Jena Malone was born on November 21, 1984, in Sparks, Nevada, to Deborah Malone and Edward Berge. Her upbringing was unconventional as she was raised primarily by her mother and her mother's girlfriend, leading Malone to describe her childhood as having "two moms."

The family faced financial hardships, frequently relocating and experiencing periods of homelessness. By the age of nine, she had lived in 27 different locations. Her interest in acting was sparked by watching her mother perform in community theater in the Lake Tahoe area.

In pursuit of her passion, she convinced her mother to move to Los Angeles, where she began taking acting classes and auditioning for roles.

Her professional acting debut came with the 1996 television film "Bastard Out of Carolina," directed by Anjelica Huston. Her portrayal of a young girl subjected to abuse earned her critical acclaim and nominations for several awards, including a Screen Actors Guild Award.

In 1997, she appeared in the film "Contact," playing the younger version of Jodie Foster's character, which won her a Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor.

Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, she built a diverse portfolio with roles in films such as "Stepmom" (1998), "Donnie Darko" (2001), and "Life as a House" (2001). Her performance in "Donnie Darko" as Gretchen Ross, the protagonist's love interest, has since become iconic within cult cinema circles.

In 2004, she starred in the dark comedy "Saved!", delivering a performance that showcased her comedic timing and depth. She further demonstrated her range by portraying Lydia Bennet in the 2005 adaptation of "Pride & Prejudice," bringing a spirited energy to the role.

From 2013 to 2015, Malone took on the role of Johanna Mason in "The Hunger Games" series, introducing her to a new generation of audiences and solidifying her status in mainstream cinema.

Her versatility is evident in her varied filmography, which includes roles in horror films like "The Neon Demon" (2016) and "Antebellum" (2020), thriller films like "Nocturnal Animals" (2016) and "Love Lies Bleeding" (2024), and drama films like "The Public" (2018) and "Lorelei" (2020), which she executive produced.

In 1999, at the age of 15, she filed for legal emancipation from her mother, citing mismanagement of her earnings. She was granted emancipation in 2000. In 2016, she welcomed her son, Ode Mountain, with then-partner Ethan DeLorenzo.