Ashley Olsen
Encyclopedia
Ashley Fuller Olsen is an American actress, fashion designer, producer, and author
. She co-founded luxury fashion brand The Row and the more affordable line Olsenboye with her twin sister Mary-Kate Olsen
and started her own fashion company called Elizabeth and James. Ashley is the older sister of Elizabeth Olsen
.
at the age of nine months, when she and Mary-Kate were hired to share the role of Michelle Tanner
on the popular television series Full House
in 1987. To comply with child labor laws regarding child actors, Ashley and Mary-Kate took turns during taping of the show. Both girls were credited as "Mary Kate Ashley Olsen" in an attempt to keep audiences from realizing that two children played the role.
Following Full House, Olsen released a string of successful straight-to-video movies and became a popular figure in the preteen
market during the late '90s and early 2000s. She became a household name, with her likeness seen in clothes, books, fragrances, magazines, movies, and posters, among others. There were fashion dolls of her made by Mattel
from 2000-2005.
She starred in the video series The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley
, the ABC
show Two of a Kind, and ABC Family
's So Little Time
. She and her sister were jointly ranked number three on the VH1
program 100 Greatest Child Stars.
In 2004, Ashley appeared alongside Mary-Kate in the theatrical light-hearted romantic comedy, New York Minute (film)
, also starring Eugene Levy
. "New York Minute" was Ashley's final acting project.
In 2008, Mary-Kate and Ashley released the book Influence, which contained interviews with many creative and influential people including Karl Lagerfeld
, Terry Richardson
, Diane von Furstenberg
and many more.
(created in 1993 following the success on Full House), the brand currently selling in over 3,000 stores in America and 5,300 stores worldwide. Their success has been marked on Forbes
The Celebrity 100 list since 2002, and in 2007 Forbes
ranked the twins as the eleventh-richest women in entertainment, with an estimated combined net worth of $100 million.
Following a high volume of public interest in their fashion choices, both work in collaboration on a string of fashion lines available to the public.
Starting as young girls, they have a clothing line in Wal-Mart
stores across America for girls ages 4–14 as well as a beauty line called "Mary-Kate and Ashley: Real fashion for real girls". In 2004 they made news by signing a pledge to allow all the workers that sew their line of clothing in Bangladesh
full maternity leave. The National Labor Committee, which organized the pledge, later praised the twins for their commitment to worker rights. The director of the organization, Charles Kernaghan
, is quoted as saying: In 2006, in an attempt to gain credibility in the fashion industry after their association with Wal-Mart
tarnished their reputations, they were tapped as the faces of the upscale fashion line Badgley Mischka
.
Ashley and her sister have released The Row, a high-end fashion line inspired by London's Savile Row
. The clothing is sold at high-end retailers such as Barneys, Maxfield, Harvey Nichols
, Brown's, and others around the world. Ashley and Mary-Kate continued their expansion in the fashion industry with the Fall 2007 launch of Elizabeth & James, their contemporary collection inspired by many of their unique vintage finds and pieces in their personal wardrobes. In 2010 the twins released a women's clothing line for J.C. Penney
called Olsenboye. In 2011 the girls launched a T-Shirt Line called "StyleMint".
. Mary-Kate and Ashley are fraternal twins. In 2009, Olsen filed a $40 million lawsuit against tabloid magazine National Enquirer for depicting her as being involved in a drug scandal. Ashley Olsen has ADHD.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. She co-founded luxury fashion brand The Row and the more affordable line Olsenboye with her twin sister Mary-Kate Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen is an American actress, producer, author and fashion designer. She made her career debut in 1987 alongside her twin sister Ashley Olsen in the television series Full House...
and started her own fashion company called Elizabeth and James. Ashley is the older sister of Elizabeth Olsen
Elizabeth Olsen
Elizabeth Chase Olsen is an American actress and is the younger sister of Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, and Trent Olsen...
.
