Mary-Kate Olsen

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Mary-Kate Olsen 2011 Shankbone.jpg
Mary-Kate Olsen
Born (1986-06-13) June 13, 1986 (age 37)
Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
Occupation Actress,
fashion designer, author, producer, businesswoman
Years active 1986–present
Spouse(s) Olivier Sarkozy (2015–present)
Relatives Ashley Olsen (twin sister)
Elizabeth Olsen (sister) Trent Olsen (brother)

Mary-Kate Olsen (born June 13, 1986)[1] is an American fashion designer, producer, author, businesswoman and former actress. She co-founded luxury fashion brands The Row, Elizabeth and James, and the more affordable lines Olsenboye and StyleMint alongside her twin sister Ashley Olsen. Olsen pursued acting independently as an adult until 2012.[2]

Birth and family

Olsen was born in Sherman Oaks, California, the daughter of Jarnette "Jarnie" (née Jones;[3] b. 1954), a personal manager, and David "Dave" Olsen, a real estate developer and mortgage banker.[4] Along with her twin, Ashley, she has an older brother, Trent; a younger sister, Elizabeth (who is also an actress), and two other siblings from her father's second marriage to McKenzie.[5] Olsen's parents divorced in 1996.[6]

Career

Acting career

Along with Ashley, Olsen was cast at the age of nine months to share the role of Michelle Tanner on the ABC sitcom Full House. The Olsen twins portrayed Michelle throughout the series' 1987–95 run. In the early 1990s, she and Ashley established a company, Dualstar, which produced a long string of TV movies and direct-to-video releases featuring the girls. The Olsens continued to release direct-to-video films up to the early 2000s, along with starring in the 1995 feature film It Takes Two. In 1997, the Olsen twins guest starred in an episode of Sister, Sister, alongside rival twin actresses Tia Mowry and Tamera Mowry. After Full House, the sisters starred in two other sitcoms (Two of a Kind and So Little Time) and an animated series (Mary-Kate and Ashley in Action!). The former lasted one season while the latter ran for two seasons. These ventures, combined with an array of licensing deals for their names and likenesses, made Olsen wealthy at a young age. In 2004, Olsen's wealth was estimated at $137 million.[7]

Olsen and her sister became co-presidents of Dualstar upon their eighteenth birthday. Olsen's first solo acting appearance was in the movie Factory Girl, released in December 2006. Olsen's one short scene was ultimately cut from theatrical release, but was included on the film's DVD. In 2007, the sisters said that if they became involved in movies together again it would be as producers.[8] Olsen had a recurring role on Weeds as 'Tara Lindman'.[9] In 2008, she appeared The Wackness as 'Union'. At the Sundance Film Festival, Academy Award–winner Sir Ben Kingsley, her co-star' praised her.[citation needed] In 2008 Olsen also made a guest appearance on the ABC comedy Samantha Who? as a self-destructive girl that Samantha tries to help.[10] Olsen appeared in the motion picture adaption of the Alex Flinn novel Beastly.[11] Beastly was Mary-Kate's final acting project.[12]

In March 2012, both Mary-Kate and Ashley indicated their interest to retire as actresses in order to focus on their careers in fashion.[13] Mary-Kate and Ashley felt that their futures were in fashion, and not in acting. They discussed wanting to open a store as one of their future fashion-based endeavors.[14][15]

In 2015 it was announced that John Stamos signed on with Netflix to produce and co-star in Fuller House, a spin-off Full House that would reunite the original cast members for a 13-episode series. Mary-Kate and Ashley originally announced in May 2015 that they will not reprise their role as Michelle Tanner.[16]

Nickelodeon acquired the rights to the Olsen twins' video library in 2015.[17]

Dualstar

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

In 1993, following Mary-Kate and Ashley's success on Full House, a limited liability company, Dualstar was created to produce Mary-Kate and Ashley-branded products.

In 2004, both Mary-Kate and Ashley took control of Dualstar, becoming joint-CEOs and presidents of the company, which at the time had its merchandise being carried in over 3,000 stores in America and 5,300 stores worldwide.

