Tena is the lead singer and accordionist of Molotov Jukebox. The band released their debut album Carnival Flower (2014), in Spring 2014, featuring their single "Neon Lights". Their second studio album, Tropical Gypsy (2016), was released on 15 April 2016 and was preceded by its lead single, "Pineapple Girl". It was promoted on the band's Tropical Gypsy Tour in April and May 2016.
Early life
Natalia Gastiain Tena was born in London, the daughter of Spanish parents, María Tena, a secretary, and Jesús Andrew Gastiain, a carpenter.[2] Her family is of Extremaduran and Basque origin, and she was raised in the United Kingdom.[3] Tena is fluent in English and Spanish. She attended Bedales School in Hampshire.[1][4][5]
Tena was taught the piano by her mother at five years old, influenced by Chuck Berry's music.[6] Afterwards, at 18, Tena moved back to London and busked on the London Underground.[6] While working with a theatre group called KneeHigh, where they were allowed to pick an instrument to play, Tena decided to learn the accordion.[6]
Career
Tena performing in 2013
Tena made her professional debut as Ellie in About a Boy (2002), and began acting full-time in 2003. She has played lead roles in stage adaptations of Gone to Earth in 2004, and Nights at the Circus in 2006.[7]
She hosted a behind-the-scenes featurette entitled "Trailing Tonks" for the subsequent DVD and Blu-ray release, and is credited as producer and director of the featurette, in which she also performs an original Christmas-themed blues song on guitar, which she composed while working as a busker on the London Underground.[9]
In 2011, she played a lead role in the Scottish Film You Instead. She also appeared as Osha in HBO's Game of Thrones.[10][11] In March 2013, she starred in the official music video for Lapalux's single "Without You (ft. Kerry Leatham)".[12]
In 2015, she starred as the lead, Jennifer Preston, in the British mini-series Residue. In 2017, Tena was cast as Sara Morten in the CBS drama Wisdom of the Crowd.[14][15]
In April 2018, it was announced that Tena was cast in the series regular role of Lana Pierce on the YouTubescience fiction series Origin.[16]
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