Exclusive interview with Ren Hanami, American, Actress, Writer, Director and Singer.

By Jean-Paul Eliard
The 17 November 2025

Hi Ren, First, I'm very happy to do this interview. 
 
Can you introduce yourself to the visitors of cinema-movietheater.com? 
Hello/Konnichiwa/Bonjour. My name is Ren Hanámi.

I started my entertainment career as a dancer in the Disneyland parades, and in regional stage productions of “A Flower Drum Song,” and other musicals.

I have been singing, dancing and acting since I was a child.

I have won awards as an actress, writer, and filmmaker, and always try to bring my “Aloha Spirit” to everything I do.

Currently, I can be seen in the Kevin Bacon series, “The Bondsman,” and feature film, “Silent Prey.”

I star as the titular role of Lola in the festival award-winning short, “LOLA,” which I also earned two Best Supporting Actress awards.

I am also the voice of Director Melanie in “Barbie and Teresa: A Recipe For Friendship” on Netflix, Adult Sally in Dreamworks Animation’s “Orion and the Dark,” Wakako Okada in the AAA video game, “Cyberpunk 2077,” and have dubbed numerous films and television shows from France, Japan, Korea, China, Sweden, Brazil, Southeast Asia, and Spain.

I was recently back on stage in the world premiere of “Kairos” at East West Players.

I am an Asian Hall of Fame Inductee, and serve as National Chair of the SAG-AFTRA APA (Asian Pacific American) Media Committee. 
 
What did you like about the storyline of this serie and about Queen Dowager Jahyeon (voice: English version)? 
I liked the complexity of Queen Dowager Jahyeon.

She is passionate, and protective of her son.

Even though she was mostly the calm voice of reason in the story, when it came to saving her son she became vindictive towards Yeon Ji-yeong who she blamed for poisoning her son, the prince.

The range of her emotions was challenging and satisfying to perform. 
 
How was the recording of your voice? 
I recorded in studio at VSI.
They are a state-of-the-art facility in Los Angeles, and the staff are welcoming, supportive and exceptional professionals. I enjoyed working with Dubbing Director, Jay Lee very much. 

I watch this serie on Netflix France and in English. Your voice is excellent for Queen Dowager Jahyeon.
How do you identify and find the voice for a dubbing?
Each character I portray is different.

I start with the on-screen actor’s voice quality, cadence and emotions. I want to honor their performance.

I follow their body movements and breaths with my own. I also credit the director’s excellent casting.

The directors of all the projects listen to our auditions and look for a match with our voices and the on-screen actors.

Casting me as the Queen Dowager Jahyeon was attributed to the instincts of Jay Lee and his team.

I have many natural similarities to the Korean on-screen actress Seo Yi-Sook. 
 
To do the voice of an actress is it more difficult than to be an actress?
 Voice acting has its unique challenges that on-camera and stage acting does not. For dubbing in particular you need to fill the English voice with the emotions, actions, breaths and life that match up to the on-screen performance, as well as work with the director and engineer on syncing the lips. It is an art of its own, and the better the sync of performance and lips, the more the audience can enjoy the story. 
 
You won * 3 awards and you were nominated 6 times.
What memories do you have of that?
I am truly humbled and grateful whenever my work is acknowledged.

It is a privilege to do what I love for a living, and the acknowledgment helps my representatives and me to level up my career with each new award.

It is still a challenge to become known in the industry by the creators who we aspire to work with.

So the awards and nominations shine a light on my work among a very competitive field of talented professionals.

When and why did you choose to be an actress?
I have been performing since I was a child.

I was just naturally drawn to it from the moment I watched my first television show. When I saw Disney movies, I saw myself in them.

When I went to a Broadway musical I imagined myself up on the stage performing.

I love of storytelling runs deep and wide. It gives me life when I get to breath life into a character someone painstakingly created on paper.

I love it so much. 
 
What is your next challenge / project?

I am actually auditioning today for the stage musical “Flower Drum Song” at East West Players.

It is full circle for me if I get the role of the older manager, since it is where

I started when I was a teenager as a Fan Tan Fanny dancer and one of the children.

I hope I get it. The most recent dubbing shows are “Genie, Make a Wish,” and “Marry My Husband: Japan.” The short film, “Halcyon Days” will premiere soon.
 
Do you wish to add something?

I really appreciate the fans of the English dubbing performances.

It makes me so happy that more and more English speaking people can enjoy the wonderful productions coming from all over the world.

The fans who acknowledge our work to make them accessible also give me hope that we can continue this for many eons.

We have souls and A.I. does not.

We do not want to be replaced by A.I. and when the fans speak up for our performances to the distributors, I believe they listen.

Thank you so much.
 
Thank you very much for your interview Ren and I wish you the best for your future

 
More information about Ren, on renworldinc.com, on Intagram, on Facebook and on Youtube
 
 * Awards
 
3 wins
 
2018
Silicon Beach Film Festival
 Won, Festival Prize
Best Short Film Supporting Actress for Like Last Night (2017)
Ninja Mom Entertainment, Flying Dragon Productions
 
2018
Silver State Film Festival
 Won, Grand Prize
Best Original Short Film Screenplay for Like Last Night (2017)
Ninja Mom Entertainment (production company), Flying Dragon Productions (production company)
 
2017
Culver City Film Festival
 Won, Best Coming Of Age Short
Short Film for Like Last Night (2017)
Ninja Mom Entertainment, Flying Dragon Productions
 
Additional awards

2013
Audio Verse Awards 
Best Large Cast Ensemble for a Fan Adaptation
The Katniss Chronicles fan drama based on "The Hunger Games."

2017
Women In Film Mini Upfronts
Finalist
Over 100 submissions, which were judged by eight active industry professionals from NBCUniversal, Seed and Spark, Steakhaus Productions, Haven Entertainment, and LA Bellatini Casting. The top one third have advanced to the semi-finals, where they were judged by studio execs and agents from NBCUniversal, Lionsgate, and CAA, among others. 
 
2018
WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Screenplay Contest *
Finalist
NATIVE LAND, RISING SUN
 
2018
Silver State Film Festival *
Best Original Screenplay - Short Film
Like Last Night
 
2018
Golden State Film Festvial *
Best Emerging Talent
Like Last Night
 
2021
Asian Hall of Fame *
2021 Inductee
https://youtu.be/A6huhRufg78