Larisa Oleynik
Encyclopedia
Larisa Romanovna Oleynik (ləˈrɪsə ɵˈleɪnɨk born June 7, 1981) is an American actress. She came to fame in the mid-1990s, after starring in the title role of the popular television series, The Secret World of Alex Mack
, and has also appeared in theatrical films, including The Baby-Sitters Club
and 10 Things I Hate About You
. Throughout the 2000s, she has mostly appeared in lower-budget films.
During her period as a teen idol, Oleynik was described as "one of America's favorite 15-year-olds" and "the proverbial girl next door".
. Her mother, Lorraine (née
Allen), is a former nurse, and her father, Roman Oleynik, is an anesthesiologist
. Her father's family is Ukrainian
and she was raised in the Russian Orthodox religion. Oleynik grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area
and began acting in a regional production of Les Misérables
, after seeing an audition ad in a newspaper when she was eight years old. After appearing in the musical, she contacted an agent and began taking acting lessons. But despite the success in her role as Alex Mack, Oleynik decided to attend college. Oleynik attended Pinewood School and later Sarah Lawrence College
, describing the latter as "the best decision I’ve made", and graduated in 2004.
; the same year, she also appeared in the made-for-television film, River of Rage: The Taking of Maggie Keene and was subsequently cast in the lead role of the series The Secret World of Alex Mack
, playing a teenage girl who receives telekinetic powers as the result of an accident. The series ran on Nickelodeon
from 1994 to 1998 and was one of the network's top three most watched shows, becoming a favorite among teen audiences and turning Oleynik into a teen idol. Oleynik reprised the role in an All That
sketch, although the name was changed to "Alex Sax." Oleynik later appeared in the 100th episode of All That.
She made a cameo on The Adventures of Pete & Pete
during this time, being a nurse at the beginning of the episode Dance Fever. Also, during The Secret World of Alex Macks run, she played one of the lead characters in the 1995 feature film The Baby-Sitters Club
(opposite Rachael Leigh Cook
and Schuyler Fisk
), appeared in several episodes of Boy Meets World
, wrote an advice column for Tiger Beat
magazine, and was involved in Nickelodeon's Big Help charity, Hands Across Communication, Surfrider Foundation and the Starlight Foundation. She has commented that she stayed "grounded" during her period as a teen star, mainly through the help of a "strong network of people" that she is close to.
After The Secret World of Alex Mack ended its run, Oleynik had a starring role in the film 10 Things I Hate About You
, a teen comedy where she played a love interest of Gordon-Levitt's character. (She also played the girlfriend of Gordon-Levitt's character in 3rd Rock From the Sun
.)
The film was released in April 1999 and did fairly well at the box office, grossing a total of $38 million domestically. In 1999–2000, Oleynik appeared in twenty one episodes of the NBC
series 3rd Rock from the Sun
(alongside Gordon-Levitt). The same year, she appeared in two independent film
s: 100 Girls
(opposite Emmanuelle Chriqui
, Katherine Heigl
and Jonathan Tucker
) and A Time for Dancing (opposite Shiri Appleby
); neither film received a theatrical release in the United States. She has appeared in Malcolm in the Middle
as Reese's lesbian army buddy, who developed a crush on his mom, Lois. Next, Oleynik had a supporting role in the film An American Rhapsody
, which received a limited release in August 2001, and appeared in Bringing Rain, a low-budget film.
Oleynik was cast in a supporting role in the series Pepper Dennis
, which began airing on The WB in April 2006, but was not picked up by The WB's successor, The CW
. In March 2008, Oleynik guest-starred in episode 13 of Aliens in America.
In March 2011, Oleynik started appearing in a recurring role on Hawaii Five-0 as CIA
analyst Jenna Kaye. Her character is later killed off.
The Secret World of Alex Mack
The Secret World of Alex Mack is an American television series that ran on Nickelodeon from October 8, 1994 to January 15, 1998, replacing Clarissa Explains It All on the SNICK line-up. It also aired on YTV in Canada and NHK in Japan, and was a popular staple in the children's weekday line-up for...
, and has also appeared in theatrical films, including The Baby-Sitters Club
The Baby-Sitters Club (film)
The Baby-Sitters Club is a 1995 family film directed by Melanie Mayron. It is based upon The Baby-sitters Club series of novels and is about one summer in the girls' lives in the fictional town of Stoneybrook, Connecticut...
and 10 Things I Hate About You
10 Things I Hate about You
10 Things I Hate About You is a 1999 American teen romantic comedy film. It is directed by Gil Junger and stars Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz, and Larry Miller...
