Olesya Rulin
Encyclopedia
Olesya Rulin is a Russian-American actress and singer who is perhaps best known for co-starring in the first three films of the High School Musical
franchise as Kelsi Nielsen. She also starred in the films Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous (2008) and Flying By
(2009).
, Russian SFSR
, Soviet Union
. She spent her early childhood in the Likhoslavl
(Population: 12,000) located three hours north of Moscow. She was eight when she migrated to the United States to rejoin her father who had done so two years earlier. They lived first in Texas
then later in Utah
. She can read, write and speak in fluent Russian
. She is also a trained ballet dancer. When she was 12, she entered a model search contest at the urging of her mother and won representation by four different agencies. Prior to acting full-time, she worked for a year as a certified nursing assistant and also at stores such as Victoria's Secret
; she was working at a Nordstrom
store when the first High School Musical
came out. She was studying economics in Paris
when the casting for High School Musical 2 was being done. Rulin graduated from West Jordan High School
in 2005.
and High School Musical 2, and High School Musical 3, her other credits include the Disney Channel Original Movies Halloweentown High
, The Poof Point
and Hounded
, the television series Everwood
and the feature films Forever Strong
, Mobsters and Mormons
and The Dance. Rulin's part in High School Musical 2 was significantly larger than the first movie, including a solo in "You Are The Music In Me" and a few lines in "Work This Out". Rulin reprised her role as Kelsi Nielsen in High School Musical 3: Senior Year
, also with a larger part, and performed in three songs, one of them being a duet alongside Lucas Gabreel. Rulin is also co-starred alongside Jessica Simpson
in the film Major Movie Star
(released in the United States under the title Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous). In 2009, Rulin co-starred with Billy Ray Cyrus
and Heather Locklear
in a drama film Flying By
.
High School Musical
High School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and...
franchise as Kelsi Nielsen. She also starred in the films Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous (2008) and Flying By
Flying By
Flying By is a 2009 drama film directed by Jim Amatulli and starring Billy Ray Cyrus, Heather Locklear, Olesya Rulin, and Patricia Neal. It was the final film for Patricia Neal.-Plot:...
(2009).
Early life
Rulin was born Olesya Rulinkova in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russian SFSR
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
, Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. She spent her early childhood in the Likhoslavl
Likhoslavl
Likhoslavl is a town and the administrative center of Likhoslavlsky District of Tver Oblast, Russia, located northwest of Tver, on the Moscow-Saint Petersburg Railway. Population:...
(Population: 12,000) located three hours north of Moscow. She was eight when she migrated to the United States to rejoin her father who had done so two years earlier. They lived first in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
then later in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. She can read, write and speak in fluent Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
. She is also a trained ballet dancer. When she was 12, she entered a model search contest at the urging of her mother and won representation by four different agencies. Prior to acting full-time, she worked for a year as a certified nursing assistant and also at stores such as Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret is an American retailer of women's wear, lingerie and beauty products. It is the largest segment of publicly-traded Limited Brands with sales of over US$5 billion and an operating income of $1 billion in 2006...
; she was working at a Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
store when the first High School Musical
High School Musical
High School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and...
came out. She was studying economics in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
when the casting for High School Musical 2 was being done. Rulin graduated from West Jordan High School
West Jordan High School
West Jordan High School is a high school located in West Jordan, Utah. It opened in 1981 and is located southwest of Salt Lake City and is home of just over 2000 students. The mascot is the jaguar...
in 2005.
Acting career
In addition to her role in High School MusicalHigh School Musical
High School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and...
and High School Musical 2, and High School Musical 3, her other credits include the Disney Channel Original Movies Halloweentown High
Halloweentown High
Halloweentown High is a 2004 Disney Channel Original Movie released in October 2004 for the holiday of Halloween. This is the third in the Halloweentown series. It is also the last Halloweentown film to feature Kimberly J...
