Jena Malone

  Jena Laine Malone ( born on November 21, 1984) is an American actress, musician and photographer. Known for her roles in independent films as well as mainstream blockbuster films, she has received numerous accolades, including nominations for an Golden Globe Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.Born in Sparks, Nevada, Malone spent her early life there and in Las Vegas, while her mother was a part of local theater productions. Malone became inspired to be an actress and convinced her mother to relocate to Los Angeles. After auditioning for many projects, Malone was cast in Anjelica Hston's television film Bastard Out of Carolina (1996). She received acclaim for her performance. Malone was later cast in the major studio productions Contact (1997) Hope (1997) and Stepmom (1998).Malone began her career in the 2000s with the thriller for independent filmmakers Donnie Darko (2001), that became a cult movie. In the following years, she was a star in the drama Life as a House (both 2003) as well as in the mini-series Hitler: The Rise of Evil (2004). She also starred in Saved! (2004). The actress was later in the role of Lydia Bennet in Joe Wright's adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice (2005).