Olivia Thirlby was born on October 6, 1986, in New York City. Her mother worked as an executive in an advertising firm, and her father was a contractor. She was raised in Manhattan’s East Village, a neighborhood known for its artistic and cultural vibrancy.
Thirlby attended Friends Seminary, a private Quaker school in Manhattan, graduating in a class of fewer than 60 students. She further honed her acting skills at the French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts in upstate New York and later trained at the Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts. To deepen her craft, she studied at the American Globe Theatre and completed a stage combat course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.
Olivia Thirlby is an American actress best known for her role as Leah in the 2007 Academy Award-winning film Juno. She gained further recognition for her performances as Natalie in the science fiction film The Darkest Hour (2011) and as Judge Cassandra Anderson in the cult hit Dredd (2012). In June 2008, she was featured in Vanity Fair as part of “Hollywood’s New Wave,” highlighting rising stars.
Her first professional opportunity came while she was still in high school, when she was offered a role in the short film The Secret. Thirlby made her feature film debut in the critically acclaimed United 93 (2006) and also appeared in the television series Kidnapped.
Following her appearance in Juno, Thirlby reunited with co-star Juno Temple in the indie drama Jack & Diane. She played the role of Stephanie in The Wackness (2008), which won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. Although set in the mid-1990s, the film was released on July 3, 2008.
Thirlby was initially cast as the girlfriend of Seth Rogen’s character in the comedy Pineapple Express but was later replaced by Amber Heard. She lent her voice to the animated television series Good Vibes, working again with director David Gordon Green.
Beyond film and television, Thirlby has also appeared in theater productions such as Farragut North and TV series including Bored to Death. Other credits include The Secret, No Game, and The Manners of Madness. She also performed voiceovers for several promotional videos. In 2011, she appeared in Kenneth Lonergan’s Margaret and starred in the science fiction thriller The Darkest Hour.
She was later cast in a lead role as Max in The Other Side, a comedy-drama. In February 2015, Thirlby began filming the espionage thriller The Damascus Cover, based on Howard Kaplan's novel, on location in Morocco.
Olivia Thirlby is an openly bisexual actress and an advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility. In 2011, she joined iO Tillett Wright's Self-Evident Truths project, a photography initiative focusing on individuals who do not identify as 100% straight. Thirlby has expressed her interest in projects that encourage inclusiveness and representation.
While she is not married, Thirlby has consistently emphasized her commitment to her craft over celebrity image. She describes herself as someone who doesn’t conform to traditional Hollywood expectations, preferring comfort over fashion—though she does occasionally wear heels for roles. Her clarity in speech and strong dialogue delivery are often praised by critics and audiences alike.
Fans can follow Olivia Thirlby’s updates on platforms such as Tumblr and Reddit, where she maintains a modest online presence.
| Birth Date: | 6 Oct, 1986 |
| Age: | 33 yrs |
| Occupations: | Actor Stage actor Television actor Film actor |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | New York City |
| Education: | Friends Seminary |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | American actress |
| Twitter Id: | Missthirlby |
| Net Worth 2021: | 2 million |
