Olivia Thirlby

Olivia Thirlby (born October 6, 1986, in New York City) is an American screen actress recognized for smart, naturalistic performances across indie dramas and mainstream films. Emerging in the mid-2000s, she quickly became associated with a new generation of young talent shaping contemporary Hollywood.

Thirlby is widely known for playing Leah in Juno (2007), the quick-witted best friend to the film’s pregnant teen protagonist. The role helped introduce her to a broad audience and remains a defining early credit in her filmography.

Her work spans tense true-story cinema and character-driven features, including United 93 (as Nicole Carol Miller), The Wackness (as Stephanie), Uncertainty (as Sophie), and The Answer Man (as Anne). She has also appeared in thrillers such as Unlocked (as Abby) and dramas like The Secret (as Samantha Marris) and No Strings Attached (as Katie Kurtzman).

In 2008, Vanity Fair cited Thirlby as part of “Hollywood’s New Wave,” a nod to her rising profile and the promise of her early career. She is also credited internationally under names including オリヴィア・サールビー and اولیویا تیرلبی.