Angelena Bonet

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Angelena Bonet
Angelena: Change The World Poster.
Born	Elena Louise Bennett (1976-05-13) 13 May 1976 (age 45) Sydney, Australia
Occupation	Documentary filmmaker, singer-songwriter & former model/actress
Years active	1994–present
Spouse(s)	Engaged to Erick Deeby (2002–2007; deceased)
Website	angelenabonet.org

Angelena Bonet (/Bon-ay/) (born Elena Louise Bennett; 13 May 1976) is an Australian supermodel, actress, documentary filmmaker, singer-songwriter and humanitarian, whose career includes modelling for magazines such as, Vogue (Australia), Inside Sport, Maxim, Ralph, FHM; acting and presenting, roles in television, production and biopic documentaries, for which she has won both 'Best Documentary Feature' and 'Best Original Song' at the Indie Fest Film Awards (2017), Impact DOCS Awards, Accolade Global Film Competition and received three 2018 World Music & Independent Film Festival nominations. Angelena has already won 21 Awards thus far for her documentaries.

Making her debut as a professional model in Vogue Australia (1994) at the age of 18, Angelena's television and film credits include JAG (1998), Kiss The Sky (1998), Breakers (1998–1999), My Husband My Killer (2001), Ghostly Encounters (2010), Angelena: Change The World (2018), Heart Of The Matter (2018) and Change The World (2018).

Early life[]

Bonet was born on 13 May 1976, in Sydney, the youngest (elder of twins) of five children to James Patrick Bennett, an IT/Finance Manager and mother Geraldine Louise Bennett, a physiotherapist specialising in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and also Mental Health Facilities. Her father was Catholic and her mother Church of England, but converted to Catholicism when Angelena was 12 years old. Angelena chose the Confirmation name 'Angela', that would play a significant role in her life many years later. Despite her Catholic upbringing, Bonet is a daily yoga and meditation practitioner and cites her beliefs to be more spiritual in nature.^[1][2][3]

She described her childhood as "the idyllic Aussie upbringing, spending summers in the backyard pool or at the beach".

Bonet attended Denistone East Primary School, Marist Sisters' College, Woolwich, then St. Patrick's College, Dundas. She started studying ballet at the age of four, classical piano two years later and as a teen began attending acting and singing lessons. She honed her performance skills at concerts, school plays and eisteddfods before her professional career began at the age of eighteen.^[2]

Career[]

Modeling career[]

Angelena was discovered at a hair salon in Sydney when she was eighteen years old whilst attending Williams Business College for Travel & Tourism / Secretarial studies. Then known as 'Elli Bennett', her first photoshoot was for Vogue Australia magazine and her career took off. As a commercial model and in demand swimsuit and lingerie model, Angelena Bonet worked extensively worldwide in cities such as New York City, Milan, Toronto, Manila and throughout Australia where she was named "Australian Supermodel" on Network Ten National Prime-time news after returning from Milan, Italy in 2004. She also was featured on the cover of the three biggest selling issues of 'Inside Sport' Magazine, including the 'Commonwealth Games' (1998), the 'Sydney 2000 Olympics', FHM magazine and as the covergirl for the 'Sportsmodel of the Year' issue. Featured on billboards for brands such as Panasonic and Anabella Lingerie, she also modelled for Elle MacPherson's Intimate Apparel range and was featured in TV commercials for Ministry of Sound Annual Album, Southern Cross Austereo 2Day FM Radio, McDonald's and Pepsi among other major famous brands.^[2]

Film and television career[]

An actress for 20 years, highlights of Bonet's works includes the US TV Series JAG, Ghostly Encounters, My Husband My Killer and the role of Robyn for two years on the popular Australian soap opera Breakers (which aired in more than 50 countries). She also played the lead role in Canadian rock band Silverstein's film clip "American Dream", featured host for NBC's AOF International Film Festival series and hosted the 'FIFA World Cup Show' in Canada (2010). She also judged the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Pageants in Vermont (2010). Angelena has been interviewed numerous times on The D'Anise Show (Toronto) and has worked with Jay Leno warming up audiences for his talk show "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno".^[2][3] She is also a regular on the red carpets and awards shows worldwide and was featured on Australia's Network Seven Broadcast of The 6th Annual Foxtel AACTA Awards held at The Star, Sydney, Australia.^[4]

Music career[]

After modelling in Europe, Angelena began putting more energy into music and collaborating with her partner, Erick Deeby, who had written and produced songs for films such as Marvel Comics The Man-Thing and Hollywood director Brett Leonard's Feed. Deeby became a mentor to Bonet and together they created her unique sound whilst living in Sydney's bohemian red light district, Kings Cross.^[2] Gaining her more incursion into the Music Business (Live performances on Radio,^[5] The Hard Rock Cafe (Sydney), Lewisham Hotel, Toronto TV Shows, etc.).^{[6][non-primary source needed]} Bonet temporarily put modelling on the back burner and focused all her energies back to her childhood roots and love for music, keeping the promise she made to Deeby at his hospital bedside, that one day she would finish their special project.

