Olivia Williams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Olivia Williams
Olivia Williams in 2014
Born	Olivia Haigh Williams (1968-07-26) 26 July 1968 (age 56) North London, England
Alma mater	Newnham College, Cambridge Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1992–present
Spouse(s)	Rhashan Stone ​ (m. 2003)​
Children	2

Olivia Haigh Williams (born on July 26, 1968) is a talented British actress. She has starred in many films and TV shows in both Britain and America. Olivia studied acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and then spent three years with the famous Royal Shakespeare Company.

Her first big role on screen was as Jane Fairfax in the 1996 TV film Emma. This movie was based on a classic book by Jane Austen. Olivia then made her first movie appearance in The Postman in 1997. She also appeared in popular films like Rushmore (1998) and the blockbuster The Sixth Sense (1999).

Olivia has continued to act in many other films, including An Education (2009), The Ghost Writer (2010), and Hanna (2011). More recently, she played Emily Silk in the science fiction TV series Counterpart from 2017 to 2019. From 2022 to 2023, she took on the role of Camilla Parker Bowles in Netflix's popular historical drama The Crown.

Early Life & Education

Olivia Williams was born in North London, England. Both of her parents are lawyers. She went to South Hampstead High School, which is a private school for girls.

After high school, Olivia studied English literature at Newnham College, Cambridge. She then spent two years learning drama at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Later, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company for three years, where she gained a lot of experience on stage.

Olivia's Acting Career

Olivia Williams at a party in 2008 Olivia Williams at the Berlin Film Festival in 2010 Olivia Williams at the Berlin Film Festival in 2010

After finishing her studies, Olivia worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She performed in plays in both Stratford-upon-Avon and London. In 1995, she even toured the United States in a play called Richard III.

Her first big TV role was in 1996 as Jane Fairfax in Emma. This was a TV movie based on a famous book by Jane Austen.

First Big Movie Roles

Olivia made her film debut in 1997 in the movie The Postman. She got the part after a screen test for actor and director Kevin Costner.

Next, she won the main role of Rosemary Cross in Wes Anderson's movie Rushmore (1998). She then starred alongside Bruce Willis in the huge hit movie The Sixth Sense (1999).

Later Films & TV Shows

Since 2001, Olivia has appeared in many British films. These include Lucky Break (2001) and The Heart of Me (2002). For The Heart of Me, she won an award for Best Actress. She also played Mrs. Darling in the 2003 movie Peter Pan.

On TV, Olivia played the famous British author Jane Austen in Miss Austen Regrets (2008). She also had a main role as Adelle DeWitt in the TV series Dollhouse from 2009 to 2010.

In 2010, Olivia received great praise for her acting in the movie The Ghost Writer. She won several awards for her role as Ruth Lang, including the National Society of Film Critics Award.

In the 2011 film Hanna, Olivia played Rachel, a mother traveling across North Africa and Europe. She meets a teenage assassin in the film. This movie was very popular and also starred Saoirse Ronan and Cate Blanchett.

More recently, Olivia has been in the science-fiction series Counterpart. She played Emily, the wife of the main character. In 2021, she was chosen to play Camilla Parker Bowles in the final two seasons of the popular show The Crown.

Personal Life & Interests

Olivia Williams was once engaged to actor Jonathan Cake, but they broke up before their wedding. In 2003, she married actor and playwright Rhashan Stone. They have two daughters together.

After filming The Postman, Olivia spent time in Bolivia. There, she studied spectacled bears in the rainforest.

In 2018, Olivia was diagnosed with a rare medical condition. After getting treatment, she became an ambassador for Pancreatic Cancer UK. This means she helps raise awareness and support for the charity.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Theatre Roles

Awards and Nominations

Olivia Williams has been recognized for her acting with several awards and nominations:

• 2001: For Lucky Break
  • Nominated: Empire Award for Best Actress

• 2002: For The Heart of Me
  • Won: British Independent Film Award for Best Actress

• 2009: For An Education
  • Nominated: London Film Critics Circle Award for British Supporting Actress of the Year
  • Nominated: Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

• 2010: For The Ghost Writer
  • Won: London Film Critics Circle Award for British Supporting Actress of the Year
  • Won: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
  • Nominated: Empire Award for Best Actress
  • Nominated: Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress

• 2023 and 2024: For The Crown:
  • Nominated: Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

See also

In Spanish: Olivia Williams para niños