Willa Holland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Willa Holland
Holland in 2017
Born	(1991-06-18) June 18, 1991 (age 34) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress model
Years active	1995–present
Parent(s)	Brian De Palma (stepfather; 1995–1996)

Willa Joanna Chance Holland (born June 18, 1991) is an American actress and model. She is famous for playing Kaitlin Cooper in the TV show The O.C.. She also voiced Aqua in the Kingdom Hearts video games. Many people know her as Thea Queen in the TV series Arrow. She even appeared in its spin-off show, The Flash.

Early Life and School

Willa Holland grew up with two sisters. Their names are Brianna Holland and Piper De Palma. Their mother, Darnell Gregorio, was married to film director Brian De Palma. He was Willa's stepfather.

Willa went to Palisades Charter High School. However, she only attended for six weeks. Her acting career was starting to get very busy. Also, some of her classmates were not supportive of her acting dreams.

How Willa Started Her Career

Willa Holland was only seven years old when her career began. She was playing at her stepfather's neighbor's house. This neighbor was the famous director Steven Spielberg. He was filming home videos that day. Mr. Spielberg told Willa's parents that she should be in front of a camera.

After that, Willa signed with the Ford Modeling Agency. She was still only seven. Soon after, she got a job modeling for Burberry. She has also modeled for other big brands. These include Guess, Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Ralph Lauren.

In 1999, Willa's stepfather helped her find a talent agency. Since then, she has appeared in many TV commercials. In 2001, when she was ten, she worked with her father in a movie called Ordinary Madness.

Willa's First Big TV Roles

Willa first played Kaitlin Cooper on The O.C.. She took over the role from another actress. She was a recurring character in the third season. Then, she became a main character in the fourth season.

Holland at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival

In 2007, Willa was cast in a movie called Garden Party. She played April, a troubled teenager who wanted to be a model in Los Angeles. In 2008, she appeared in three episodes of the TV show Gossip Girl. She played Agnes Andrews, a rebellious model. She caused some trouble for another character, Jenny Humphrey. Willa returned to Gossip Girl for one episode in 2010.

Voice Acting and Movies

In 2010, Willa Holland became the voice of Aqua. This was for the video game Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. The game was released in North America in September 2010. That same year, Willa starred in a big movie called Legion. It was a thriller about the end of the world. She played a teenager named Audrey Anderson. She also played Janice Heddon in the 2011 movie Straw Dogs.

Starring in Arrow

In 2012, Willa was cast in the TV series Arrow. She played Thea Queen, who is the sister of the main character, Oliver Queen (Green Arrow). She was a regular cast member for six seasons. She left the show during the sixth season. However, she came back for a short appearance in the seventh season. She also returned twice in the eighth and final season of Arrow.

In 2012, Willa also starred in the movie Tiger Eyes. She played Davey Wexler. This movie was based on a popular book by Judy Blume from 1981.

Willa Holland's Work

Film Roles

Television Roles

Video Game Roles

Music Video Roles

Awards and Nominations

Willa Holland has received some awards and nominations for her acting.

See also

In Spanish: Willa Holland para niños