Net worth and influence

Mary-Kate and her twin Ashley's success has been marked by their inclusion on every Forbes The Celebrity 100 list since 2002,[citation needed]. In 2007 Forbes ranked the twins jointly as the eleventh-richest women in entertainment, with an estimated combined net worth of $100 million.[18]

Fashion career

Following a high volume of public interest in their fashion choices, the sisters began work in collaboration on a string of fashion lines available to the public. Starting as young girls, the Olsen twins started a clothing line in Wal-Mart stores across America for girls ages 4 to 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.[19]

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.[20]

As adults, the Olsen twins have devoted much of their attention to the world of fashion. They head a couture fashion label, "The Row," as well as "Elizabeth and James", "Olsenboye", and "StyleMint"[21] retail collections. Mary-Kate's sometimes controversial fashion choices have often found her on both the best[22][23] and worst dressed fashion lists, particularly for her decision to wear fur.[24] Mary-Kate and Ashley designed an Olsenboye Change Purse in 2011 and donated the money to "Pennies From Heaven".[25]

In 2011, Mary-Kate and Ashley teamed up with TOMS Shoes to design footwear for kids without shoes in more than 20 countries worldwide.[26] Mary-Kate and Ashley are now the creative directors for Superga.[27] Mary-Kate and Ashley released an Elizabeth and James perfume in Spring 2013.[28] They won the top prize at the 2012 CFDA Fashion Awards.[29] StyleMint is now available in the UK.[30]

In October 2012, Mary-Kate and Ashley won the WSJ magazine Innovator of The Year Award.[31]

Mary Kate was nominated for Council Of Fashion Designers in 2015.[32]

Book

In 2008, the Olsen twins co-authored Influence, a book featuring interviews with fashion designers that have inspired the twins' fashion lines.[33]

Personal life

Olsen began attending New York University but took what she called a leave of absence in 2005, following her breakup with Greek shipping heir Stavros Niarchos III.[34]

Olsen has also dated David Katzenberg, son of DreamWorks cofounder Jeffrey Katzenberg;[35] photographer Maxwell Snow;[36] and artist Nate Lowman.[1]

In May 2012, Olsen began a relationship with Olivier Sarkozy, half brother of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy.[37] In March 2014, photos were published showing Olsen wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring.[38] Olsen and Sarkozy were married on November 27, 2015 at a private residence in New York City.[39]

In 2014, Olsen competed in the Hamptons Horse Show.[40] In 2013, her horse Marvelous competed in and won the 38th Hampton Classic Horse Show.[41]

Health issues

In mid-2004, Olsen announced she had entered treatment for anorexia nervosa.[42] A Got Milk? ad featuring the twins was pulled following the announcement.[43][44] On November 20, 2007, she was hospitalized for a reported kidney infection.[45]

Death of Heath Ledger

Mary-Kate was a close friend of late actor Heath Ledger.[46][47][48] After discovering Ledger unconscious in his bed in January 2008, his masseuse called Olsen twice before contacting police. Olsen sent a private security guard to the scene.[49]

Responding to a claim by an anonymous law enforcement official that she would not speak to federal investigators without a promise of legal immunity, Olsen's attorney Michael C. Miller said, "We have provided the government with relevant information including facts in the chronology of events surrounding Mr. Ledger's death and the fact that Ms. Olsen does not know the source of the drugs Mr. Ledger consumed".[50]

Filmography

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Factory Girl Molly Spencer/Art Gallery Patron
2007 Weeds Tara Lindman Recurring in season 3 (8 episodes)
2008 Samantha Who? Natalie Episode: "Help!"
2008 The Wackness Union
2011 Beastly Kendra Hilferty

Awards and honors

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Tauber, Michelle (May 3, 2004). "Two Cool". People. Vol. 61 No. 17
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. "'We think big... huge!': Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen pose in pyjamas as they reveal secrets behind their billion dollar empire". Daily Mail. March 23, 2011
  16. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. Goldman, Lea and Kiri Blakeley (December 18, 2007). "In Pictures: The Richest 20 Women In Entertainment". Forbes.
  19. Grossberg, Josh. Mary-Kate, Ashley: No Sweat. E! Online. December 9, 2004.
  20. Hall, Sarah.Olsen Twins Strike a Pose. E! Online. February 16, 2006.
  21. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Create a Change Purse for Charity. Stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com (August 8, 2011). Retrieved September 23, 2012.
  26. Olsen Twins Join Forces with TOMS Shoes. Usmagazine.com (July 22, 2011). Retrieved September 23, 2012.
  27. Mary Kate & Ashley team with Italian sneaker brand Superga. Prettytough.com (September 13, 2011). Retrieved September 23, 2012.
  28. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. Caplan, David. (July 31, 2008) SNEAK PEEK: Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen's New Book. People.com. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
  34. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. "Olsen Twins' 'Got Milk?' Ad Pulled" All Business. June 8, 2004. Accessed 2011-02-19.
  44. "Olsen twins no longer 'Got milk'" MSNBC. July 7, 2004. Accessed 2011-02-19.
  45. "Mary-Kate Olsen hospitalized for kidney infection". USA Today, November 20, 2007.
  46. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. Tom Hays (August 4, 2008). "Official: Olsen seeks immunity in Ledger probe", Associated Press
  51. 51.0 51.1 "The Row Wins CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year Once Again". fashionista.com June 1, 2015.
  52. "And the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards Winners are…". cfda.com June 3, 2014.

External links