Beata Poźniak is a Polish-American actress, film director, poet, and painter known for her versatile performances and her work as a human rights activist. Born on April 30, 1960, she has made significant contributions to the arts and activism.

Poźniak is renowned for her role as Marina Oswald in Oliver Stone’s eight-time Oscar-nominated film JFK. Her portrayal brought her recognition as an exceptional actress, noted for her transformative ability in roles such as the first female president in Babylon 5, a revolutionary in George Lucas’s The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, and a doctor in Melrose Place.

As a voice artist, Poźniak has narrated numerous audiobooks, including Nobel Prize-winning author Olga Tokarczuk’s Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, for which she received an Earphones Award. Her performance as Skarlet, the Blood Queen in Mortal Kombat 11, earned her a Voice Arts Award for 'Outstanding Video Game Character - Best Performance'.

Her activism is highlighted by her introduction of the first bill in U.S. Congress history to officially recognize International Women's Day. Poźniak's contributions extend to the arts, with her experimental film poems and stage plays being showcased at international festivals.

Her academic pursuits include teaching Character Development at USC and UCLA, and she holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Film and Drama.