Olesya Rulin Explained

Olesya Rulin
Birthname:Olesya Yurivna Rulina
Birth Date:17 March 1986
Birth Place:Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Russia)
Yearsactive:2001–present
Children:1

Olesya Yurivna Rulina[1] (Russian: Oлeся Юрьевна Pулина; born March 17, 1986) is a Russian-American actress. She is best known for co-starring in all three films of the High School Musical franchise as Kelsi Nielsen. She also starred in the films (2008), Flying By (2009), Expecting Mary (2010) and Family Weekend (2013).

Early life

Olesya Rulin was born in Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Russia). She spent her early childhood in Likhoslavl.[2] [3]

When Rulin was eight,[4] she emigrated to the United States to rejoin her father who had done so two years earlier. They first lived in Texas, then later in Utah. Rulin graduated from West Jordan High School in 2005.

Rulin is also a trained ballet dancer. When she was 12,[4] she entered a model-search contest at the urging of her mother and won representation by four different agencies.[3] She can also play the piano.

Prior to acting full-time, she worked for a year as a certified nursing assistant and also at stores such as Victoria's Secret;[5] she was working at a Nordstrom store when the first High School Musical came out.[2] She was studying economics in Paris when the casting for High School Musical 2 took place.[2]

Acting career

In addition to her role in High School Musical, High School Musical 2 and , Rulin's credits include the Disney Channel original films 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 that in the first film, including a solo in "You Are the Music in Me" and a few lines in "Work This Out."[6] Rulin reprised her role as Kelsi Nielsen in High School Musical 3: Senior Year, also with a larger part, and performed three songs, including a duet with Lucas Grabeel.[7]

Rulin co-starred with Jessica Simpson in the film Major Movie Star (released in the United States under the title Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous).[8] [9] In 2009, Rulin co-starred with Billy Ray Cyrus and Heather Locklear in the drama film Flying By.[10]

In 2010, Rulin starred in Expecting Mary, which also starred Elliott Gould, Linda Gray, Lainie Kazan, Cloris Leachman, Della Reese, Cybill Shepherd, Gene Simmons and Fred Willard.

In 2013, she starred in Family Weekend with Kristin Chenoweth and Matthew Modine.

In August 2014, it was announced that Rulin would be playing the role of Callista Secor in the PlayStation Network series Powers, which ran for two seasons from 2015-16.[11]

Personal life

On November 11, 2021, Rulin married entrepreneur Joseph Noel Pauline.[12] In August 2022, the couple announced that they had welcomed their first child, a daughter.[13]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005MindyDirect-to-video
2005Mobsters and MormonsJulie Jaymes
2006High School MusicalKelsi Nielsen
2006Vampire Chicks with ChainsawsSariahDirect-to-video
2007American PastimeCathy Reyes
2007High School Musical 2Kelsi Nielsen
2007The DanceBritney
2008Forever StrongEmily's Friend
2008Petrovich
2008Kelsi Nielsen
2009Chuckle BoyAssistantShort film
2009Flying ByEllieDirect-to-video
2010Expecting MaryMary
2011ApartEmily Gates
2011A Thousand CutsMelanie
2013Family WeekendEmily Smith-Dungy

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001HoundedGirl #1Television film
The Poof PointAnnieTelevision film
2002Touched by an AngelHigh School StudentEpisode: "Bring on the Rain"
2004Halloweentown HighNatalie the Pink TrollTelevision film
EverwoodThe Drunk GirlEpisode: "No Sure Thing"
2009–2011GreekAbbyRecurring role, 10 episodes
2010Andrea WilliamsEpisode: "Mommie Deadest"
The MentalistSam StarksEpisode: "The Red Ponies"
2011Drop Dead DivaMia DaltonEpisode: "He Said, She Said"
2012TouchGirl in the Red DressEpisode: "Safety in Numbers"
Dirty WorkBambiEpisode: "Temporary Midnight"
2013UnderemployedPixie Dexter2 episodes
2014NCISKim TroutmanEpisode: "Page Not Found"
2015–2016PowersCalista SecorMain role
2015The Night ShiftMayaEpisode: "Darkest Before Dawn"
2017Family GuyRussian Meg Griffin Double (voice)Episode: "A House Full of Peters"
2018Devious NannyAmber DeschanelTelevision film; also known as Nanny Betrayal
2019SEAL TeamJenna RobertsonEpisode: "Things Not Seen"
2020–2022Zasha Gagrin5 episodes
2022The RookieDanielle BloomfieldEpisode: "Backstabbers"
2023Black BagsTessTelevision film

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Twitter / olesyarulin: @middlenamegame it's yurivna . Twitter.com . 2013-04-07.
  2. Web site: Olesya Rulin prepares for 'High School Musical 3'. 2008-02-10. Richard Huff. 2007-12-28. New York Daily News. 2011-06-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20110629183130/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2007/12/28/2007-12-28_olesya_rulin_prepares_for_high_school_mu.html. dead.
  3. Web site: Behind the scenes with HSM's Oleysa Rulin. 2008-02-10. Holly Siegel. Elle Girl. 7 February 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080207061218/http://www.ellegirl.com/entertainment/tv_movies/content/high_school_musical.html. dead.
  4. Web site: Report from Disney's High School Musical 2 DVD Launch at El Capitan Theatre. 2008-02-10. 2007-11-19. ultimatedisney.com.
  5. Web site: High School Musical 2 - DVD Premiere Chats. 2008-02-10. Lynn Barker. 2007-11-30. www.teenmusic.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20081009064600/http://www.teenmusic.com/d.asp?r=164259&c=1004&p=2. 2008-10-09. dead.
  6. Web site: The Graphic - Going back to ?High School?. https://web.archive.org/web/20071012153751/http://graphic.pepperdine.edu/ane/2007/2007-09-27-highschool.htm. dead. October 12, 2007.
  7. http://rulinyourworld.com/projects/hsm03.php High School Musical 3 page on Olesya's Official Site
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20070824223904/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2007/08/20/high-school-musical-star-reports-for-duty-in-simpsons-major-movie-star/ ‘High School Musical’ Star Reports For Duty In ‘Simpson’s ‘Major Movie Star’
  9. http://www.beyondhollywood.com/gallery/olesya-rulin-is-from-russia-with-love/Olesya Rulin is From Russia with Love
  10. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3id43663c7eb7ece8e6c40d67797f842a6/ Flying high: Cyrus, Rulin join indie pic
  11. Web site: Olesya Rulin Stars In 'Powers' A Playstation's First Original Series . March 5, 2015. Life of Dad. November 19, 2021.
  12. Web site: Olesya Rulin. 11.11.21 @chateausureau. Instagram. 5 December 2021. 12 November 2023.
  13. News: Slater, Georgia . Olesya Rulin, 'High School Musical' 's Kelsi, Gives Birth to First Baby — See the Sweet Video. 12 November 2023 . People Magazine . August 10, 2022.