. Throughout the 2000s, she has mostly appeared in lower-budget films.
During her period as a teen idol, Oleynik was described as "one of America's favorite 15-year-olds" and "the proverbial girl next door".
Personal life
Oleynik was born in Santa Clara County, CaliforniaSanta Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
. Her mother, Lorraine (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Allen), is a former nurse, and her father, Roman Oleynik, is an anesthesiologist
Anesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist or anaesthetist is a physician trained in anesthesia and peri-operative medicine....
. Her father's family is Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and she was raised in the Russian Orthodox religion. Oleynik grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
and began acting in a regional production of Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
, after seeing an audition ad in a newspaper when she was eight years old. After appearing in the musical, she contacted an agent and began taking acting lessons. But despite the success in her role as Alex Mack, Oleynik decided to attend college. Oleynik attended Pinewood School and later Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College is a private liberal arts college in the United States, and a leader in progressive education since its founding in 1926. Located just 30 minutes north of Midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County, New York, in the city of Yonkers, this coeducational college offers...
, describing the latter as "the best decision I’ve made", and graduated in 2004.
Career
Oleynik began her screen acting career at age 12, in a 1993 episode of the television series Dr. Quinn, Medicine WomanDr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is an American post-Civil War western/drama series created by Beth Sullivan. Dr. Michaela "Mike" Quinn, played by Jane Seymour, left Boston in search of adventure. She goes to Colorado Springs, Colorado where she establishes herself as doctor/adviser.The show ran on CBS...
; the same year, she also appeared in the made-for-television film, River of Rage: The Taking of Maggie Keene and was subsequently cast in the lead role of the series The Secret World of Alex Mack
The Secret World of Alex Mack
The Secret World of Alex Mack is an American television series that ran on Nickelodeon from October 8, 1994 to January 15, 1998, replacing Clarissa Explains It All on the SNICK line-up. It also aired on YTV in Canada and NHK in Japan, and was a popular staple in the children's weekday line-up for...
, playing a teenage girl who receives telekinetic powers as the result of an accident. The series ran on Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
from 1994 to 1998 and was one of the network's top three most watched shows, becoming a favorite among teen audiences and turning Oleynik into a teen idol. Oleynik reprised the role in an All That
All That
All That is an American live-action, sketch comedy-variety show that aired on the Nickelodeon cable television network featuring short comedic sketches and weekly musical guests. The theme song for All That was performed by TLC...
sketch, although the name was changed to "Alex Sax." Oleynik later appeared in the 100th episode of All That.
She made a cameo on The Adventures of Pete & Pete
The Adventures of Pete & Pete
The Adventures of Pete & Pete is an American children's television series produced by Wellsville Pictures and broadcast by Nickelodeon. The show featured humorous and surreal elements in its narrative, and many recurring themes centered on two brothers both named Pete Wrigley, and their various...
during this time, being a nurse at the beginning of the episode Dance Fever. Also, during The Secret World of Alex Macks run, she played one of the lead characters in the 1995 feature film The Baby-Sitters Club
The Baby-Sitters Club (film)
The Baby-Sitters Club is a 1995 family film directed by Melanie Mayron. It is based upon The Baby-sitters Club series of novels and is about one summer in the girls' lives in the fictional town of Stoneybrook, Connecticut...
(opposite Rachael Leigh Cook
Rachael Leigh Cook
Rachael Leigh Cook is an American actress, known for her role in the romantic comedy She's All That and her This is Your Brain on Drugs public service announcement.-Early life:...
and Schuyler Fisk
Schuyler Fisk
Schuyler Elizabeth Fisk is an American actress and singer-songwriter.-Early life:Fisk was born in Los Angeles, California to actress Sissy Spacek and production designer Jack Fisk....
), appeared in several episodes of Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World is an American comedy-drama series that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, a kid from suburban Philadelphia who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the...
, wrote an advice column for Tiger Beat
Tiger Beat
Tiger Beat is an American fan magazine marketed primarily to adolescent girls. It is currently published by Laufer Media, Inc. of Los Angeles, California, which also produces its sister publication, Bop....
magazine, and was involved in Nickelodeon's Big Help charity, Hands Across Communication, Surfrider Foundation and the Starlight Foundation. She has commented that she stayed "grounded" during her period as a teen star, mainly through the help of a "strong network of people" that she is close to.