Career
Olsen began her careerCareer
Career is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a person's "course or progress through life ". It is usually considered to pertain to remunerative work ....
at the age of nine months, when she and Mary-Kate were hired to share the role of Michelle Tanner
Michelle Tanner
Michelle Elizabeth Tanner was a main character from the long-running television series Full House. She debuted in the show's pilot, "Our Very First Show!", which aired in 1987. Her final appearance was in the 1995 two-part episode "Michelle Rides Again", when the series finished its final season...
on the popular television series Full House
Full House
Full House is an American sitcom television series. Set in San Francisco, the show chronicles widowed father Danny Tanner, who, after the death of his wife, enlists his best friend Joey Gladstone and his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis to help raise his three daughters, D.J., Stephanie, and...
in 1987. To comply with child labor laws regarding child actors, Ashley and Mary-Kate took turns during taping of the show. Both girls were credited as "Mary Kate Ashley Olsen" in an attempt to keep audiences from realizing that two children played the role.
Following Full House, Olsen released a string of successful straight-to-video movies and became a popular figure in the preteen
Preteen
Preadolescence is a stage of human development following early childhood and prior to adolescence. It may be defined as ending with the beginning of puberty or with the beginning of the teenage stage, the time frames in which adolescence is considered to begin. In terms of age in years,...
market during the late '90s and early 2000s. She became a household name, with her likeness seen in clothes, books, fragrances, magazines, movies, and posters, among others. There were fashion dolls of her made by Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
from 2000-2005.
She starred in the video series The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley
The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley
The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley is a series of musical mystery videos starring twin actresses Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen. The series was also written as children's books, usually showing the twins on the cover. The video series was distributed by KidVision-Format:Each video begins with the girls...
, the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
show Two of a Kind, and ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
's So Little Time
So Little Time
So Little Time is an American sitcom starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen that aired on Fox Family. The first half of the series aired from June 2, 2001 to August 15, 2001. The series then went on a four-month hiatus, due to network management changes...
. She and her sister were jointly ranked number three on the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
program 100 Greatest Child Stars.
In 2004, Ashley appeared alongside Mary-Kate in the theatrical light-hearted romantic comedy, New York Minute (film)
New York Minute (film)
New York Minute is a 2004 American teen comedy film starring Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen and Eugene Levy. It was directed by Dennie Gordon and released on May 7, 2004. In the film Mary-Kate and Ashley play twins with opposing personalities who have a series of misadventures around New York City...
, also starring Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy, CM is a Canadian actor, comedian, television director, producer, musician, and writer. He is known for his work in Canadian television series, American movies, and television movies. He is the only actor to have appeared in all eight of the American Pie films, as Noah Levenstein...
. "New York Minute" was Ashley's final acting project.
In 2008, Mary-Kate and Ashley released the book Influence, which contained interviews with many creative and influential people including Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld is a German fashion designer, artist and photographer based in Paris. He has collaborated on a variety of fashion and art related projects, most notably as head designer and creative director for the fashion house Chanel...
, Terry Richardson
Terry Richardson
Terrence "Terry" Richardson is an American fashion photographer.-Early life:Richardson was born in New York City, the son of Bob Richardson, a fashion photographer who struggled with schizophrenia and drug abuse...
, Diane von Furstenberg
Diane von Fürstenberg
Diane von Fürstenberg, formerly Princess Diane of Fürstenberg , is a Belgian-American fashion designer best known for her iconic wrap dress. She initially rose to prominence when she married into the German princely House of Fürstenberg, as the wife of Prince Egon of Fürstenberg...
and many more.
Dualstar
In 2004, both Ashley and Mary-Kate became co-presidents of their company DualstarDualstar
Dualstar Entertainment Group, LLC is a privately held American limited liability company owned by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, which produces movies, TV shows, magazines, video games, etc...
(created in 1993 following the success on Full House), the brand currently selling in over 3,000 stores in America and 5,300 stores worldwide. Their success has been marked on Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
The Celebrity 100 list since 2002, and in 2007 Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
ranked the twins as the eleventh-richest women in entertainment, with an estimated combined net worth of $100 million.
Starting as young girls, they have a clothing line in Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
stores across America for girls ages 4–14 as well as a beauty line called "Mary-Kate and Ashley: Real fashion for real girls". In 2004 they made news by signing a pledge to allow all the workers that sew their line of clothing in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
full maternity leave. The National Labor Committee, which organized the pledge, later praised the twins for their commitment to worker rights. The director of the organization, Charles Kernaghan
Charles Kernaghan
Charles Kernaghan is the executive director of the National Labor Committee in Support of Human and Worker Rights , currently headquartered in Pittsburgh...
