Olivia Olson
Olson at the Florida Supercon in 2016
Born (1992-05-21) May 21, 1992 (age 31)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2003–present
Parent
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • guitar
  • bass
LabelsRoseGold

Olivia Olson (born May 21, 1992) is an American actress, singer-songwriter, and writer, largely known for her voice roles as Vanessa Doofenshmirtz in Phineas and Ferb and Marceline the Vampire Queen in Adventure Time. She also played the character of Joanna in the 2003 film Love Actually and its 2017 short sequel Red Nose Day Actually.

Along with this, she is also a writer, having written the Boom! Studios graphic novel Marcy and Simon, co-authored Adventure Time: The Enchiridion and Marcy's Super-Secret Scrapbook, and contributed writing to the best-seller Adventure Time Encyclopedia for Cartoon Network. In 2023, she began writing for the Phineas and Ferb revival.

Early life

Olson was adopted at birth and raised in Los Angeles, California. She lives with her father, Martin Olson, mother Kay Olson, and brother Casey Olson. Olson graduated from Agoura High School in 2010. She is of Afro-Jamaican descent through her biological father.[1]

Career

Olson has appeared as a singer and actress on television shows and in live theatre, including Comedy Central Stage, the HBO Theater, and The Fake Gallery.

2003: Love Actually

Olson moved into the mainstream with her role as Joanna Anderson in the 2003 holiday film Love Actually, singing the song "All I Want for Christmas Is You".[2][3] Her singing was praised, with director Richard Curtis stating in the commentary in the music section of the Love Actually DVD that Olson's singing was so perfect, they were afraid the audience would not believe that a ten-year-old could really sing the way she did and would assume she was lip-synching. They had to train her so her singing would sound more believable, and add the sounds of inhalations to the track.[4] This led to guest spots on The Ellen Show, The Tracy Morgan Show and singing with stars Jack Black and Kristin Chenoweth. Olson also posted original songs on her YouTube account. In 2017, Olson reprised her role as Joanna in Red Nose Day Actually, a short film which is a sequel to Love Actually.[2]

2008–2017: Phineas and Ferb, and Beauty Is Chaos

From 2008 to 2015, Olson voiced the recurring character Vanessa Doofenshmirtz in the Disney animated series Phineas and Ferb along with actor Thomas Sangster (Ferb Fletcher), who played Joanna's love interest Sam in Love Actually.[5][6][7] Olson said that she and Sangster talked "about the whole Ferb-Vanessa situation 'cause it's pretty funny."[4]

In Phineas and Ferb, she sings a number of songs, including the duet "Busted!" with Ashley Tisdale as well as popular solo songs, including "I'm Me", "Not So Bad a Dad", "I'm Lindana and I Wanna Have Fun", "Happy New Year" and many others, including her song in the Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation special "Got That Christmas Feeling". She has written songs for Phineas and Ferb and has written and recorded her own songs with renowned music producers Rick Nowels, Camara Kambon and Hollywood jazz great Rob Mullins, while Olson's father wrote "over 200 songs for the series" and various episodes.[8] In 2011, Olson voiced Vanessa in a deleted scene of Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension, which included a musical number, but sang a song for the film "I Walk Away".[9]

Her role as Vanessa led to her role as Marceline the Vampire Queen in Adventure Time. During the show's production, the show creator, Pendleton Ward, contacted Olson's father, Martin Olson, then writing for Phineas and Ferb, asking if he knew who played Vanessa in the show.[10][11] He was not aware, at the time, that Martin was Olson's father.[11] She would also voice Marceline in the 2012 video game, Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!!.[9]

2013-2018: Adventure Time, Steven Universe, and Phineas and Ferb

In 2010, Olson got the role of Marceline the Vampire Queen on the animated Cartoon Network series Adventure Time. Olson said she was impressed by her character's fashion design and the costuming for Marceline, saying she occasionally admired the unique designs for the character in episodes.[12] During the audition for the role, Olson first read for Princess Bubblegum, but later read for Marceline.[12] Reportedly when getting into character for the role she often dressed similar to Marceline when she recorded her lines[10] In the show, her father played Hunson Abadeer, the father of Marceline.[13] In the series, Olson also sings Marceline's songs, which were written by storyboard artists, or other people affiliated with production.[14][15][16][17] As such, The Guardian praised Marceline as a character, noting in particular that "she's ... responsible for some of the show's best songs."[18]

