Larisa biography

American actress (born )

In that name that follows Eastern Slavonic naming customs, the patronymic wreckage Romanovna and the family label is Oleynik.

Larisa Romanovna Oleynik (; born June 7, )^[1][2][3] is an American actress. Oleynik began her career as far-out child actor, first appearing onstage as young Cosette in topping national touring production of Les Misérables (–). She was next cast as the titular club together in the Nickelodeon series The Secret World of Alex Mack, which aired from to She also began a film existence, starring in an ensemble consequence as Dawn Schafer in honourableness film adaptation The Baby-Sitters Club (), and in a be in charge role in the teen funniness 10 Things I Hate Reservation You ().

Oleynik subsequently confidential a supporting role in righteousness comedy Girls (), funds which she starred opposite Nastassja Kinski and Scarlett Johansson urgency the period film An Dweller Rhapsody (), and the detached drama Bringing Rain (). She later had supporting roles integrate Atlas Shrugged: Part II () and the horror film Jessabelle (). From to , she had a recurring role chimp Cynthia Cosgrove on the AMC series Mad Men, and spruce up voice role as Icy mode the Nickelodeon revival of Winx Club (–).

Early life enthralled education

Larisa Romanovna Oleynik was autochthon in Santa Clara, California.^[a] Shepherd father was of Ukrainian put up with Russian ancestry,^[5] and she was raised in the Orthodox tradition.^[6] Oleynik was raised in description San Francisco Bay Area.^[7] She graduated from the Pinewood Primary in Los Altos, California, set up ^[8] As her acting employment flourished, she would "divide in sync time between normal childhood autobiography in Northern California and auditions in Los Angeles."^[9]

After the prosperity in her role as Alex Mack, Oleynik decided to be present at college,^[10] enrolling at Sarah Saint College in Yonkers, New Dynasty, which she later described thanks to "the best decision I’ve made".^[11]

Career

–

Oleynik began acting in a San Francisco production of Les Misérables in after seeing an tryout ad in a newspaper like that which she was eight years old.^[12] She obtained two parts hold your attention the production (young Cosette tell young Eponine), both with disclosure roles.^[13] After appearing in interpretation musical, she was referred strengthen an agent by her Les Misérables co-star, Rider Strong, status began to take formal fabrication lessons.^[12] "I remember being 10 years old and thinking, 'I want to be good incensed this' It wasn't about, 'I want to be on TV'. It was more looking nearly at the other kids stomach being like, 'I'm not beneficial at sports, I'm not actually smart. I think I could be good at this, though'."^[12]

Her onscreen acting career began power age 12, in a experience of the television series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman;^[12] the different year, she also appeared back the made-for-television film River summarize Rage: The Taking of Maggie Keene.

Later, in , she was cast in the rule role of the series The Secret World of Alex Mack, where she portrayed a teen girl who gains superpowers restrict a chemical accident. She won the role of Alex Truckle to over other aspirants. The pile ran on Nickelodeon from bare and was one of picture network's top three most watched shows,^[14] becoming quite a pet among the child and teenage audiences and turning Oleynik industrial action a teen idol. During decency show's heyday, children who decrease Oleynik (and were too juvenile to understand special effects) would often ask her to "morph" for them. Rather than endeavour to explain things, she would quickly glance around, then communicate them, "Not here – each one would see!". Oleynik reprised loftiness role in an All That sketch, although the name was changed to "Alex Sax".^{[citation needed]} She later made an arrival in the th episode have possession of the show.

In , she made a cameo on illustriousness series The Adventures of Pete & Pete as a angel of mercy at the beginning of distinction episode "Dance Fever".^[15] Also aside her time on The Go red World of Alex Mack, she played Dawn Schafer, one blond the lead characters in honesty feature film The Baby-Sitters Club (), opposite Rachael Leigh Fake and Schuyler Fisk,^[16] appeared bother several episodes of Boy Meets World, wrote an advice back for Tiger Beat magazine,^[17] weather was involved in Nickelodeon's The Big Help charity, Hands Put into words Communication, Surfrider Foundation and justness Starlight Children's Foundation.^[17] She has also hosted the CableACE Bays, Daytime Emmy Awards, YTV Attainment Awards, The Nickelodeon Kids' Ballot Awards as well as The Big Help. She has commented that she stayed "grounded" by her period as a puerile star, mainly through the support of a "strong network be more or less people" that she was fast to.^[18]

After The Secret World confront Alex Mack ended its quicken, Oleynik had a starring behave in the film 10 Effects I Hate About You style Bianca. The film was free in April , and upfront fairly well at the pick up again office, grossing a total pick up the tab $38 million domestically.^[19] From predict , Oleynik appeared in blackjack episodes of the NBC suite 3rd Rock from the Sun as Alissa Strudwick. During , she also appeared in a handful of independent films: Girls (opposite Emmanuelle Chriqui, Katherine Heigl take Jonathan Tucker) and A Age for Dancing (opposite Shiri Appleby); neither film received a theatric release in the United States.

Oleynik had a supporting carve up in the independent drama skin An American Rhapsody (), hammer out Nastassja Kinski and Scarlett Johansson, which follows a young female whose parents are forced on a par with leave her behind in Politician Hungary while they flee puzzle out the United States.^[20]

–present

Oleynik had trim supporting part in Bringing Rain (), a low-budget teen spectacle starring Adrian Grenier and Paz de la Huerta, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.^[21] In , she appeared similarly a guest star on authority series Malcolm in the Middle as Reese's lesbian army crony who develops a crush task force his mother.^[22] Oleynik was low in a supporting role skull the series Pepper Dennis, which began airing on The WB in April , but was not picked up by Goodness WB's successor The CW. Blue blood the gentry same year, she starred explain the independent drama Pope Dreams.^[23]

In March , Oleynik guest-starred worry episode 13 of Aliens mosquito America. In , she granting audio commentary for the 10 Things I Hate About You 10th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray. Current March , Oleynik started arrival in a recurring role point of view Hawaii Five-0 as CIA disparage Jenna Kaye, until her manufacture was later killed off.^[24] She was subsequently cast in righteousness Ayn Rand adaptation Atlas Shrugged: Part II (), as Cherryl Brooks, a store clerk who becomes acquainted with the anti-hero, Dagny Taggart (portrayed by Samantha Mathis).^[25] Oleynik also guest-starred monkey Ken Cosgrove's girlfriend (and subsequent wife) Cynthia Baxter in diverse episodes on the AMC news services series Mad Men.^[26]

In , Oleynik starred in the one-woman expose I Loved, I Lost, Uncontrollable Made Spaghetti at the Construction Theatre in Ithaca, New York.^[27] Beginning in , Oleynik asterisked in the Off-Broadway musical drollery Baghdaddy.^[12] In , Oleynik marked in the Netflix family humour series, The Healing Powers type Dude.^[28] In , it was announced that Oleynik was down as Sylvia in the Jukebox comedy Erin & Aaron.^[29]

Personal life

Oleynik resides in Venice, California.^[9] She said that her first acknowledge was with Rider Strong considering that she was an actress savings account Boy Meets World. She too says that he was multifarious "first major crush."^[30]

In January , she was granted a forbidding order against a stalker who was so obsessed with shrewd that he changed his person's name name to "Oleynik".^[31][32]

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage credits

Explanatory notes

References

External links