, is quoted as saying: In 2006, in an attempt to gain credibility in the fashion industry after their association with Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
tarnished their reputations, they were tapped as the faces of the upscale fashion line Badgley Mischka
Badgley Mischka
Badgley Mischka is an American fashion label designed by Mark Badgley and James Mischka. James Mischka began at Rice University as a biomedical engineering major and ultimately graduated with degrees in art history and managerial studies in 1985. Badgley and Mischka met at Parsons School of Design...
.
Ashley and her sister have released The Row, a high-end fashion line inspired by London's Savile Row
Savile Row
Savile Row is a shopping street in Mayfair, central London, famous for its traditional men's bespoke tailoring. The term "bespoke" is understood to have originated in Savile Row when cloth for a suit was said to "be spoken for" by individual customers...
. The clothing is sold at high-end retailers such as Barneys, Maxfield, Harvey Nichols
Harvey Nichols
Harvey Nichols, founded in 1813, is an upmarket department store chain. Its original store is in London. Founded in 1813 as a linen shop, it sells many international brands of clothing for women and men, fashion accessories, beauty products, wine and food...
, Brown's, and others around the world. Ashley and Mary-Kate continued their expansion in the fashion industry with the Fall 2007 launch of Elizabeth & James, their contemporary collection inspired by many of their unique vintage finds and pieces in their personal wardrobes. In 2010 the twins released a women's clothing line for J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is a chain of American mid-range department stores based in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. The company operates 1,107 department stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. JCPenney also operates catalog sales merchant offices nationwide in many...
called Olsenboye. In 2011 the girls launched a T-Shirt Line called "StyleMint".
Personal life
In 2004 Ashley graduated from Campbell Hall SchoolCampbell Hall School
Campbell Hall School is an independent, coeducational, K-12 Episcopal day school located in Studio City, California, United States. Founded in 1944 by the Reverend Alexander Campbell, Campbell Hall School is home to approximately 1,000 students from kindergarten through high school. Campbell Hall...
. Mary-Kate and Ashley are fraternal twins. In 2009, Olsen filed a $40 million lawsuit against tabloid magazine National Enquirer for depicting her as being involved in a drug scandal. Ashley Olsen has ADHD.
Awards and nominations
- Walk of Fame
- 2004: Star on the Walk of Fame (with Mary-Kate OlsenMary-Kate OlsenMary-Kate Olsen is an American actress, producer, author and fashion designer. She made her career debut in 1987 alongside her twin sister Ashley Olsen in the television series Full House...
)
- 2004: Star on the Walk of Fame (with Mary-Kate Olsen
- Young Artist AwardYoung Artist AwardThe Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist...
- 1989: Best Young Actor/Actress — Under Five Years of Age (Full HouseFull HouseFull House is an American sitcom television series. Set in San Francisco, the show chronicles widowed father Danny Tanner, who, after the death of his wife, enlists his best friend Joey Gladstone and his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis to help raise his three daughters, D.J., Stephanie, and...
) WON (with Mary-Kate Olsen) - 1990: Outstanding Performance by an Actress Under Nine Years of Age (Full HouseFull HouseFull House is an American sitcom television series. Set in San Francisco, the show chronicles widowed father Danny Tanner, who, after the death of his wife, enlists his best friend Joey Gladstone and his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis to help raise his three daughters, D.J., Stephanie, and...
) - WON (with Mary-Kate Olsen) - 1992: Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress Under Ten (Full HouseFull HouseFull House is an American sitcom television series. Set in San Francisco, the show chronicles widowed father Danny Tanner, who, after the death of his wife, enlists his best friend Joey Gladstone and his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis to help raise his three daughters, D.J., Stephanie, and...
) - WON (with Mary-Kate Olsen) - 1994: Best Youth Actress in a TV Mini-Series, M.O.W. or Special (Double, Double, Toil and TroubleDouble, Double, Toil and TroubleDouble, Double, Toil and Trouble is a 1993 Halloween children's TV movie. It stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen as two adventurous little girls who discover that their Great Aunt Sophia has been trapped and cursed by her evil twin sister Agatha. On the 7th year of her imprisonment, Sophia will be...
) - WON (with Mary-Kate Olsen) - 1996: Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten — Feature Film (It Takes Two) - Nominated
- 1989: Best Young Actor/Actress — Under Five Years of Age (Full House
- Teen Choice AwardsTeen Choice AwardsThe Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with...