, The Poof Point
The Poof Point
The Poof Point is a Disney Channel Original Movie. This movie is based on the children's novel "The Poof Point" by Ellen Weiss, M. Friedman.- Plot :...
and Hounded
Hounded
Hounded is a Disney Channel Original Movie starring Tahj Mowry, Craig Kirkwood, Shia LaBeouf and Ed Begley, Jr.-Plot summary:Jay Martin is a 13-year-old who is competing for a scholarship with the headmaster's son, rival classmate and potential bully Ronny Van Dusen. The headmaster, Mr. Van Dusen,...
, the television series Everwood
Everwood
Everwood is an American drama television series that initially aired in the United States on The WB. The series is set in the fictional small town of Everwood, Colorado, and was filmed in Ogden, South Salt Lake, and Draper, Utah, except the series pilot which was filmed in Canmore, Alberta,...
and the feature films Forever Strong
Forever Strong
Forever Strong is a sports film directed by Ryan Little and written by David Pliler and released on September 26, 2008. The film stars Sean Faris, Gary Cole, Neal McDonough, Sean Astin, Penn Badgley and Arielle Kebbel. The film is about a troubled rugby union player who must play against the team...
, Mobsters and Mormons
Mobsters and Mormons
Mobsters and Mormons is a 2005 comedy film. It was written, directed, and produced by John Moyer who also plays a role in the film. It is also produced by Kurt Hale and Dave Hunter of Halestorm Entertainment...
and The Dance. Rulin's part in High School Musical 2 was significantly larger than the first movie, including a solo in "You Are The Music In Me" and a few lines in "Work This Out". Rulin reprised her role as Kelsi Nielsen in High School Musical 3: Senior Year
High School Musical 3: Senior Year
High School Musical 3: Senior Year is a 2008 American romantic musical film and the third and final installment in the High School Musical trilogy. Its theatrical release in the United States began on October 24, 2008...
, also with a larger part, and performed in three songs, one of them being a duet alongside Lucas Gabreel. Rulin is also co-starred alongside Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Ann Simpson is an American recording artist, actress, television personality, and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies, and commercials, launched a line of hair and...
in the film Major Movie Star
Major Movie Star
Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous or Major Movie Star is a 2008 comedy film starring Jessica Simpson. Simpson plays the title role of Megan Valentine in the comedy, about a down-on-her-luck actress who enlists in the United States Army.-Plot:...
(released in the United States under the title Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous). In 2009, Rulin co-starred with Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus
William "Billy" Ray Cyrus is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist, who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon...
and Heather Locklear
Heather Locklear
Heather Deen Locklear is an American actress best known for her television roles as Sammy Jo Carrington on Dynasty, Officer Stacy Sheridan on T.J...
in a drama film Flying By
Flying By
Flying By is a 2009 drama film directed by Jim Amatulli and starring Billy Ray Cyrus, Heather Locklear, Olesya Rulin, and Patricia Neal. It was the final film for Patricia Neal.-Plot:...