After The Secret World of Alex Mack ended its run, Oleynik had a starring role in the film 10 Things I Hate About You
10 Things I Hate about You
10 Things I Hate About You is a 1999 American teen romantic comedy film. It is directed by Gil Junger and stars Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz, and Larry Miller...
, a teen comedy where she played a love interest of Gordon-Levitt's character. (She also played the girlfriend of Gordon-Levitt's character in 3rd Rock From the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun is an American sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2001 on NBC. The show is about four extraterrestrials who are on an expedition to Earth, which they consider to be a very insignificant planet...
.)
The film was released in April 1999 and did fairly well at the box office, grossing a total of $38 million domestically. In 1999–2000, Oleynik appeared in twenty one episodes of the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
series 3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun is an American sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2001 on NBC. The show is about four extraterrestrials who are on an expedition to Earth, which they consider to be a very insignificant planet...
(alongside Gordon-Levitt). The same year, she appeared in two independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
s: 100 Girls
100 Girls
100 Girls is a 2000 comedy film written and directed by Michael Davis. It tells the story of a college student's efforts to find a mystery girl with whom he had sex on an elevator during a black out.-Plot:...
(opposite Emmanuelle Chriqui
Emmanuelle Chriqui
Emmanuelle Sophie Anne Chriqui is a Canadian film and television actress. She is perhaps best known for her role on HBO's Entourage as Sloan McQuewick, as well as the love interest of Adam Sandler in the movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan...
, Katherine Heigl
Katherine Heigl
Katherine Marie Heigl is an American actress and producer. She is possibly best known for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on ABC's Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2010, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series in 2007...
and Jonathan Tucker
Jonathan Tucker
Jonathan Moss Tucker is an American film and television actor, best known for his roles in the movies The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Hostage, In the Valley of Elah and The Ruins, and The Black Donnellys on television....
) and A Time for Dancing (opposite Shiri Appleby
Shiri Appleby
Shiri Freda Appleby is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her leading role as Liz Parker in the television series Roswell...
); neither film received a theatrical release in the United States. She has appeared in Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle is an American television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for the Fox Network. The series was first broadcast on January 9, 2000, and ended its six-and-a-half-year run on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons and 151 episodes...
as Reese's lesbian army buddy, who developed a crush on his mom, Lois. Next, Oleynik had a supporting role in the film An American Rhapsody
An American Rhapsody
An American Rhapsody is a 2001 movie that tells a story of 15-year-old girl from a Hungarian-American family. The film is based on the true story of the director, Éva Gárdos, who also wrote the script....
, which received a limited release in August 2001, and appeared in Bringing Rain, a low-budget film.
Oleynik was cast in a supporting role in the series Pepper Dennis
Pepper Dennis
Pepper Dennis is a comedy-drama television series that aired on The WB from April to July 4, 2006. It was quickly announced on May 17, 2006 that Pepper Dennis would not be one of the WB shows transferred to The CW Television Network....
, which began airing on The WB in April 2006, but was not picked up by The WB's successor, The CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
. In March 2008, Oleynik guest-starred in episode 13 of Aliens in America.
