Regina Russell Banali is a film producer, director, television presenter, and actress. She got her start in the film business as an actress playing the red and pink colored mermaid that saves Robin Williams in Steven Spielberg's Hook (1991) and appeared in over 50 films and television shows. She first stepped behind the camera to produce and direct a commissioned comedy short for Crackle and PSAs for the HSUS on animal welfare issues. She directed and produced a feature-length documentary called "QUIET RIOT: Well Now You're Here, There's No Way Back" about the hard rock band Quiet Riot. The film premiered at the 2014 Newport Beach Film Festival and won the Festival Honors award for "Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking" in the music category. It also won "Best Music Documentary" from the Oregon Independent Film Festival, and was an official selection of The Hollywood Film Festival, The Carmel International Film Festival, Indie Memphis Film Festival, St. Louis International Film Festival and the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. It Premiered on the Showtime Network Jan 29th 2015. Rolling Stone magazine called it "One of the top rock docs to see this summer". (Issue 1238 July 2, 2015)
She owned and operated Celebrity Closet Raiders, a high end designer resale store in West Hollywood which carried merchandise previously owned by celebrities. As a celebrity style expert and red carpet fashion critic, she has appeared in fashion segments for The Today Show, E! News, Access Hollywood, The Fashion Team, and Good Day L.A.
Regina is married to Quiet Riot drummer and manager Frankie Banali.
Partial filmography
- QUIET RIOT: Well Now You're Here, There's No Way Back (2014) .... Producer/Director
- Matt Grant PSA for Spaying and Neutering Pets (2008) .... Writer/Producer/Director
- Dating Brad Garrett (2008) .... Herself
- The Fashion Team (2007) .... Herself
- The Today Show (2005) .... Herself
- Hook (1991) .... Red-headed, pink tailed mermaid