Maria Olsen
{{Short description|South African film producer and actress}}
{{for|the New Zealand painter and sculptor|Maria Olsen (artist)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Maria Olsen
| image = File:Maria Olsen on red carpet in Hollywood 2010.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Olsen in 2010
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|07|22}}
| birth_place = East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Actress
- film producer}}
| years_active = 2005–present
}}
Maria Olsen (born July 22, 1966) is a South African film producer and actress known for her many roles in horror films. These include Paranormal Activity 3,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2011/12/17/creepy-woman-maria-olsen-paranormal-activity-3|title=Best of 2011 (Behind the Scenes): 'Creepy Woman' Maria Olsen talks scaring audiences in 'Paranormal Activity 3'|last=Beard|first=Lanford|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=2011-12-17|accessdate=2015-09-25}} The Lords of Salem,{{cite web|url=http://www.horrorsociety.com/2013/06/02/talking-with-the-dead-13-questions-with-maria-olsen/|title=Talking With The Dead: 13 Questions with Maria Olsen|work=Horror Society|date=2013-06-02|accessdate=2015-09-25}} Gore Orphanage, and Starry Eyes.{{cite web|url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/87951/starry-eyes-blu-ray-dvd/|title=Starry Eyes (Blu-ray / DVD)|last=Hallam|first=Scott|work=Dread Central|date=2015-02-15|accessdate=2015-09-25}} Non-horror roles include Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.
Early life
Career
Olsen has appeared in over 100 roles since 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.fangoria.com/new/gay-of-the-dead-maria-olsen-part-one/|title=Gay of the Dead: Maria Olsen, Part One|last=Abley|first=Sean|work=Fangoria|date=2014-10-07|accessdate=2015-09-25}} Many of these are supporting roles, which she credits as allowing her to work on more projects than actors who focus primarily on leading roles. She says her favorite roles have been in African Gothic, Percy Jackson, Die-ner (Get It?), The Haunting of Whaley House, and Live-In Fear, which was the first film she produced.{{cite web|url=http://horrornews.net/58949/interview-maria-olsen/|title=Interview: Maria Olsen|last=Martin|first=Todd|work=HorrorNews.Net|date=2012-10-01|accessdate=2015-09-25}}
In 2011, she founded the production company MOnsterworks66.{{cite web|url=http://www.movieramblings.com/2014/08/20/frightfest-interview-another-star-maria-olsen/|title=Frightfest interview: Another star Maria Olsen|last=White|first=Ian|work=Movie Ramblings|date=2014-08-20|accessdate=2015-09-25}}
In 2018, Olsen starred in, "The Exorcist: Forbidden Screening," a 4D theater attraction at Warner Bros. "Horror Made Here: A Festival of Frights." The attraction took place inside the Midwest St. Church on the Warner Brothers backlot, and Olsen played the role of the host of the horror attraction, based on the 1973 film, The Exorcist.{{Cite web|url=https://www.haunting.net/horror-made-here-2018-review/|title=WB's Horror Made Here - Survive Your Favorite Scary Movies|date=5 October 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://new.hollywoodgothique.com/horror-made-here-2018-review/|title = Horror Made Here 2018 Review|date = 5 October 2018}}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 2009
|Rose | |
| 2010
|Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief |Mrs. Dodds/Fury | |
| 2011
|Vile |Woman on TV | |
| 2011
|Creepy Lady | |
| 2012
|Dream Sequence Woman |Uncredited |
| 2012
|Melissa Wick |Uncredited |
| 2014
|Bus Driver | |
| 2014
|Trophy Heads |Mom | |
| 2014
|The Casting Director | |
| 2015
|Sandy | |
| 2015
|Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension |Coven Woman |Uncredited |
| 2016
|Bartender | |
| 2017
|The Covenant |Molly Hanning | |
| 2019
|I Spit on Your Grave: Deja Vu |Becky Stillman |Main role |
| 2020
|There's No Such Thing as Vampires |Sigfreda | |
| 2021
|Book Store Ghost | |
| 2022
|Princess |{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3751059/fantasy-and-horror-collide-in-stunning-trailer-for-moon-garden/|title=Fantasy and Horror Collide in Stunning Trailer for 'Moon Garden'|last=Miska|first=Brad|date=February 13, 2023|website=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=February 16, 2023}} |
| 2023
|Sister Hissem | |
Personal life
Olsen came to America in January 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.horrorsociety.com/2013/07/24/deadly-beauty-horrors-scream-queens-and-rising-talent-maria-olsen/|title=Deadly Beauty: Horror's Scream Queens and Rising Talent: Maria Olsen|work=Horror Society|date=2013-07-24|accessdate=2015-09-25}} Her hobbies include reading and knitting. She is out as a lesbian.{{cite web|url=http://www.fangoria.com/new/gay-of-the-dead-maria-olsen-part-two/|title=Gay of the Dead: Maria Olsen, Part Two|last=Abley|first=Sean|work=Fangoria|date=2014-10-08|accessdate=2015-09-25}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1864017}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olsen, Maria}}
Category:21st-century South African actresses
Category:People from East London, South Africa
Category:South African lesbian actresses
Category:South African LGBTQ entertainers
Category:South African film actresses
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