BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., April 16, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Artemis Women in Action Film Festival is proud to honor Daniela Ruah with the Artemis Action Warrior for embodying strong women on television.

Best known for her role of the tough special agent Kensi Blye on the long-running series NCIS LA, US-born Ms. Ruah's career actually began in Portugal when she was a teenager. She racked up over 700 episodes on several Portuguese television shows and presented the Eurovision Song Contest before her US debut on NCIS. Although she enjoys the on-screen banter between herself and her NCIS co-stars, her favorite aspect of her role in the show are the action scenes. She works alongside stunt coordinators to prepare for scenes, and is dedicated to training for stunts, while many times performing the actual fight scenes, herself. Whether it's riding motorbikes, hand to hand fighting, or dodging bullets in shootouts, Ms. Ruah is living her dream job. When asked if it's luck, she says, " . . . it's a matter of preparing yourself for what you want to do, so that when opportunity comes, you are ready to take it—and sometimes that's called luck."

Ms. Ruah was born in Boston but moved with her parents to Portugal when she was five. She credits her parents for their support of her decision to focus on an acting career when she was just 16. She studied performing arts in London and New York. Fluent in Portuguese, she also learned Italian for her first big role in the George Lucas film Red Tails (2012). Daniela Ruah is married with two children, supports a variety of charities, and is an ambassador for Shopping for Change, a nonprofit organization supporting female artisans through fair trade by creating jobs and promoting financial autonomy.

Artemis Women in Action Film Festival is proud to honor Dot-Marie Jones with the Artemis Action Powerhouse Award for showing the world that strength, beauty, and power come in all shapes and sizes.

An athlete since she was a kid, Dot-Marie Jones dominated the track and field strength events, setting college records in the shot put. She is a 15-time world champion arm wrestler and was asked to join the professional wrestlers circuit, but turned them down as being "too fakey." Those who see her act understand: she believes in a low-key, natural approach to her work. Ms. Jones got her first acting gig as one of the few female warriors in Knights & Warriors. Since then, she has worked consistently in film and television as a unique voice in acting. While still defending her arm wrestling titles, Jones had recurring roles in the comedies Married... with Children and Desperate Housewives; through dramas such as Nip/Tuck and Prison Break, Ms. Jones has displayed an incredible range.

Working steadily since 1992, Ms. Jones' "overnight success" came with the second season of Glee (2010). Already a show that surprised everyone—a musical, no less, about dorky glee kids—Ms. Jones galvanized the show with her quiet, very funny portrayal of a successful, female football coach. She was able to convey the physical power that inspired her teams to follow her lead, while also being vulnerable enough to be an understanding sounding board for the kids—plus she got to sing! The success of Coach Beiste brought a character like no other: powerful, an individual, a leader, while also a shy, vulnerable woman open to love and family. She was nominated for an Emmy three years in a row for her work. From playing a coach, a nurse, or a Combat Nun, there is nothing Ms. Jones can't handle.

Artemis Women In Action is proud to announce the following sponsors: ARGONAUT NEWS and Complete Production Group Hollywood. They join sponsors Paul Feig, AGENDA Magazine, Bella Composers, Action Factory, Santa Monica Audi, Final Draft, SANTA MONICA DAILY PRESS, Actors Guru, New York Film Academy, Entertainment Partners, Women In Film, The Chimaera Project, Habibi Sport, InkTip, Asis Financial, Matt's Marketing and PR, Pop Culture Hero Coalition, CURATOR Magazine, AXTionWear, Backstage, Array Entertainment, The Chimaera Project, and Asis Entertainment Insurance.

Presented by Paul Feig (Ghost Busters, The Heat, Spy), The Artemis Women In Action Film Festival Fifth Edition kicks off their 4-day festival with the Artemis Awards Gala, hosted by Chase Masterson (Star Trek: DS9, Doctor Who, Vienna) and musical performances by award-winning jazz recording artist Kaylene Peoples and Artemis Women Powered Music finalist Jass Bianchi on Thursday, April 25, 2019, at 7:30PM. The awards gala will be held at the Ahrya Fine Arts Theater 8556 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90211 on Thursday evening, Apr. 25, 2019. Time: 6:45 - 7:30 PM. Red Carpet Interviews/Photo Ops (contact: sean(at)firsttakepr(dot)com); 7:30 - 10:00PM Awards Gala. The Competition Awards will be held at Santa Monica Laemmle Friday, April 26, 2019 at 5:45 where the winners of the festival will be announced. Friday through Sunday hold panel discussions and an incredible lineup of AWIAFF film screenings. Visit http://www.artemisfilmfestival.com for events, screenings and ticket information.

Artemis would like to congratulate all the 2019 honorees: director Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don't Cry, Stop-Loss, American Crime, Six); actresses Daniela Ruah (NCIS LA, Red Tails), Levy Tran (MacGyver, Fast and Furious), Dot-Marie Jones (Glee, Prison Break, Nip/Tuck, Desperate Housewives); stuntwomen Jeannie Epper (Wonderwoman, Hot Pursuit, Book of Eli), Melissa R. Stubbs (Suicide Squad, Deadpool, Jason Bourne), Shauna Duggins (Glow, Peppermint, Captain America: The Winter Soldier); Lisa Hoyle (Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, Snatched, Arrested Development); Mahsa Ahmadi (Z Nation, Heathers, Skyfall), Crystal Michelle (Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Infinity War), and Dejay Roestenberg (Jessica Jones, The Following, OA).

The ARGONAUT, published in Southern California since 1971, is one of the most trusted sources of local news and information for the Westside of Los Angeles, including the communities of Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Mar Vista, Westchester, Venice and Santa Monica. Our newspaper serves the community with a circulation of 30,000, published every Thursday. The ARGONAUT is owned by Southland Publishing, a media company specializing in newsweeklies, monthly magazines, and websites, serving Southern California and beyond. https://argonautnews.com/.

Complete Production Group Hollywood is a full service SAG-AFTRA, DGA, WGA, IATSE Production/Signatory Producer for your project. We also offer Cast/Crew Payroll Service, along with Workers Comp insurance for projects including Television, Film, Commercials, New Media, and Corporate/Non-Broadcast for union clearance. Whether you need help signing your project to any of the entertainment unions or help paying your talent/crew in accordance with Federal, State or Local and Union standards, we can help at http://www.cpghollywood.com/.

SOURCE Artemis Women In Action Film Festival