There’s no doubt that the moment you watch Fiona Rene steps onto the screen, your attention is completely drawn to her. Known for playing roles like Lyla on Amazon Studio’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” as the iconic Glory Days on Netflix’s “The Lincoln Lawyer” and currently as the strong-willed attorney Reenie Greenie on the CBS drama “Tracker,” she is a force to be reckoned on your TVs.
Rene visited “The Takeaway” studio last week to speak about her past roles and also about how she has made an effort to connect with her Chinese roots after the passing of her mother eight years ago.
“Ever since then, I realized I had a bit of a disconnect to my roots and I have been hungry to be a part of the AAPI community, to hear more stories that are similar and different from mine.” Rene said. “I’m excited that this next level of my life can bring me closer to my Chinese heritage.”
Rene also spoke about how often Asian women were slotted into submissive and sexualized stereotypes, but as time went on, she feels there has been a turning point in representation which has allowed for stronger and more complex API female characters.
“I’m so excited and so honored to be able to tell those stories,” Rene said. “And I hope I’m considered to do so.”
Then, Rene spoke about her character Reenie on the CBS series “Tracker,” discussing how being able to return to her character continuously is an experience she wouldn’t miss for the world.
“One of the coolest experiences ever as an actor…is being able to see your character grow, to dig deeper in [Reenie’s] relationships on the show.” She said. “It’s just as magical for me [to see] as I hope the audience.”
However, Rene still holds a deep love for her character, Gloria or “Glory Days,” despite no longer being on “The Lincoln Lawyer.” In fact, the actor confessed that Gloria helped her become more comfortable in her own skin, citing how the character’s wardrobe and general confidence increased her own self-esteem.
Rene also gave insight into how she uses her time off set to make a difference. Rene is currently a member of The Game Academy, a nonprofit organization that uses tabletop boardgames like “Dungeons and Dragons” to help students who are on the neurodivergent spectrum and students who are not on the spectrum connect through social and educational learning. “It prepares you for your real life…I would implement RPG storytelling in any kind of education system around the planet.”
In addition to The Game Academy, Rene established another nonprofit project, Grandma’s House, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, focusing on consumption awareness. “To have a space in your community to be aware of what you’re consuming, to grow and to get better, it’s honestly the most important thing…”
You can catch Rene on “Tracker,” which airs every Sunday on CBS and the day after on Paramount+. Make sure to watch the full interview from “The Takeaway” on GoldenTV here!
