There’s something refreshing about watching an actress become a cultural flashpoint not because of a scandal, but because of a single performance that redefined a franchise. Amber Midthunder did exactly that with her portrayal of Naru in Prey (2022), the first all-Native American cast in a Hollywood franchise film. Here’s a fact-checked look at her background, her career breakthrough, and what’s next for the rising star who now joins the Avatar universe.

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Born: April 26, 1997 · Age (2024): 27 · Ethnicity: Nakoda/Lakota/Dakota & Thai · Occupation: Actress · Known For: Prey, Legion

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact height (not publicly confirmed by Midthunder herself)
  • Marital status (no public confirmation)
  • Net worth (not disclosed)
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Casting in upcoming Avatar sequels (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia))
  • In-production roles including Carrie (2025), Tombs, Painter (IMDb (film database))

The key facts below condense the essentials every fan asks about.

Label Value
Full Name Amber Midthunder
Birth Date April 26, 1997
Age (2024) 27
Ethnicity Nakoda/Lakota/Dakota & Thai
Occupation Actress
Known For Prey, Legion

The table shows that Midthunder’s recognized attributes hinge on her dual-heritage identity and franchise-defining performance.

What ethnicity is Amber Midthunder?

Midthunder’s heritage is a blend often asked about by fans seeking representation. Her father, actor David Midthunder, is of Nakoda (Assiniboine), Lakota, and Dakota descent, and she is an enrolled citizen of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)). Her mother, Angelique, is originally from Thailand and of Thai‑Chinese ancestry (Instagram (official social media)).

What is Amber Midthunder’s cultural background?

She publicly identifies as Native American and Thai. In her Instagram bio she writes “Nakoda/Lakota/Dakota • Thai🇹🇭 wanted to represent myself as an artist and a woman in Hollywood” (Instagram (official social media)).

Which Native American tribes does she belong to?

She is a citizen of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, and was born on the Navajo Nation in Shiprock, New Mexico (IMDb Biography (film database)). A secondary source notes additional European admixture (Norwegian, English, Irish) (Bored Panda (entertainment news)), but she herself centers her Indigenous and Thai identity.

The implication: In an industry that often miscasts Indigenous roles, Midthunder’s public, verified tribal enrollment brings authentic representation that studios cannot fake.

Are Amber and David Midthunder related?

Yes — David Midthunder is her father. Both are actors who have appeared together on screen (Instagram (official social media)).

Who is David Midthunder?

David Midthunder is an actor known for roles in Legion, Longmire, and Banshee (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)). He is of Assiniboine descent and has worked steadily in television for over two decades.

What is the family connection between Amber and David?

Father and daughter. David’s Native American background directly informs Amber’s tribal affiliation. They have not publicly discussed personal details beyond their professional bond.

The pattern: Family ties run deep in Midthunder’s story — her father’s career path may have opened doors, but her breakout is entirely her own.

What happened to Amber Midthunder?

In short: she became a star. Her role as Naru in the 2022 Predator prequel Prey earned critical acclaim and made her a household name among action‑film fans.

What is Amber Midthunder’s most famous role?

Naru, a young Comanche warrior who takes on an alien Predator. Prey was celebrated as the first Hollywood franchise film with an all‑Native American cast and the first feature film with a full Comanche language dub (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)). It became Hulu’s most‑watched premiere ever (Bored Panda (entertainment news)).

What are her recent projects and career updates?

After Prey, she co‑starred in the action‑comedy Novocaine and the thriller Opus in 2025 (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)). Upcoming credits include roles in the Avatar sequels, Carrie (playing Miss Desjardin), Tombs, Painter, and Brave (IMDb (film database)).

The upshot

Midthunder leveraged a single franchise‑defining role into a slate of major projects — a career trajectory that Indigenous actors rarely get. Her casting in Avatar suggests studios now see her as a bankable star, not a diversity checkbox.

How old is Amber Midthunder?

Born April 26, 1997 (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)), she turned 27 in 2024 and is 29 as of 2026. Her zodiac sign is Taurus.

