Southern Alberta actor using ‘Wonder Woman’ role to inspire local youth

LETHBRIDGE – One local movie star hopes to inspire youth from his hometown to strive for nothing but greatness.

Eugene Brave Rock is an accomplished actor, musician and stuntman, born and bred in Stand Off. He got his start at the age of 17, and has made appearances in films like The Revenant and Hell on Wheels. He currently lives in California with his wife Jolene and their 15-month old son.
 
Most recently, Brave Rock was cast as The Chief in the newest Wonder Woman movie, alongside big Hollywood names like Gal Gadot and Chris Pine. It was released on June 2 and is currently in theatres.
 
The story follows Diana (Gal Gadot), princess of the Amazons. She meets an American pilot (Chris Pine) who tells her about a massive conflict in the outside world, which Diana believes she can stop.

Brave Rock made some time Tuesday (June 6) morning to meet and watch the movie with more than 200 students who came to the Lethbridge Galaxy Theatre from several schools on the Blood Indian Reserve.
 
“The world is a much bigger place than where I come from… It’s nice to be outside the box, and come back and inspire my people, my youth. My aim is to get them to believe in themselves, and dreams come true. I’m a living example! I’m just a kid from Stand Off,” he smiled.
 
Brave Rock added that he was also granted freedom from the film’s director, Patty Jenkins, to speak traditional Blackfoot in some parts of Wonder Woman. His language and culture is something that he says he is overwhelmingly proud to share with the world.
 
Ramona Big Head, principal at Standoff’s Tatsikiisaapo’p Middle School, is one of Brave Rock’s aunts. She noted that she’s been trying to get him to visit his hometown for years, and her students were thrilled to finally get a chance to meet him.
 
“This is so special for our young people to see one of their own from Stand Off, who grew up on the reserve, who was raised by his grandmother,” Big Head said.
 
“Just to see a young man who is so humble — who comes basically from the same background as these kids — it means so much to all of us. I think, too, that knowing that our Blackfoot language is such in peril right now… and to see that on the big screen for the entire world to hear our language… is huge for us.”
 
As for any upcoming projects, Brave Rock says he’s been to a few auditions recently, but unfortunately can’t share too much due to disclosure conflicts.