.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Poof Point The Poof Point The Poof Point is a Disney Channel Original Movie. This movie is based on the children's novel "The Poof Point" by Ellen Weiss, M. Friedman.- Plot :... |
Annie | Made for television (Disney Channel Disney Channel Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in... ) |
| Hounded Hounded Hounded is a Disney Channel Original Movie starring Tahj Mowry, Craig Kirkwood, Shia LaBeouf and Ed Begley, Jr.-Plot summary:Jay Martin is a 13-year-old who is competing for a scholarship with the headmaster's son, rival classmate and potential bully Ronny Van Dusen. The headmaster, Mr. Van Dusen,... |
Girl #1 | Made for television (Disney Channel) | |
| 2002 | Touched by an Angel Touched by an Angel Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della... |
High School Student | 1 episode |
| 2004 | Everwood Everwood Everwood is an American drama television series that initially aired in the United States on The WB. The series is set in the fictional small town of Everwood, Colorado, and was filmed in Ogden, South Salt Lake, and Draper, Utah, except the series pilot which was filmed in Canmore, Alberta,... |
The Drunk Girl | 1 episode |
| Halloweentown High Halloweentown High Halloweentown High is a 2004 Disney Channel Original Movie released in October 2004 for the holiday of Halloween. This is the third in the Halloweentown series. It is also the last Halloweentown film to feature Kimberly J... |
Natalie the Pink Troll | Made for television (Disney Channel) | |
| 2005 | Urban Legends: Bloody Mary Urban Legends: Bloody Mary Urban Legends: Bloody Mary is a 2005 horror film starring Kate Mara, Robert Vito, Tina Lifford, Jeff Olson, Tamala Jones, Michael Gregory Coe, and Ed Marinaro.... |
Mindy - Samantha's Friend #2 | Direct-to-video film |
| Mobsters and Mormons Mobsters and Mormons Mobsters and Mormons is a 2005 comedy film. It was written, directed, and produced by John Moyer who also plays a role in the film. It is also produced by Kurt Hale and Dave Hunter of Halestorm Entertainment... |
Julie Jaymes | Main role | |
| 2006 | High School Musical High School Musical High School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and... |
Kelsi Nielsen | made for television (Disney Channel) |
| Vampire Chicks with Chainsaws | Sariah | Direct-to-video film | |
| 2007 | American Pastime American Pastime (film) American Pastime is a 2007 film set in the Topaz War Relocation Center, a Utah camp which housed thousands of people during the Japanese American internment during World War II.... |
Cathy Reyes | appearances |
| The Dance | Britney | Independent film | |
| High School Musical 2 | Kelsi Nielsen | made for television (Disney Channel) | |
| 2008 | Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous | Petrovich | Main Role |
| Forever Strong Forever Strong Forever Strong is a sports film directed by Ryan Little and written by David Pliler and released on September 26, 2008. The film stars Sean Faris, Gary Cole, Neal McDonough, Sean Astin, Penn Badgley and Arielle Kebbel. The film is about a troubled rugby union player who must play against the team... |
Emily's Friend | Theatrical film | |
| High School Musical 3: Senior Year High School Musical 3: Senior Year High School Musical 3: Senior Year is a 2008 American romantic musical film and the third and final installment in the High School Musical trilogy. Its theatrical release in the United States began on October 24, 2008... |
Kelsi Nielsen | Theatrical film, supporting role | |
| 2009 | Flying By Flying By Flying By is a 2009 drama film directed by Jim Amatulli and starring Billy Ray Cyrus, Heather Locklear, Olesya Rulin, and Patricia Neal. It was the final film for Patricia Neal.-Plot:... |
Ellie | Direct-to-video film |
| Greek Greek (TV series) Greek is an American comedy-drama television series, which follows students of the fictional Cyprus-Rhodes University , located in Ohio, who participate in the school's Greek system... |
Abby | Recurring role | |
| 2010 | Apart |
Emily Gates | Theatrical film |
| Expecting Mary Expecting Mary Expecting Mary is a 2010 comedy-drama film starring Elliott Gould and Linda Gray. It was directed by Dan Gordon and produced by Kim Waltrip with executive producer Jim Casey The film premiered at the Palm Springs International Film Festival 2010 on January 16 and was selected as the opening film at... |
Mary | Lead role | |
| CSI: Miami CSI: Miami CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.... |
Andrea Williams | Television series (Episode "Mommie Deadest") | |
| The Mentalist The Mentalist The Mentalist is an American police procedural television series which debuted on September 23, 2008, on CBS. The show was created by Bruno Heller, who is also the show's executive producer... |
Sam Starks | Television series (Episode "Red Ponies") | |
| A Thousand Cuts | Melanie | Upcoming film | |
| 2011 | Family Weekend | Emily Smith-Dungy | Upcoming film |