Onnalee Blank

Biography:

Onnalee Blank is an American re-recording mixer and sound engineer. A professional ballet dancer until a car accident at age 21 ended that chapter of her life, she transitioned into audio work—starting from humble roles such as making coffee and engineering records in Los Angeles under the mentorship of legendary producer Rick Rubin. During this early period, she contributed to iconic recordings, including Johnny Cash's final albums and Jay-Z's "99 Problems". Her introduction to Danny Elfman then led her into film score recording and engineering for films like Corpse Bride (2005) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)—experiences that paved the way toward her eventual career as a supervising sound editor and re-recording mixer. Blank's tenure as a re-recording mixer spans over two decades, encompassing more than 100 film and television projects. Her credits reflect an impressive versatility: major "tentpole" features such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings(2021), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020), and Reptile (2023); critically acclaimed dramas like If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) and Barry Jenkins's Moonlight (2016); as well as naturalistic comedies like Booksmart (2019) and I Feel Pretty (2018). One of the defining chapters in Blank's career is her work on HBO's epic series Game of Thrones (2012–2019), for which she earned widespread acclaim and multiple awards. She is the most awarded female sound professional in history, having won five Primetime Emmy Awards and seven Cinema Audio Society (CAS) Awards, mainly for her work on that series. In addition to her wins, she has received several further Emmy nominations in categories including Outstanding Sound Mixing and Outstanding Sound Editing. Beyond Game of Thrones, Blank's recent re-recording mixer credits include the limited series The Underground Railroad(2021), for which she also served as supervising sound editor, earning additional Emmy nominations. Her film credits during that period include Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), Alice (2022), Father of the Bride (2022), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), and Reptile (2023). Her work on The Underground Railroad in particular stands out for its creative depth. As both supervising sound editor and re-recording mixer, she led a collaborative and highly detailed sound process—from developing ambient sound libraries in early script phases to curating on-set prop recordings and bespoke ambiences, such as steam train sounds and cicada-rich wilderness textures. Her efforts, alongside her team, resulted in a richly immersive soundscape that earned critical praise, with one reviewer noting it as "one of the best sound designs in the history of television." Outside of her mixing credits, Onnalee Blank is active within key professional organisations. She is a proud member of both MPSE (Motion Picture Sound Editors) and CAS (Cinema Audio Society). She has previously served on the board of directors for CAS.