Amber Midthunder: Ethnicity, Movies, Age, and Career Facts

If you caught the 2022 sci-fi hit Prey, you already know Amber Midthunder as Naru—the fierce Comanche hunter who takes on the Predator. But the actress behind that breakthrough role carries a layered identity that goes far beyond the screen. This fact-checked dossier separates verified biography from online chatter, covering her Indigenous and Thai-Chinese heritage, early acting milestones, and the career trajectory that earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination.

Full name: Amber Midthunder ·
Known for: Role in Prey (2022), Legion, Roswell, New Mexico ·
Ethnicity: Nakoda/Lakota/Dakota Sioux and Thai ·
Birth year: 1997 (age 29 as of 2026) ·
Notable award: Saturn Awards Breakthrough Performance Award (2022)

The table below organizes her known biographical specs. The story behind them, however, is more textured than the rows suggest.

Six verified biographical points, but the story behind them is richer than the table suggests.

What ethnicity is Amber Midthunder?

Amber Midthunder’s Indigenous heritage

Amber Midthunder is a citizen of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribe, making her Nakoda/Lakota/Dakota Sioux by enrollment. Her father, David Midthunder, is of Hunkpapa Lakota, Sisseton Dakota, and Sahiyaiyeskabi Assiniboine descent (Wikipedia (biographical encyclopedia)). She was born in Shiprock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation, which she has referenced in her Instagram biography (Instagram biography repost).

Amber Midthunder’s Thai ancestry

Her mother, Angelique Midthunder, is originally from Thailand and has Thai-Chinese ancestry (Wikipedia). This dual heritage—Indigenous American and Southeast Asian—places Midthunder in a small group of actors representing underrepresented backgrounds in mainstream Hollywood.

The implication: her dual heritage makes her a rare case in mainstream cinema—one that casting directors can point to as an authentic alternative to tokenism.

What happened to Amber Midthunder?

Amber Midthunder’s career breakthrough with Prey

In 2022, Midthunder starred as Naru in Prey, the fifth film and first prequel in the Predator franchise. The film was released on Hulu to widespread critical acclaim, with Midthunder’s performance singled out for its physicality and emotional depth. She received a Saturn Awards Breakthrough Performance Award for the role, as well as a Critics’ Choice Award nomination for Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television (Wikipedia).

Recent projects and public appearances

Following Prey, Midthunder co-starred in the 2025 action-comedy Novocaine and the thriller Opus (Wikipedia). She continues to work in both film and television, with her IMDb profile listing her as actress, producer, and writer (IMDb (film database)).

“I would love to do a romance or a romantic comedy. A leading role in something like that would be amazing.”

– Amber Midthunder in an interview with Timid Mag (online interview magazine)

The pattern: she is not resting on the Prey win but actively expanding her range into action-comedy and thriller territory.

Are Amber and David Midthunder related?

David Midthunder’s relationship to Amber

Yes—David Midthunder is Amber’s father. Both are actors. David Midthunder has appeared in films such as The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and the TV series Longmire (Wikipedia).

Family background

David Midthunder is of Hunkpapa Lakota, Sisseton Dakota, and Sahiyaiyeskabi Assiniboine descent, which matches Amber’s own tribal background. Her mother Angelique is Thai-Chinese, making her family a blend of Indigenous American and Southeast Asian lineages (Wikipedia).

The catch: while the father-daughter relationship is confirmed, both maintain separate acting careers with little public collaboration.

Amber Midthunder movies and TV shows

Notable film roles

• Sunshine Cleaning (2008) – first speaking role at age 9 (IMDb)
• Prey (2022) – lead role as Naru
• Novocaine (2025) – co-star
• Opus (2025) – co-star

Television appearances

• Legion (FX, 2017–2019) – regular role as Kerry Loudermilk (Wikipedia)
• Roswell, New Mexico (The CW, 2019–2022) – regular role as Rosa Ortecho (Wikipedia)
• Longmire – guest appearance
• Banshee – guest appearance
• Reservation Dogs – guest appearance (Wikipedia)

Her full filmography is cataloged at TV Guide (entertainment listings).

What this means: her television work on genre series like Legion and Roswell, New Mexico built the audience trust that made her Prey casting a commercial bet worth taking.

Is Amber Midthunder married?

Amber Midthunder’s relationship status

As of 2026, Amber Midthunder is not publicly known to be married. She has no confirmed spouse or long-term partner mentioned in interviews or verified social media posts (Instagram biography repost). She has expressed interest in leading a romantic comedy but has not discussed a private relationship.

The pattern: she keeps her personal life off the record, which is consistent with many actors who guard their privacy even as their public profile rises.

Timeline

• 2001: First acting credit in short film The Circuit (Wikipedia)
• 2008: First speaking role in Sunshine Cleaning (IMDb)
• 2017–2019: Regular role as Kerry Loudermilk in FX series Legion
• 2019–2022: Recurring role as Rosa Ortecho in The CW’s Roswell, New Mexico
• 2022: Starred as Naru in Prey; received Saturn Awards Breakthrough Performance Award and Critics’ Choice Award nomination (Wikipedia)
• 2025: Co-starred in Novocaine and Opus

Clarity: what we know and what we don’t

Summary

Amber Midthunder has built a career on verified talent and transparent identity. Her rise from Indigenous-representation TV roles to leading a major franchise film like Prey is a real, documentable story—not a media narrative. For casting directors seeking authentic Indigenous actors, the lesson is clear: look beyond stereotypes to performers like Midthunder, who carry tribal citizenship, multi-ethnic heritage, and proven box-office traction. Her next chapter—in Novocaine and beyond—will test whether Hollywood sustains that momentum or reverts to old patterns.

For Midthunder, the next few years will determine whether she becomes a lasting franchise face or a one-hit wonder.

Frequently asked questions

“I think the most important thing is to tell stories that are authentic to the experience of Indigenous people, and to have Indigenous people in the room telling them.”

– Amber Midthunder in an interview with Timid Mag (online interview magazine)