Renata Hinrichs grew up in the Midwest. Her parents took her to a performance of The Nutcracker when she was seven, and ballet became her passion. As soon as she was old enough, she moved to New York City to pursue her dream of becoming a dancer. While recovering from an injury, she discovered her other passions: acting and storytelling. One of her earliest gigs was working with Bobbie Flay on his first Food Network show. Not only did she learn great cooking techniques, but she also enjoyed eating his delicious food. Highlights of her varied career include starring in a short film that won top honors at the Cannes Film Festival as well as receiving an OBIE Award for best ensemble. As an actor, Renata loves playing earthy and complex women with good hearts and good humor who are often struggling with the dark side of humanity. She believes if we can stand in someone else's shoes, we can find compassion for ourselves and others. Renata is also a playwright. She is working on her second solo play, Random Acts, which received the Best Storytelling Script award from the United Solo Festival in 2014. Her play is published by Indie Theater Now. Show less «