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Olivia Williams

Olivia Williams earned a degree in English at Cambridge University before studying drama at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School for two years. She also worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company in both Stratford-upon-Avon and London.

A four-month tour of Richard III, featuring Sir Ian McKellen, took Williams to the U.S. and brought her to the attention of Kevin Costner who handpicked her for his film The Postman.

Since making her film debut opposite Costner in 1997, Williams has starred in numerous Hollywood films including The Sixth Sense opposite Bruce Willis and Rushmore with Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman.

In 2002, Williams won Best Actress at the British Independent Film Awards for her role in The Heart of Me, starring alongside Paul Bettany and Helena Bonham-Carter. In 2006, Williams starred in the BBC docu-drama Krakatoa: The Last Days, which told the true story of one of the most destructive natural disasters in history. Additionally that year, Williams returned to the stage for a starring role in The Changeling at the Barbican Theatre in London.

Most recently, Williams starred as writer Jane Austen in the BBC production of Miss Austen Regrets. Williams has several feature films set for release including Flashbacks of a Fool opposite Daniel Craig, Broken Lines with Paul Bettany and An Education with Emma Thompson and Alfred Molina.

When not filming DOLLHOUSE, Williams resides in London with her husband and their two daughters.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2009.
Read earlier biographies on this page.

Olivia Williams Facts

Birth Name Olivia Haigh Williams
OccupationActress
BirthdayJanuary 1, 1968 (56)
SignCapricorn
BirthplaceCamden Town, London, England, United Kingdom
Height5' 8½" (1m74)  How tall is Olivia Williams compared to you?

Selected Filmography

Stardust
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
The Brady Bunch Movie
Man From Elysian Fields
Seventh Son
The Sixth Sense
Jane Austen's Emma
Peter Pan
Rushmore
The Ghost Writer
Continue » Find more details on the Olivia Williams Movies page