The series was a commercial and popular success and her character attracted positive critical attention from critics,[19][20] and fans alike,[21] along with the production crew of Adventure Time.[22][23] This popularity was even recognized by the company that owns Adventure Time with the official press release for the Adventure Time: Marceline and the Scream Queens companion comic book referring to Marceline as a "fan-favorite".[24] Olson later said she was "honored" to be voicing a character in a show pushing the limits, including on "what a female character in a TV series brings to the table."[25]

In the Adventure Time mini-series "Stakes", Olson performs the popular song "Everything Stays", which was revealed by Olson and Rebecca Sugar at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con.[26] In 2015 Olivia and her father, Martin Olson, co-authored a book adapted from the series Adventure Time, Adventure Time: The Enchiridion & Marcy's Super Secret Scrapbook.[8] Olivia wrote her section in first person as her character Marceline. The book was illustrated by artists including Mahendra Singh, Tony Millionaire, Renee French, Celeste Moreno and Sean Tejaratchi.

Olson also performed the song "Haven't You Noticed (I'm a Star)", which was featured on the September 17, 2015 episode of Steven Universe entitled "Sadie's Song".[27] It was later featured in the Steven Universe mini-episode "Gem Karaoke", released on October 3, 2016. She appears at Comic-Cons and pop conventions around the world as do other Adventure Time cast members.[28]

Olson frequently posts original music on her YouTube and TikTok account. On July 18, 2013, Olson released her debut EP Beauty Is Chaos.[29][8] By December 2015, she had over 19,000 followers on her YouTube channel.[29]

From 2016 to 2019, Olivia voiced the fourth Powerpuff Girl Bliss on Cartoon Network's reboot of The Powerpuff Girls,[30][31] The character's initial announcement was met with negative reactions from some fans,[32][33] but when rumors began to spread that the character would be black, many fans began to express a more optimistic tone.[34] Reviewers later called the character a great step forward in terms of racial diversity and a good addition.[35][36][37] In all, reactions to the character were mainly positive, while others argued she was a stereotype and that the inclusion of the character seemed like tokenism.[38]

In 2019, Olson voiced Jun, PizzaRave, and another character in Fast & Furious: Spy Racers.[9] In 2020, she voiced Vanessa Doofenshmirtz in the Phineas and Ferb film, Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe, and Marceline in the "Obsidian" episode of Adventure Time: Distant Lands.[9] In the film, Olson sang the song "The Universe Is Against Me" with Ashley Tisdale, who voiced Candace, and Laura Dickinson while in "Obsidian", she sang "Woke Up" and "Monster" with other performers.

2018–present: Nowhere Land and The X Factor

On June 22, 2018, Olson released the album Nowhere Land.[39] She worked with K-pop producers Kairos Music Group and producer/singer/songwriter John Defeo on the project. In October 2019, she began competing in The X Factor: Celebrity, being the second act to be evicted from the live shows on October 26, 2019.[40] In 2023, it was revealed that she would be a writer for the Phineas and Ferb revival, in addition to reprising her role as Vanessa.[41]

Olson reprised her role as Marceline the Vampire Queen in the 2023 Adventure Time spin-off series Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake.[42]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected information
Title Details
The Father-Daughter Album of Unspeakable Beauty (with Martin Olson)
  • Released: 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: CD
Nowhere Land

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected information
Title Details
Beauty Is Chaos
  • Released: July 18, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

Title Year Album
"Anyone Who Had a Heart" (X Factor Recording) 2019 Non-album singles
"Crows" 2021

Soundtrack appearances

Filmography

Film

Year Show Role Notes
2003 Love Actually Joanna Anderson
2011 Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension 2nd Dimension Vanessa Doofenshmirtz (deleted scene) Voice role
2020 Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe Vanessa Doofenshmirtz Voice role