In March 2011, Oleynik started appearing in a recurring role on Hawaii Five-0 as CIA
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
analyst Jenna Kaye. Her character is later killed off.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Dawn Schafer | ||
| 1999 | 10 Things I Hate About You 10 Things I Hate about You 10 Things I Hate About You is a 1999 American teen romantic comedy film. It is directed by Gil Junger and stars Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz, and Larry Miller... |
Bianca Stratford | |
| 2000 | 100 Girls 100 Girls 100 Girls is a 2000 comedy film written and directed by Michael Davis. It tells the story of a college student's efforts to find a mystery girl with whom he had sex on an elevator during a black out.-Plot:... |
Wendy | |
| 2001 | An American Rhapsody An American Rhapsody An American Rhapsody is a 2001 movie that tells a story of 15-year-old girl from a Hungarian-American family. The film is based on the true story of the director, Éva Gárdos, who also wrote the script.... |
Maria - at 18 | |
| 2002 | Juliana 'Jules' Michaels | ||
| 2003 | Bringing Rain Bringing Rain Bringing Rain is a 2003 independent film written and directed by Noah Buschel. It premiered on May 10, 2003 at the Tribeca Film Festival and was released on DVD on September 20, 2005... |
Ori Swords | |
| 2006 | Pope Dreams Pope Dreams Pope Dreams is a 2006 film written and directed by Patrick Hogan. The film won five awards at various film festivals.-Tagline:"He's dealing with love... fighting with his dad... caring for mom... and making music... |
Maggie Venable | |
| 2007 | Relative Obscurity | Claire | |
| 2008 | Broken Windows | Sara | |
| 2009 | I Have It | Emily | Short film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is an American post-Civil War western/drama series created by Beth Sullivan. Dr. Michaela "Mike" Quinn, played by Jane Seymour, left Boston in search of adventure. She goes to Colorado Springs, Colorado where she establishes herself as doctor/adviser.The show ran on CBS... |
Susie | Episode: "Heroes" |
| 1993 | River of Rage: The Taking of Maggie Keene | Gail Keene | TV movie |
| 1993 | Nurse | Episode: "Dance Fever" | |
| 1994-1998 | Alex Mack | 75 episodes | |
| 1995 | Alex Sax | 1 episode | |
| 1996 | Boy Meets World Boy Meets World Boy Meets World is an American comedy-drama series that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, a kid from suburban Philadelphia who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the... |
Dana Pruitt | Episode: "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" Episode: "Stormy Weather" |
| 1998 | Boy Meets World Boy Meets World Boy Meets World is an American comedy-drama series that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, a kid from suburban Philadelphia who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the... |
Dana Pruitt | Episode: "First Girlfriends' Club" |
| 1998-2000 | 3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun is an American sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2001 on NBC. The show is about four extraterrestrials who are on an expedition to Earth, which they consider to be a very insignificant planet... |
Alissa Strudwick | 21 episodes |
| 2005 | Malcolm in the Middle Malcolm in the Middle Malcolm in the Middle is an American television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for the Fox Network. The series was first broadcast on January 9, 2000, and ended its six-and-a-half-year run on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons and 151 episodes... |
Staff Sergeant Abby 'Shortstack' Tucker | Episode: "Army Buddy" |
| 2006 | Pepper Dennis Pepper Dennis Pepper Dennis is a comedy-drama television series that aired on The WB from April to July 4, 2006. It was quickly announced on May 17, 2006 that Pepper Dennis would not be one of the WB shows transferred to The CW Television Network.... |
Brianna | Episode: "Pilot" Episode: "Curtis Wilson's a Total Nut Job: Film at 11" |
| 2008 | Aliens in America | Zoe | Episode: "Community Theater" |
| 2008 | Together Again for the First Time Together Again For The First Time Together Again for the First Time is the fourth full-length album by the punk rock band Pulley.-Track listing:# "In Search" – 2:11# "Hooray For Me" – 2:18# "History Repeats Itself" – 2:28# "Fuel" – 2:12# "Empty" – 2:42... |
Brenda | Video |
| 2009 | Psych Psych Psych is an American detective comedy-drama television series created by Steve Franks and broadcast on USA Network. It stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department whose "heightened observational skills" and impressive detective instincts... |
Willow Gimbley | Episode: "Let's Get Hairy" |
| 2009 | Without a Trace Without a Trace Without a Trace is an American television drama which originally ran on CBS from September 26, 2002 to May 19, 2009. The series was set in New York City and concerned a fictitious FBI Missing Persons Unit.-Premise:... |
Liza Miller | Episode: "Voir Dire" |
| 2010 | Backyard Wedding | Renee | TV movie |
| 2010 | Mad Men Mad Men Mad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each... |
Cynthia Baxter | Episode: "Chinese Wall Chinese Wall (Mad Men) "Chinese Wall" is the eleventh episode of the fourth season of the American television drama series Mad Men, and the 50th overall episode of the series. It aired on the AMC channel in the United States on October 3, 2010.-Plot:... " |
| 2011 | Hawaii Five-0 | Jenna Kaye | 4+ episodes |
| 2011 | Winx Club Winx Club Winx Club is a 2004 Italian animated television series, created by Iginio Straffi and produced by Rainbow S.r.l.. The series is aimed toward children between the ages of five and twelve, but is also popular among teens... |
Icy | Voice Actress |