Larisa Oleynik

Popularly regarded as a teen idol in the 90s, Larisa Oleynik is a very gifted and versatile film, television and stage actress.

Early Accomplishments

At just the age of 8, she auditioned for a role in Les Misérables and landed 2 roles which she played for 3 years. 

She began taking acting lessons at age 9.

Her first screen appearance was in an episode of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman in 1993 and in 1994 had a voice role in the animated film, The Swan Princess.

Best Known For

Fame came for her as a teenager from 1994 after her work in The Secret World of Alex Mack and her roles in 1995 film, The Baby-Sitters Club, and 1999 teen comedy, 10 Things I Hate About You.

She also played a recurring role in 3rd Rock from the Sun from 1998 to 2000 and voiced Icy in The Winx Club film and series.

Sexual Orientation

Larisa is straight but has chosen to keep her romantic affairs private. She is however known to have dated Joseph Gordon-Levitt for 4 years until 2002.

Family

She and her older brother Joshua, are children of Roman (who died in 2003) and Lorraine (Allen) Oleynik.

Religion

She was raised in the Orthodox Catholic Church, otherwise known as Eastern Orthodox but does not often speak about her faith.

Worth To Know

She played Gordon-Levitt’s love interest in both 10 Things I Hate About You and 3rd Rock From the Sun.

An obsessed fan who changed his last name to Oleynik and left gifts for her by her mother’s door prompted her to seek a restraining order against him. It was granted in 2013.

Her middle name is Romanovna. 

Her father was from Ukraine.