The song "Tragic Fairytale" composed by both Bonet & Deeby, from her debut Documentary film Angelena: Change The World soundtrack, won 'Best Original Song' at the Indie Fest Film Awards (2017).^[7] She has independently released her EP "Tragic Fairytale" and "Angelena: Change The World" (Original Soundtrack Album) under her own Record and Publishing label Crystal Heart Records.^[8][9]

Personal life[]

Angelena has never married, however, was engaged for three days to her musician/producer partner of five years, Erick Deeby. In August 2007 he suffered a heart attack at home and died in her arms. Deeby was then put on life support whilst in a coma for six days but died on 29 August 2007. She describes this experience as "soul shattering, but writing the music was cathartic and had a deep healing effect on her heart".

During her recovery from her loss, she moved to Orange, NSW, to be with family and grieve privately. This is where she composed the lyrics and melody to the instrumental pieces of music Deeby had written and recorded at his music studio for her. The first song she wrote six weeks after his death, on the way to her twin brother's wedding, was the multi-award-winning song "Tragic Fairytale". She then later travelled to work in the US and Canada and decided to settle in her new home of Toronto in 2010. Bonet's affinity with Canada began as a child as her eldest brother was born at St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto) where her mother worked as a nurse. Her parents had lived there for a few years early on in their marriage before residing back in Sydney.

After experiencing true love she says she is happy to wait for the right man. Her work is her passion and focus and has a wonderful tight-knit circle of friends and family. She is now based in Sydney and Toronto and travels extensively for her work.^[2][1]

Attack and posttraumatic stress disorder[]

While visiting Melbourne in May 2012 Angelena Bonet was kidnapped, gang raped and miraculously survived attempted murder. She suffered posttraumatic stress disorder as a consequence but was determined to make it through the pain. She took much needed time away from the limelight to heal and then officially retired from modelling to focus her energies and dedicate her life to philanthropy and women's rights issues. It was this life changing experience that has given Angelena a purpose and her life meaning as she has stated "it is about each of us having the power to turn tragic into magic" and that "love and forgiveness are the keys that set us free".^[2] A name change was recommended by law enforcement to preserve her personal safety after her life was almost taken on 26 May 2012. Bonet chose a combination of her Birth name 'Elena' and her Catholic Confirmation name 'Angela' to become 'Angelena' which has the meaning 'God's Messenger'. She then changed 'Bennett' to 'Bonet' meaning 'Good'.

Activism[]

Since 2013, Angelena has aligned herself with multiple charities. She is an official volunteer blogger for Oxfam Australia and currently a member of the RAINN Org Speakers Bureau in Washington DC, USA. She is a women's rights activist lending her voice to V-Day One Billion Rising global movement; United State of Women whereby Angelena interviewed Tina Tchen (Founder), who worked in The White House as President Barack Obama's assistant and Chief of Staff to Michelle Obama for eights years. Angelena was also an invited guest for Amnesty International's Women's Leadership Awards in Sydney and the launch of their "Stop Torture" Campaign. Angelena served as Ambassador for World Mental Health Day and was a speaker for the RUOK? Day (Suicide Prevention Initiative for teens) in 2013. Angelena uses the platform of her online journalistic program "Heart of the Matter" to interview women and girls worldwide, from all walks of life to share inspiring stories and have their voices heard.^[10][1] In early 2017, Angelena created her non-profit organisation Crystal Heart Foundation aimed at supporting women and girl survivors of sexual violence and those suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder, whilst raising public awareness and aiding other charities globally.^[11][9]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1998	Kiss the Sky	Fantasy Girl No. 1
2001	My Husband My Killer	Elkin's Girlfriend No. 3
2017	Angelena: Change The World	Herself	Credited as: Writer, Composer, Producer & director.[1]

Television[]

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1997–1999	Breakers	Robyn	10 Episodes
1998	JAG	Patron	Episode: "Gypsy Eyes"
2010	Ghostly Encounters	Christina Parker	Episode: "Ghosts and the Vulnerable"
2014	Heart of the Matter	Herself (Composer, Producer & Director)	TV Documentary

^[12][13]

Awards and nominations[]

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
1997	Miss Bondi	Beauty Contest	Modeling	Won
1998	Miss East Coast of Australia	Beauty Contest	Modeling	Won
2017	Impact DOCS Awards	Award of Recognition	Documentary Feature	Won
2017	Accolade Global Film Competition	Award of Recognition	Documentary Feature	Won
2017	IndieFEST Film Awards	Award of Recognition: Liberation / Social Justice / Protest	Documentary Feature	Won
2017	IndieFEST Film Awards	Award of Recognition	Original Song: "Tragic Fairytale" composed by Angelena Bonet & Erick Deeby	Won
2018	World Music & Independent Film Festival	Award of Recognition	Documentary Feature	Nominated
2018	World Music & Independent Film Festival	Award of Recognition	Best Director	Nominated
2018	World Music & Independent Film Festival	Award of Recognition	Best Female Filmmaker	Nominated

^{[14][15][16][17]}

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• Angelena Bonet at IMDb