables from 1997-99. In 1998, Mendoza formed the band Jackson Mendoza with her sister Rebecca. They had chart success and signed internationally to Virgin Records, releasing two singles that reached the Top 30 music charts in Australia. They disbanded in 2000.

Mendoza appeared in Moulin Rouge!, in which she appeared as the cameo role and lead dancer 'China Doll'. After Moulin Rouge!, she began working on a solo album in Melbourne and signed a three picture deal with Miramax. She filmed several US series like Farscape and played Liat in ABC's South Pacific opposite Harry Connick Junior and Glenn Close. When filming The Great Raid, she became involved with her co−star Joseph Fiennes, and moved to London.

In 2003 Mendoza went back to England and studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School training in Classical Theater. Mendoza has appeared on stage in many classical theatre and modern theatre productions: Coup d'État at MTC, Five Kinds of Silence, Vagina Monologues, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Importance of Being Earnest, the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee plus many more. In 2005 she was cast as the lead role in the film The Descent creating the iconic role of Juno. She developed the role of Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings musical under the director Matthew Warchus in 2005 and was offered the role for the original and Westend production but was unable to accept the offer due to contractual obligations.^{[citation needed]}In 2006, she appeared in the role of Australian immigrant and head of housekeeping Jackie Clunes in the BBC1 British drama series Hotel Babylon and went on to shoot the 2nd and 3rd series.

In 2007, she guest-starred in the Doctor Who audio dramas Absolution and The Girl Who Never Was. In 2007 she filmed The Descent 2 sequel and horror film Surviving Evil, which she wrote the title track for, "Alone Again". She went onto workshop the lead role of Molly in Matthew Warchus production of Ghost which was based on the original screenplay. Music written by Glen Ballard and Dave Stewart. In 2008 she joined Dave Stewart's Weapons of Mass Entertainment and began being managed by him developing many projects including her own multimedia project and became his business partner. She was the "face" and designer for the Voodoo Dolls surf/ski apparel clothing line in London and Australia in 2003.^{[citation needed]}She is currently based out of London/LA/NYC recording her solo album, producing films and creating her own multimedia projects.

Mendoza was scheduled to co-star in the Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, playing the role of Arachne. Mendoza was forced to leave after an onstage injury. Mendoza since moved to LA to pursue a new career in directing, writing and producing films.

She won her first film festival entry as best director, best writer and best film at the 72 hour film festival in LA 2011.Template:Http://playhousewest.net/72-hour-short-film-festival/October 2011 She also began recording an album with producer Glen Ballard and her new band. She has filmed several films and a TV series slated for release next year.

Television and films

• The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber (1995) (TV)
• Wildside (1998) (TV)
• Fearless (1999) (TV)
• Farscape (1999) (TV)
• BeastMaster (1999)
• Muggers (2000)
• South Pacific (2001)
• Moulin Rouge! (2001)
• Hard Knox (2001) (TV)
• Horseplay (2003)
• Code 46 (2003)
• The Descent (2005)
• The Great Raid (2005)
• Hotel Babylon (2006–2008) (TV)
• Surviving Evil (2008)
• The Descent Part 2 (2009)

References

1. ^ Several Clips from 'The Descent: Part 2'
2. ^ Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Cast List
3. ^ Natalie Mendoza played Jackie Clunes, Head of Housekeeping
4. ^ BWW (21 February 2006). "An Interview with Lord of the Ring's Rebecca Jackson Mendoza aka Galadriel". broadwayworld.com. http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=7613. Retrieved 17 May 2006. 

External links

• Natalie Mendoza at the Internet Movie Database
• Natalie Mendoza at the Internet Broadway Database

Persondata
Name	Mendoza, Natalie
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	12 August 1978
Place of birth	Hong Kong
Date of death
Place of death