When was Amber Midthunder born?

April 26, 1997, in Shiprock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation.

What is her zodiac sign?

Taurus — a detail fans often ask about, though Midthunder herself hasn’t commented on astrology.

The catch: Midthunder’s age and birth location are well‑documented by Wikipedia and her own social media, making this one of the most reliably answered FAQs.

What is Amber Midthunder’s role in Prey?

She plays Naru, a young Comanche woman determined to become a hunter in her tribe. The film, set in 1719, pits her against the Predator in a story about survival and self‑proof.

What is the film Prey about?

Prey is the fifth installment and first prequel of the Predator franchise, taking place 300 years before the original film (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)). It follows Naru as she tracks the creature and proves her worth to her community.

How did she prepare for the role of Naru?

Midthunder underwent extensive physical training — archery, stunt choreography, and Comanche language coaching — to authentically portray a pre‑colonial Indigenous warrior. The film’s full Comanche dub, a first for a studio franchise, required her to perform lines in the language (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)).

“Nakoda/Lakota/Dakota • Thai🇹🇭 wanted to represent myself as an artist and a woman in Hollywood.”

— Amber Midthunder, Instagram bio

“Amber Midthunder (born April 26, 1997) is an American actress.”

— Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)

The implication: Prey elevated Midthunder from supporting TV roles to lead‑actress status — but the industry now expects her to sustain that momentum across multiple franchises.

Six key milestones trace her rise.

  • 1997: Born in Shiprock, New Mexico.
  • 2001: First acting roles begin (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)).
  • 2017–2019: Regular role as Kerry Loudermilk in FX’s Legion (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)).
  • 2019–2022: Cast as Rosa in Roswell, New Mexico (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)).
  • 2022: Stars as Naru in Prey (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)).
  • 2023–present: Cast in Avatar sequels; films Novocaine and Opus release in 2025 (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)); multiple projects in production (IMDb (film database)).
What to watch

Midthunder’s next major test is not another action film — it’s whether the Carrie reboot and Avatar sequels give her a character arc as rich as Naru’s. Bet on the actress who turned a prequel into a phenomenon.

Confirmed facts

  • Born April 26, 1997
  • Ethnicity: Nakoda/Lakota/Dakota & Thai
  • Father is David Midthunder
  • Played Naru in Prey
  • Appeared in Legion and Roswell, New Mexico

What’s unclear

  • Exact height (not publicly shared by official sources)
  • Marital status (she has not publicly confirmed a husband)
  • Net worth (not disclosed)

Her career arc is still unfolding, but one thing is already certain. For every young Indigenous actor wondering if Hollywood has a place for them, Midthunder’s trajectory from Shiprock to Pandora proves that authentic representation can—and does—break through. The choice for studios is clear: keep casting her in lead roles that honor her heritage, or risk losing the next generation of viewers who demand better.

Additional sources

famousbirthdays.com, timidmag.com, carriemovies.fandom.com

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Frequently asked questions

Is Amber Midthunder married?

She has not publicly confirmed a marriage or husband. Her personal life remains private.

What awards has Amber Midthunder won?

She won the MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Performance for Prey in 2023, among other honors (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)).

Does Amber Midthunder have siblings?

No public information confirms siblings. She appears to be an only child.

What is Amber Midthunder’s net worth?

She has not disclosed her net worth. Estimates vary widely and are not reliable.

What other TV shows has Amber Midthunder been in?

She has appeared on Longmire, Banshee, Reservation Dogs, Legion, and Roswell, New Mexico (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)).

Where did Amber Midthunder grow up?

She was born in Shiprock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation, and grew up influenced by both her Assiniboine‑Sioux father and Thai‑Chinese mother.

What role did she play in Legion?

She played Kerry Loudermilk, a mutant with a unique aging condition, in all three seasons of FX’s Legion (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)).

What is her role in the Roswell reboot?

She played Rosa Ortecho in The CW’s Roswell, New Mexico, a character central to the alien mythology (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)).

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