Television

Year Show Role Notes
2004 The Tracy Morgan Show Julia One episode, "Career Day"
2006 Zoey 101 Girl #1 Episode: "Broadcast Views"
2008–2015 Phineas and Ferb Vanessa Doofenshmirtz, additional voices Voice
2010–2018 Adventure Time Marceline the Vampire Queen Voice
2017–2019 Milo Murphy's Law Vanessa Doofenshmirtz, additional voices Voice
2017–2019 The Powerpuff Girls Blisstina Utonium Voice, 4 episodes
2017 Red Nose Day Actually Joanna
2019 The X Factor: Celebrity Herself / Contestant
2020 Adventure Time: Distant Lands Marceline the Vampire Queen Voice, episode: "Obsidian"
2020 Robot Chicken Mal, Yellow Power Ranger Voice, episode: "Sundancer Craig in: 30% of the Way to Crying"
2023 We Baby Bears Ursa Major Voice, episode: "Little Fallen Star"
2023 Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake Marceline the Vampire Queen Voice, 2 episodes

Video games

Year Title Role
2013 Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I Don't Know! Marceline the Vampire Queen
2015 Adventure Time: Finn & Jake Investigations
Lego Dimensions
2018 Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion
2020 Chex Quest HD Wheatney Chexworth

References

  1. ^ "Olivia Olson on Instagram: Happy Easter! ❤️💛💚 I have a resurrection story for ya..." Instagram. April 4, 2021. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Hough, Q.V. (July 5, 2021). "Love Actually Cast Guide: Every Actor & Cameo". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021.
  3. ^ Fletcher, Henry (December 24, 2015). "Here's what the Love Actually kids Joanna and Sam look like now". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Bierly, Mandi (December 17, 2009). "All 'Love Actually' scene-stealer Olivia Olson wants for graduation is a record deal". EW. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021.
  5. ^ O'Brien, Conor (April 2, 2020). "10 Things You Didn't Know About Phineas and Ferb". CBR. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021.
  6. ^ McMillian, Laurise; Chilton, Charlotte (November 20, 2019). "What Your Favorite Christmas Movie Stars Look Like Now". Elle. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  7. ^ Rosa, Christopher (December 2, 2015). "The Little Girl From Love Actually Is Gorgeous Now—And Still Singing". VH1. Archived from the original on February 13, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Frauenfelder, Mark (August 21, 2013). "Gweek 108: Adventure Time with Martin & Olivia Olson". Boing Boing. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d "Oliva Olson". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
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  11. ^ a b Lloyd, Robert (August 23, 2018). "As 'Adventure Time' Wraps, a Look Back at How the Series Broke Barriers and Changed the Genre". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
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  14. ^ Muto, Adam [MrMuto] (June 14, 2012). "Does Olivia Olson play the bass and sing for Marceline?". Archived from the original on March 16, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2012 – via Formspring.
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  22. ^ Ward, Pendleton [buenothebear] (July 3, 2010). "Who plays Marceline's voice? And why is she your favorite character?". Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2012 – via Formspring.
  23. ^ Rynda, Phil [philrynda] (September 9, 2010). "What's your favorite character that you've designed?". Archived from the original on March 16, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2012 – via Formspring.
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  26. ^ robsugar (July 13, 2015), Everything Stays, archived from the original on December 12, 2021, retrieved March 15, 2017
  27. ^ Rebecca Sugar (composed), Aivi & Surasshu (arranged), Olivia Olson (vocals), Stemage (guitar) (September 17, 2015). Haven't You Noticed (I'm a Star) (audio). Spotify. Archived from the original (Audio) on June 22, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
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  30. ^ "Fifteen Celebrities to Voice Fourth Powerpuff Girl in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australia". Archived from the original on April 24, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  31. ^ Grant, Stacey (October 19, 2017). "The Fourth Powerpuff Girl Posing with Her Voice Actress Will Make You Want More Bliss ASAP". Seventeen. Archived from the original on April 24, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
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  35. ^ McCreesh, Louise (September 20, 2017). "The fourth Powerpuff Girl has been revealed and it's an important step forward for diversity". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
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  37. ^ Anderson, Kritsty (September 29, 2017). "Bliss's Story Should Have Been Told Over A Full Season, Not Just One Special". Moviepilot.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
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