Kana Hatakeyama is a multifaceted and accomplished Japanese-American actor and filmmaker based in New York, boasting an impressive array of credits in both film and television.
In her television work, she has made notable appearances as 'Charlene Teng' on the last two seasons of Jenji Kohan's Orange is the New Black for Netflix, alongside other credits including Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix),Tape (dir. Deborah Kampmeier),and Split (dir. Deborah Kampmeier).
As a writer-director, Kana has premiered two films, "okaasan (mom)" and "FITNESS! or a story about SWEAT", both of which have garnered critical acclaim and recognition at various film festivals, including the Brooklyn Film Festival, Dallas International Film Festival, New Orleans Film Festival, Nitehawk Shorts Festival, Nantucket Film Festival, and more.
Onstage, Kana has originated notable roles in plays such as Mallery Avidon's "Mary-Kate Olsen is in Love", Adriano Shaplin's "Sarah Flood in Salem Mass", and Leah Nanako Winkler's "Double Suicide at Ueno Park!", among others, at esteemed theaters including the Flea Theater, Public Theater, and Premiere Stages.
Kana's education includes a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Theater, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Duke University, where she also minored in Political Science. She has further honed her craft through training at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center, A.C.T., and the Neighborhood Playhouse, and has studied with renowned instructors such as Ted Sluberski, Patsy Rodenburg, Larry Moss, Bob Krakower, and Marilyn Fried.
Fluent in both Japanese and English, as well as French and Spanish, Kana has spent time living in France and Argentina, allowing her to draw upon her diverse cultural background in her work.
