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Who is Larisa Oleynik?
Larisa Oleynik is an American actress, perhaps best known for her role as Alex Mack in the television series “The Secret World of Alex Mack” (1994-1998), while she’s also appeared in such projects as “The Babysitters Club” (1995) and “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999), among many other roles she’s had in her career.
Larisa Oleynik Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education
Larisa Romanova Oleynik was born on 7 June 1981, in Santa Clara, California, USA, the daughter of Roman Oleynik and Loraine (nee Allen). Of Russian and Ukrainian ancestry through her father, she was raised in the Russian Orthodox faith in San Francisco Bay Area. She went to Pinewood School in Los Altos, California, USA, and later enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New York.
Career Beginnings and Early Success
At the age of eight, Oleynik participated in a San Francisco production of “Les Misérables”, playing the roles of young Cosette and young Eponine, both of which involved singing. This early experience in a popular musical helped kickstart her acting journey.
Oleynik achieved significant success by portraying the lead role of Alex Mack in the television series “The Secret World of Alex Mack” in more than 70 episodes between 1994 to ‘98. The show revolves around a teenage girl who gains telekinetic powers after an accident. With her newfound telekinetic abilities, Alex can move objects with her mind, transform them into a puddle of silver liquid, and communicate with her trusty pet, a talking computer named Annie. Alex’s powers often led her into adventurous situations, and she had to navigate both the challenges of everyday teenage life and the secrecy surrounding her abilities. Co-starring with Rider Strong, the series became a favorite among child and teen audiences, making Larisa a teen idol.
Merantime, Oleynik played Dawn Schafer in the 1995 feature film adaptation of “The Baby-Sitters Club”. Co-starring Rachael Leigh Cook and Schuyler Fisk, the film follows a group of young girls who form a babysitting business. This role further contributed to Oleynik’s rising popularity and established her presence in the film industry.
Continued Success and Early 2000s
Larisa Oleynik continued to build a diverse and accomplished career. In 1996, she made a memorable cameo appearance as a nurse in the quirky series “The Adventures of Pete & Pete”. Oleynik’s talent shone through in the 1999 film “10 Things I Hate About You”, in which she starred as Bianca Stratford alongside notable co-stars Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. The film, a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew”, became a beloved teen romantic comedy.
From 1998 to 2000, Oleynik showcased her comedic chops in the popular sitcom “3rd Rock from the Sun”, appearing in twenty-one episodes as Alissa Strudwick.
In 2001, Oleynik took on a supporting role in the independent drama film “An American Rhapsody”, sharing the screen with acclaimed actresses Nastassja Kinski and Scarlett Johansson. The film follows the story of a young woman separated from her parents during the Communist regime in Hungary.
Further expanding her repertoire, Oleynik played a supporting role in the 2003 teen drama film “Bringing Rain”, starring alongside Adrian Grenier and Paz de la Huerta.
In 2005, Oleynik guest-starred in the popular series “Malcolm in the Middle” as Reese’s lesbian army buddy, which marked new accomplishments in her diverse career.
The 2010s, and what is she doing today?
Larisa Oleynik continued to make notable appearances in various projects. In 2011, she took on a recurring role in the popular series “Hawaii Five-0” as CIA analyst Jenna Kaye, who becomes involved in the investigations led by the Hawaii Five-0 task force.
From 2011 to 2014, Larisa Oleynik lent her voice to several characters in the “Winx” franchise, demonstrating her talent in the realm of voice acting. In “Winx Club: Enchantix” (2011–12), she voiced the character Icy and various other characters across 28 episodes. She continued her voice work in the follow-up seasons, “Winx Club: Beyond Believix” (2012–13) and “Winx Club” (2012–14), in which she portrayed Icy, and various other characters in a total of 76 episodes.
Oleynik’s involvement in the Ayn Rand adaptation “Atlas Shrugged: Part II” in 2012 displayed her range as an actress, portraying Cherryl Brooks, a store clerk who becomes acquainted with the protagonist, Dagny Taggart, played by Samantha Mathis. The film delves into the themes of individualism and capitalism in a dystopian society.
I've gotten a few "Dana Pruitt" tweets, those eps must be airing. Did everybody catch Larisa Oleynik in last night's Mad Men premiere?
— Rider Strong (@RiderStrong) March 26, 2012
The same year, Oleynik made a guest appearance in the critically acclaimed series “Mad Men”, playing Cynthia Baxter, the girlfriend and later wife of Ken Cosgrove, played by Aaron Staton.
In 2016, Oleynik showcased her talent in a different format, by starring in the one-woman show “I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti” at the Hangar Theatre. The production explored themes of love and loss through a series of humorous and poignant stories, interwoven with Oleynik’s portrayal of various characters. Her performance captivated audiences, highlighting her versatility as an actress.
Continuing her stage work, in 2017, Oleynik starred in the Off-Broadway musical comedy “Baghdaddy”. The show, set in a church basement, revolves around a group of spies who aim to debunk the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
In 2019, Larisa Oleynik took on the role of Anita Bishop in the film “Animal Among Us”, the thriller following a group of people who find themselves trapped in a secluded mansion with a deadly creature on the loose, co-starring Christian Oliver and Don Frye.
From 2019 to 2020, she appeared in six episodes of the TV series “Trinkets”, then later in 2020, Oleynik ventured into streaming television with her starring role in the Netflix family comedy series “The Healing Powers of Dude”, playing the mother of a young boy with social anxiety – the show focused on his experiences navigating middle school with the support of his emotional support dog, co-starring with Jace Chapman, who played her on-screen son.
Most recently, in 2023, Oleynik joined the cast of the Nickelodeon comedy “Erin & Aaron”, portraying Sylvia, with Ava Ro, Jensen Gering, and David S. Jung in the lead roles. Furthermore, she is set to star in the short film “Pigeon”, now in post-production, but without a premiere date.
Net Worth
According to authoritative sources, Larisa Oleynik’s net worth is estimated at over $4 million, as of mid-2023.
Personal Life, Dating, Married, Single
Larisa is very secretive about her personal life. According to reports, she’s currently single and focused on her career. Back in 2013, she filed and was granted a restraining order against a man who was allegedly stalking her – he became so obsessed with her to the point that he changed his last name to Oleynik. Luckily, nothing happened to Larisa, and she was able to act before anything sinister occured.
Appearance and Vital Statistics
Larisa Oleynik has blonde hair and brown eyes. She stands at a height of 5ft 7ins (1.7m), weighs approximately 120lbs (55kgs), with vital statistics of 34-25-35, bra size 34B.
