Tinsel Korey (born March 25, 1980) is a Canadian actress and singer-songwriter. She is best known for portraying Emily Young in The Twilight Saga film series.
Scholars have written that she falsely adopted a Native American identity.
Life and career
Prior to her move to Vancouver, Korey had already found work through her multiple appearances in commercial advertisements. She then decided in late 2002 to move to Hollywood, but was "stopped at the border because she couldn't prove she was going to come back to Canada. She couldn't go home though so she called her friend and got on a flight to Vancouver and she's been there ever since.", "Tinsel Korey as Anna Navarez in Dominic da Vinci's 'The Quality of Life'
In 2006, Korey was given a small role as a rape victim opposite Callum Keith Rennie in the film Unnatural & Accidental, which told the story of a series of murders of mostly First Nations women. The film's director, Carl Bessai, recalled: "It was one of her first gigs and it was harrowing. She was terrified and Callum is so method, so intense. It was one of those moments where you watch a young actor and you think, 'This will either really give them the power to act or it will just alienate them.'""New Moon's Emily may be in the Twilight of her anonymity". The Province, May 5, 2009.
Career under Native American identity Korey performed as a singer at the 2008 National Aboriginal Achievement Awards. Academic Natalie Wilson wrote that Korey is East Indian, and had claimed to be Native American when cast to play Emily Young in The Twilight Saga: New Moon.
In 2015, Korey was cast in an episode of Z Nation where the protagonists meet a group of Native Americans. Her casting was criticized by Native American viewers. Scholar Léna Remy-Kovach writes that Korey is an Indo-Canadian actress who changed her name to conceal her identity, and adjusted her appearance to pass as Native American. She compares her to the Italian-American actor Iron Eyes Cody, saying Korey was accused of taking roles from Native American actors.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2005 It Waits Lark Rainwater 2006 Divided by Zero Ashley Short Unnatural & Accidental Blue Girl 2007 Maura Luna: Spirit of the Whale Annie TV movie I Know What I Saw Alicia TV movie Hybrid Lydia TV movie 2008 Anna Navarez TV movie Mothers & Daughters Cynthia 2009 Wyvern Vinyl Hampton TV movie Emily Young 2010 Emily Young Stained Isabelle Clarke 2011 Emily Young 2012 Black Box Kate Black Forest Karin TV movie 2014 Bullet Vanessa 2015 Fishing Naked Jen Rachel Short Single in South Beach Sandra 2016 Guns of Purgatory S.S. Abbey Short 2018 SuperGrid Eagle
Television Year Title Role Notes 2004 Tru Calling Jen Episode: "Murder in the Morgue" Da Vinci's Inquest Sheila Episode: "A Man When He's Down" 2005 Into the West Bluebird Recurring Cast 2006 Godiva's Chantal Recurring Cast: Season 2 2007 Tin Man Airofday Recurring Cast Intelligence Felicia Recurring Cast: Season 2 2008 Rabbit Fall Zoe Main Cast: Season 2 Martine Recurring Cast: Season 1-2 2011 Sanctuary Sioux Episode: "One Night" 2013 Blackstone Roberta Recurring Cast: Season 3 2014 Killer Women Diane Episode: "Demons" 2015-18 Z Nation Ayalla Guest Cast: Season 2 & 5 2016 Longmire Tina Episode: "The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of" Evan Episode: "Episode #1.11036" 2018 The Detour Megwyn Recurring Cast: Season 2 2018-19 Yellowstone Emily Sessions Guest Cast: Season 1-2 2020 Curious George Kimi (voice) Episode: "Episode #12.1" 2021 Shaman King Lilirara (voice) Episode: "And Hao!"
References
External links