- 2004: Choice Movie Blush (New York MinuteNew York Minute (film)New York Minute is a 2004 American teen comedy film starring Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen and Eugene Levy. It was directed by Dennie Gordon and released on May 7, 2004. In the film Mary-Kate and Ashley play twins with opposing personalities who have a series of misadventures around New York City...
) - Nominated (with Mary-Kate Olsen)
- 2004: Choice Movie Blush (New York Minute
- TV Land AwardsTV Land AwardsThe TV Land Awards is an American television awards ceremony that generally commemorates shows now off the air, rather than in current production as with awards such as the Emmys. It is presented in a manner that spoofs other entertainment award ceremonies...
- 2004: Quintessential Non-Traditional Family (Full HouseFull HouseFull House is an American sitcom television series. Set in San Francisco, the show chronicles widowed father Danny Tanner, who, after the death of his wife, enlists his best friend Joey Gladstone and his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis to help raise his three daughters, D.J., Stephanie, and...
) - Nominated (with Candace Cameron BureCandace Cameron BureCandace Helaine Cameron is an American actress and author best known for playing DJ Tanner on the television series Full House from ages 10 to 18. She is the sister of Kirk Cameron and the sister-in-law of Chelsea Noble...
, Dave CoulierDave CoulierDavid Alan "Dave" Coulier is an American stand-up comedian, impressionist, television and voice actor, and television host. He is well-known for his role as Joey Gladstone on the ABC sitcom Full House, which ran from 1987 to 1995....
, Lori LoughlinLori LoughlinLori Anne Loughlin is an American actress, best known for her role as Rebecca Donaldson-Katsopolis on the ABC sitcom Full House. As of 2011, she portrays the role of Debbie Wilson on 90210, the spin-off of Beverly Hills, 90210...
, Mary-Kate OlsenMary-Kate OlsenMary-Kate Olsen is an American actress, producer, author and fashion designer. She made her career debut in 1987 alongside her twin sister Ashley Olsen in the television series Full House...
, Bob SagetBob SagetRobert Lane "Bob" Saget is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and television host. Although he is best known for his roles as Danny Tanner in Full House, host of America's Funniest Home Videos and Future Ted Mosby on How I Met Your Mother, Saget is also known outside of television for his blue...
, John StamosJohn StamosJohn Phillip Stamos is an American actor, singer and musician best known for his work in television, especially in his starring role as Jesse Katsopolis on the ABC sitcom Full House. Since the cancellation of that show in 1995, Stamos has appeared in numerous television films and series. From 2006...
and Jodie SweetinJodie SweetinJodie Lee Ann Sweetin is an American actress, best known for her role as Stephanie Tanner on the long running television sitcom Full House.-Career:...
)
- 2004: Quintessential Non-Traditional Family (Full House
- Razzie Awards
- 2005: Worst Actress (New York MinuteNew York Minute (film)New York Minute is a 2004 American teen comedy film starring Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen and Eugene Levy. It was directed by Dennie Gordon and released on May 7, 2004. In the film Mary-Kate and Ashley play twins with opposing personalities who have a series of misadventures around New York City...
) - Nominated (with Mary-Kate Olsen) - 2005: Worst Screen Couple (New York MinuteNew York Minute (film)New York Minute is a 2004 American teen comedy film starring Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen and Eugene Levy. It was directed by Dennie Gordon and released on May 7, 2004. In the film Mary-Kate and Ashley play twins with opposing personalities who have a series of misadventures around New York City...
) - Nominated
- 2005: Worst Actress (New York Minute
- Kids' Choice Awards
- 1996: Favorite Movie Actress (It Takes Two) - WON (with Mary-Kate Olsen)
- 1999: Favorite TV Actress (Two of a Kind) - WON (with Mary-Kate Olsen)
- DVD Exclusive AwardsDVD Exclusive AwardsThe DVD Exclusive Awards is an award that honors direct to video productions. The awards were first held in 2001. They are awarded by online periodical Video Business and The Digital Entertainment Group....
- 2003: Franchise Performers Award - WON (with Mary-Kate Olsen)
Further reading
- Olsen, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, with Damon Romine. Mary-Kate and Ashley: Our Story: Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen's Official Biography. HarperEntertainment 2000. ISBN 0061075698.
External links
- Ashley Olsen at IMDB
- Ashley Olsen at TV.com
- Ashley's Page